Austin-Healey Sprite Mk I (Frogeye)

Produced:	1958-1961, 48987 produced.
Types:	Sports,2 doors,2 seats

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In 1958 BMC launched a new, small sports-car based on well proven Austin A35 mechanical parts. The new car was known as the Austin Healey Sprite and would be produced at the MG factory in Abingdon. The Sprite introduced a whole new concept in sports-car ownership that would later be copied by Triumph and MG. The Sprite consisted of a twin carb A35 engine, 948cc, A-Series engine driving the rear wheels via a four speed gearbox. The body was of a simple design with no external boot access and with minimal decoration. The one-piece bonnet was originally designed to include pop-up headlamps, however the mechanisms proved to complex and so the lamps were mounted in a fixed pod. This unusual styling feature actually added to the cars "cute" appeal and it quickly gained the nickname "Frogeye" (or "Bugeye" in the USA) Sprite. Practical Classics August 2001 - Featuring Buyers Guide Frogeye Sprite, Austin-Healey Sprite Mk I available. Click here to view in our shop. Practical Classics October 2009 - Featuring Buyers Guide Austin Healey Sprite and MG Midget (1958-1979). Click Here to view in our shop.

Source: Motorbase

Capacity	Config	Model	Bore/Stroke	CR
948cc	S4 OHV	BMC A-Series	62.92mm x 76.2mm

Type	Number	Capacity	Comment
SU	2

Type	Gears	Comment
Manual	4

Drivetrain	Steering	Front Suspension	Rear Suspension

Top Speed	0-60	SQM	MPG	Engine Pwr	Comment
82 mph	20.5 s	21.8 s	34 mpg	43 bhp 5200

