Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite 1961

Description:

For a video of the vehicle running please click here

Auctioneers Notes: This cracking little Sprite has been in the vendor’s hands since 2003. Sadly, the early history has been lost when the first owner passed away and the vendor purchased her from his estate. The vendor has kept a full and comprehensive history file from 2003 until the present day. It contains numerous invoices, old MOT’s back to 1999 plus GOV.UK MOT history and she has all her tax discs from 2004 – 2015 plus a BMIHT Certificate. This will keep the new owners reading for hours. We are told she is up together mechanically and is great fun to drive. You can use her as is or improve as time goes by. Interesting Registration Number – 66TPJ. May be viewed as from 18th February, please make an appointment.

Vendor description:

• Car purchased from the estate of Mr Cook from Southampton as a non-runner in January 2003. (some photos in the history file)
• Mr Cook undertook a home restoration of the car in the late 90’s but sadly passed away before he could enjoy it.
• I believe that prior to Mr Cooks ownership the car was owned by a Ford employee at their Ford Transit works in Southampton, and it is rumoured to have been sprayed in a bright Ford orange in the 80’s – Mr Cook returning it to its original Leaf green during the restoration process.
• Present owner re-commissioned the car and returned it to the road in July 2003.
• The car has been subject to a ‘rolling restoration’ since that date, with parts being replaced and updated as and when required.
• The car is basically in standard form, retaining a 948cc A series engine and the original drum brakes all round.
• It does however feature a period modification (not carried out by current owner) of 1 ¼” H2 SU carbs (not the HS2’s from later Midgets and Sprites) replacing the 1 1/8” H1 carbs fitted as standard, it is believed the carbs also sit on a Cooper inlet manifold.
• Now fitted with an after–market ‘Kenlow’ type fan to improve cooling (original fan blades and boss included) with automatic thermostatic switch and manual over-ride switch.
• Fitted with a replacement electric fuel pump rather than the standard mechanical pump which due to poor quality replacement parts has caused no end of issues over the years. This is also fitted with a manual over-ride / security switch.
• A remote battery cut-off switch / security switch is also fitted used for long term storage purposes.
• The distributor is fitted with a ‘red rotor arm’ in resin from the Distributor Doctor, which negates issues with the after-market rotor arms, which often short out when hot.
• An electric windscreen washer pump is also fitted as the original ‘pump type’ was inadequate for modern purposes
• Most of the chrome work has been replaced; bumperettes, hub caps and head lamp rings and new Vinyl hood and tonneau covers are also supplied.
• A period radio is installed (believed it is in working condition) however it is not connected only there to cover up the original radio blanking plate in the dashboard.
• The car is well known to many local clubs – Midget and Sprite club, MGOC etc and has been a regular attendee at most of the local shows throughout Dorset and Hampshire over the last decade or so. The car is shown on the Midget and Sprite Club’s national photographic database and was on the cover of their national magazine Mascot in 2003.
• Comprehensive history file during current ownership
• Heritage Certificate.