Lot 075: Austin_Healey Frogeye Sprite MkI

Designed by Donald Healey in partnership with BMC, the MkI Sprite was launched in May 1958 and proved such a hit that it spawned a whole new generation of copycat sportscars from the likes of Triumph and MG. It was intended to be a low-cost model that 'a chap could keep in his bike shed', a Fifties successor to the sporting versions of the pre-war Austin Seven. Based around humble A35 underpinnings, it inspired huge public affection due to its lively road manners and cute 'Frogeye' styling  a happy accident that only came about because the pop-up headlights that the car was designed for proved too costly to mass produce and were changed at the last minute to the fixed pods that so define the car today. Very basic in many ways (it had no exterior door handles and no opening boot lid), it cost just £669 at launch. As its Heritage Certificate confirms, this particular car was built on 7th July 1958, making it amongst the earliest cars to leave the BMC works. Factory options included a heater, rev counter, windscreen washer, front bumper and laminated windscreen. A copy of the original bill of sale shows that the car was sold new by PC Tonkin & Son of Bugle, Cornwall, on 20th September 1958 to Miss M Pearn of St Austell. By 1978 the car had passed to a new owner who was to keep it unused and on blocks until 1996 when it was acquired by the current vendor. He fully restored the car over the next two years in order to get it ready for his impending wedding, the whole process recorded on photographs in the history file. This included a full gearbox and engine rebuild with new pistons and new carburettors. Since then the car has only covered around 2,650 miles, as recorded on the speedo which was reset to zero when the car was returned to the road. Complete with hood and sidescreens, the car is said to drive very well and has an MOT until August 2009.