Front	Rear	Comment
Drum	Drum

Lot Num	Description	Auctioneer	Date	Hammer Price	Hammer Price (inc premium)
004	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers	16 May 2012	-	£8800.00
045	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers	7 Mar 2012	£8500.00	-
387	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	Historics at Brooklands	22 Oct 2011	Not sold
29	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers	21 Sep 2011	Not sold
32	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers	21 Sep 2011	£7200.00	-
17	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers	21 Sep 2011	£11000.00	-
016	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers	13 Jul 2011	£8400.00	-
024	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers	2 Mar 2011	£9600.00	-
'23	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers	23 Jun 2010	£5600.00	-
107	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite	Barons	15 Jun 2010	£5150.00	-
018	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers	23 Sep 2009	£9400.00	-
021	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers	23 Sep 2009	£9000.00	-
01	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	H&H Sales Limited	16 Sep 2009	-	£3300.00
31	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	H&H Sales Limited	16 Sep 2009	-	£5500.00
039	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers	24 Jun 2009	Not sold
020	Nissan S-Cargo	Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers	24 Jun 2009	£1700.00	-
59	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	H&H Sales Limited	10 Jun 2009	-	£3905.00
38	Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	H&H Sales Limited	16 Apr 2009	-	£11000.00
125	Austin Healey Sprite Pickup	Barons	9 Dec 2008	£2900.00	-
121	Austin Healey Frog Eye Sprite	Barons	9 Dec 2008	£6800.00	-
075	Austin_Healey Frogeye Sprite MkI	Brightwells Auctioneers and Valuers	22 Oct 2008	Not sold
002	1960 Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	H&H Sales Limited	8 Jun 2008	£3300.00	-
127	Austin Healey Sprite " Frog Eye"	Barons	29 Apr 2008	£8800.00	-
115	Austin Healey Frog Eye Sprite	Barons	11 Dec 2007	Not sold
114	Austin Healey Frog-Eye Sprite	Barons	19 Jun 2007	£7050.00	-
102	1960 Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite	Coys	30 Nov 2006	£6234.00	-
11	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI	BCA	5 Oct 2006	-	£6503.00
117	Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite	Barons	1 Aug 2006	£6100.00	-
208	1959 Austin Healey Sprite Mk.1 Competition	Coys	14 Jan 2006	Not sold
018	1959 AUSTIN-HEALEY 'FROGEYE' SPRITE	H&H Sales Limited	21 Sep 2005	Not sold
110	Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite	Barons	20 Sep 2005	£6400.00	-
666	Austin Healey Sprite MK1	Lambert & Foster	26 May 2005	Not sold
616	Austin-Healey Frogeye' Sprite	Cheffins	4 Dec 2004	Not sold
1537	Austin-Healey "Bugeye" Sprite Mk I	Bonhams & Butterfields	13 Aug 2004	-	$10005.00
013	Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite	H&H Sales Limited	7 Apr 2004	£6300.00	-
022	Austin Healey Frogeye' Sprite	H&H Sales Limited	21 Feb 2004	£5250.00	-
329	Austin-Healey Sprite Mk1 Bodyshell (1960)	Bonhams	8 Sep 2002	-	£230.00
024	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	BCA	5 Aug 2002	Not sold
706	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	Bonhams	3 Dec 2001	£5500.00	-
059	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1960)	H&H Sales Limited	28 Nov 2001	-	£4725.00
025	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1958)	BCA	23 Jul 2001	-	£5778.00
016	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1960)	H&H Sales Limited	11 Apr 2001	£6600.00	-
Unknown	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1961)	Barons	14 Nov 2000	Not sold
026	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1961)	Barons	10 Oct 2000	-	£4305.00
050	Austin-Healey Sprite (1960)	H&H Sales Limited	26 Jul 2000	£7000.00	-
955	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1958)	Brooks	23 Jun 2000	-	£9200.00
754	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1960)	Brooks	27 Apr 2000	-	£6900.00
616	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	Brooks	28 Oct 1999	-	£7475.00
058	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1958)	H&H Sales Limited	6 Oct 1999	£2300.00	-
218	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	RTS Auctions Ltd	19 Sep 1999	£1700.00	-
208	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	RTS Auctions Ltd	19 Sep 1999	£150.00	-
231	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1961)	RTS Auctions Ltd	19 Sep 1999	£4000.00	-
213	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	RTS Auctions Ltd	19 Sep 1999	Not sold
215	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1960)	RTS Auctions Ltd	19 Sep 1999	£1000.00	-
206	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1960)	RTS Auctions Ltd	19 Sep 1999	£125.00	-
055	Austin-Healey Sprite Sports (1960)	Christies	29 Aug 1999	-	$18400.00
034	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1960)	BCA	16 Aug 1999	Not sold
068	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1958)	Coys	31 Jul 1999	£4250.00	-
043	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1960)	H&H Sales Limited	17 Feb 1999	£4700.00	-
064	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1960)	BCA	12 Oct 1998	£5650.00	-
062	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	BCA	23 Apr 1998	£6900.00	-
044	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1961)	Parkes	4 Apr 1998	Not sold
344	Austin-Healey Sprite Sports (1960)	Sothebys	30 Mar 1998	-	£4485.00
360	Austin-Healey Sprite Sports (1959)	Christies	23 Feb 1998	£8000.00	£9200.00
027	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1960)	BCA	23 Feb 1998	£6400.00	-
038	Austin-Healey Sprite (1959)	Parkes	24 Jan 1998	£5500.00	-
065	Austin-Healey Sprite MkIV Sports (1959)	BCA	1 Dec 1997	£7850.00	£8343.00
219	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1958)	Sothebys	29 Sep 1997	£10600.00	-
517	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite MkI (1959)	Brooks	25 Sep 1997	Not sold
046	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1960)	H&H Sales Limited	24 Sep 1997	Not sold
068	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1958)	H&H Sales Limited	24 Sep 1997	Not sold
628	Austin-Healey Sprite Roadster (1960)	Brooks	25 Jul 1997	-	£11097.00
051	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1959)	H&H Sales Limited	23 Jul 1997	£5700.00	-
060A	Austin-Healey Sprite (1959)	Coys	15 May 1997	£5500.00	-
049	Austin-Healey Sprite MkIV Sports (1960)	H&H Sales Limited	16 Apr 1997	£5800.00	-
046	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1960)	ADT	16 Dec 1996	-	£10080.00
009	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	ADT	16 Dec 1996	Not sold
229	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	RTS Auctions Ltd	24 Nov 1996	£775.00	-
061	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	ADT	7 Oct 1996	Not sold
079	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	ADT	12 Aug 1996	-	£11025.00
001	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	ADT	12 Aug 1996	-	£5145.00
236	Austin-Healey Sprite (1959)	RTS Auctions Ltd	14 Jun 1996	£3525.00	-
025	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	ADT	22 Apr 1996	-	£8715.00
050	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1960)	ADT	12 Feb 1996	£4200.00	-
236	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	RTS Auctions Ltd	14 Jan 1996	£3525.00	-
761	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	Sothebys	11 Dec 1995	£2000.00	-
063	Austin-Healey Sprite MkIV Sports (1960)	ADT	27 Nov 1995	-	£6405.00
295	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	Sothebys	18 Sep 1995	-	£3220.00
016	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1959)	H&H Sales Limited	13 Jul 1995	£3900.00	-
064	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1960)	H&H Sales Limited	13 Jul 1995	£5200.00	-
279	Austin-Healey Sprite Supercharged (1958)	Sothebys	2 Jul 1995	Not sold
005	Austin-Healey Sprite (1959)	Coys	27 Jun 1995	Not sold
016	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1960)	H&H Sales Limited	23 Feb 1995	£4600.00	-
083	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	Sandown	3 Sep 1994	Not sold
028	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI (1959)	H&H Sales Limited	28 Jul 1994	Not sold
060	Austin-Healey Sprite (1960)	ADT	18 Jul 1994	Not sold
039	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1960)	H&H Sales Limited	8 May 1994	Not sold
096	Austin-Healey Sprite (1959)	ADT	11 Apr 1994	Not sold
039	Austin-Healey Speedwell Streamline (1958)	Christies	25 Feb 1994	Not sold
075	Austin-Healey Frog Eye Sprite (1959)	Christies	11 Sep 1993	£7000.00	-

