1968 Austin Healey Sprite

[Atrus]

SOLD!!!! (Well, traded - either way, it's gone)

Up for sale - 1968 Austin Healey Sprite. Mileage unknown. Looking for $1800, open to reasonable offers.

Car is painted - a DIY job - it's one color, but no show winner for sure. 1275cc 4 cylinder, 4 speed manual. Has bondo in the front fenders, but I have extra parts (below). Car needs carbs to be set, but I can fire it up and it will sputter and make noise to prove it does run. ALL PARTS ARE THERE TO COMPLETELY DRIVE THE CAR - this is a complete vehicle. Needs front calipers/front brake lines/front hoses installed (all included) to drive.

Suspension was totally refreshed - replaced a bad a-arm, new kingpins on both sides, new brakes, rearched rear springs, refreshed the steering rack, new poly bushings.

New parts include:
Fully rebuilt Distributor w/pertronix unit - no more points! Built by Advanced Distributors.
Brand new (never installed) rebuilt OEM calipers, rebuilt by Peter at World Wide Imports
All new rotors/drums
New rear wheel bearings
New poly bushings
Rearched/refreshed rear springs
Goodrich stainless steel brake lines (need installation)
3.90 gear installed (4.22 also comes with the car)
Silverstar sealed headlights

I also have:
Extra set of fenders (minor rust - good solid pieces to swap on)
Extra complete set of good condition doors (glass, door panels, hardware)
Extra Windshield and frame assembly
Extra hood (pretty rough though)
Extra trunk lid in great condition
Original seats (covers in rough shape)
Original 4.22 gearset (3.90 gear installed)

It's a really cool car, something a little different. It's like driving a fun go-cart. Rip through first and second, jam it into 3rd, and you're doing 40 mph! It's a small (easily stored/worked on) car that gets good gas mileage and is a blast to drive. Got a lot of looks and questions running around in it. Parts are readily available through Moss Motors, Victoria British, or Little British Car Company. Can get more pics upon request if there's genuine interest.

Some pics - car is a little dusty, but you get the gist.



Hood was "popped" in this pic, it does fit and shut properly.










Extra parts:

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

Quite familiar with this car.

In high school, a good friend was living with us our senior year (his parents moved mid-year), and he brought one of these with him.

My job riding shot gun in the winter months was to scrape the frost off the inside of the windshield for the driver to see.

This is a great little car, might weigh 1600 lbs, and is literally a go-cart with a roof.

Brings back memories of when we "transported" three girls to a party with us during winter with the top up.

Good times...we had to be creative...I had to shift for him...

Good luck with the sale.

[Atrus]

Thanks Jeff - very cool little cars indeed. I just don't have the time or space to work on it and hang onto it. Would like to clear it out of the garage so I can shuffle my daily driver back in there before winter.

[RickT]

what a great little caar. if i were 20 years younger and could fit inside it i'd love to take on the project. i agree with Jeff these are like go carts and great little cars to race in SCCA.

[bri2203]

Cool car, Once I sell my corvette I will hope to buy a classic austin mini or TR6 or midget or a sprite.

[QuickTop]

Damn, wish I had the money! You wouldn't be interested in trading for a decent minivan GLWS

[Atrus]

Ha, thanks guys. The car really is a riot and I am reluctant to sell it, but it's basically been a paperweight since 2008, and I just have so many other things to do rather than work on it. It's why I bought the SS - I can work on it as I want to, but it doesn't NEED anything.

So, I'd really like to clear up the garage space to get the Camaro over there and get my daily driver back in before the snow flies.

[WMCC Gary]

Can you image the fun that thing would be if you put a LS1 in it.

[bri2203]

Can you image the fun that thing would be if you put a LS1 in it.

That would be overkill! A direct injection 3.6 would be pretty neat, but I think a 2.0/2.2/2.4 ecotec would be the direction I would go in.

[Atrus]

Popular swap is Mazda rotaries - small and light.

The biggest issue with swapping in a modern OHC engine is the height. I've seen (online) that guys have fit in 2.8L MPI/T5 setups from 3rd gens.

I thought about a transplant, but I came to the conclusion it'd ruin the car - the sound is actually pretty cool. You can build the original 1275 up to about 90-100hp reliably, which isn't too bad in a 1500 lb car. My thought was to modernize the 1275. I got electronic ignition on there now (pertronix), and I planned on getting a fuel injection setup, like Megasquirt, on there to optimize power and make it consistent and reliable.

[nascarnate326]

2.2L with a 5 speed. The MPG's that thing could pull.

[Atrus]

Still available, guys, and I am motivated to get rid of it - don't be hesitant to come see it or throw out an offer.

It'd be a good little project to have a classic car that doesn't take up much space or money!

[Atrus]

Still for sale! Cleaned up a few other little odds and ends on the car tonight, got the radiator back in, and will be starting it up tomorrow so it will run for a potential buyer. Still has no brakes (have all parts, all need to be installed).

Again, I am very flexible on the price, so if you're interested speak up!

[Atrus]

Car is back together enough that I can fire it up for a potential buyer to hear.

[Atrus]

Still up there, someone please buy this thing.

Car can and does start up, it's all back together. Had a deal set at $1500 - a steal - that fell though. Would gladly let it go at that price if it meant no haggling and it'd disappear soon.