ISBN	Title	Publisher
1855201259	A/H Sprite Mk 1, 2, 3, 4 & Midget (G/Box) OWM745	Brooklands Books
1855201267	Austin-Healey Sprite Mk 1 'Frogeye' AKD4884	Brooklands Books
1855205963	Restoring Sprites & Midgets - An Enthusiasts Guide by Grahame Bristow	Brooklands Books
0948207949	Austin-Healey Sprite Mk 1 'Frogeye' 97H1583A	Brooklands Books
1855203715	Austin-Healey Sprite Gold Portfolio 1957-71	Brooklands Books
1563922371	Haynes Jaguar Xj6 : 1988-94 (Auto Repair Manual Series)	Haynes Publishing

Title		Pages
Article	Buying Guide Austin-Healey Sprite and MG Midget (1958-1979)	112
Publication	Practical Classics October 2009	112
Buying Guide Austin-Healey Sprite and MG Midget - The guide to buying a top-notch Spridget lick Clarkson's

Article	Blast to The Beach - Seaside Frolics with a Nice Pair	40
Publication	Practical Classics July 2004	40
Blast to The Beach - Seaside Frolics with a Nice Pair - In the early Sixties something extraordinary happened: Britain began holidaying by car. Danny Hopkins revisits one of our favourite holiday hotspots in two classics of the era. Ford Cortina Mk 1, Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite

Article	Modifying Frogeye	68
Publication	Practical Classics October 2003	68
Modifying Frogeye - Sprite Ideas - With just 43bhp and A30 oily bits, Austin-Healey's Frogeye is prime modifying fodder. But is upgrading the original Sprite such a great idea? Ben Barry investigates.

Article	Force-fed Frogeye	42
Publication	Practical Classics October 2002	42
Force-fed Frogeye - Gary Haines' supercharged Frogeye started out as a forlorn rust-free shell from the USA. Kevin Leaper meets man and masterpiece.

Article	Buyers Guide. Frogeye Sprite. Austin-Healey Sprite Mk I	80
Publication	Practical Classics August 2001	80
Buyers Guide. Frogeye Sprite. Austin-Healey Sprite Mk I. If there was ever a car to prove that less is more, it's the Frogeye. Good looks, great fun but watch out for rust, says Richard Dredge.

Article	Classic Cars January 2000 pg 138	138
Publication	Classic Cars January 2000	138
Buying Guide. Frogeye Sprite. It's appeal is obvious from the first glance: the Frogeye Sprite offers open-top fun in a pint-size package. But with plentiful parts and simple mechanics, keeping one on the road won't drive you to distraction.

Article	Buyer's Guide Express - Frogeye Sprite	66
Publication	Classic Car Weekly 18 May 2011	66
Buyer's Guide Express - Frogeye Sprite - The car that went on to spawn generations of MG Midgets is now one of the most valuable examples of the breed. MIKE LE CAPLAIN assesses one as a classic buy today.

Article	Classic to restore	39
Publication	Classic Car Mart March 2011	39
Classic to restore - It's at this time of the year that many of us consider our next project. But which classics make the best choices right now? Paul Guinness chooses six of his most recommended classic to restore. Morris Minor, MGB & MGB GT, Classic Mini, Ford Anglia 105E, Triumph TR5, Austin-Healey Sprite.

Article	How to buy an..Austin-Healey Sprite	120
Publication	Classics Monthly March 2011	120
How to buy an..Austin-Healey Sprite - Buy carefully, and the little Frogeye is guaranteed to make you smile.

Article	Miles of smiles	78
Publication	Classic Car Mart July 2010	78
Miles of smiles - Since the Sprite's launch, there have been many imitators - but there's nothing quite like the real thing.

Article	Buying Power - Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite	32
Publication	Classic Car Weekly 10 March 2010	32
Buying Power - Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite - Cuter than a basket of kittens, and probably just as easy - or perhaps even easier - to look after. But like a cat, you need to buy the right one in the first place, says RUSS SMITH.

Article	Buying Power - MG Midget/ Austin-Healey Sprite	12
Publication	Classic Car Weekly 5 November 2009	12
Buying Power - MG Midget/ Austin-Healey Sprite - Can't quite stretch to a Big Healey or even an MGB? Fear no, because both Austin-Healey and MG provided cheaper and smaller alternatives in the diminutive shapes of the Sprite and Midget. RICHARD GUNN tells you more.

Article	Marital bliss	80
Publication	Classics Monthly March 2009	80
Marital bliss- Once Darren Tyre had finished his wife's Sprite, he had to go one better...

Article	Twin test - Austin-healey Sprite vs NSU Spider	62
Publication	Classic Car Mart September 2007	62
Twin test - Austin-healey Sprite vs NSU Spider - If you want a classic that stands out from the crowd, how much quirkiness do you really need? Simon Goldsworthy goes from one extreme to the other in a bid to find out.

Article	Buying Power - Austin-Healey Frogeye Spite	28
Publication	Classic Car Weekly 2 August 2007	28
Buying Power - Austin-Healey Frogeye Spite- The Frogeye Sprit offers a quirky alternative to the Midget and ADAM TAIT is here to tell you how to bag a peach. Expert help comes from Frogeye guru and owner of Classic Revival, Gordon Elwell.

Article	Classic Drive - Sprite Delight	32
Publication	Classics Monthly July 2007	32
Classic Drive - Sprite Delight - This Sprite is a labour of love its owners were told not to buy - good thing they didn't listen.

Article	Timewarp Classics: No 15 - Austin-Healey Sprite: 1958	42
Publication	Classic Car Weekly 8 June 2006	42
Timewarp Classics: No 15 - Austin-Healey Sprite: 1958 - No stranger to the warm glow of nostalgian, ANDREW ROBERTS whisks us back to 1958, the year an exciting little sports car, the Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite, burst onto the motoring scene.

Article	The Frogeyes have it!	70
Publication	Classics Monthly October 2005	70
The Frogeyes have it! - Only made for three years, but now more popular than ever, the Austin Healey Sprite is a great basis for a fast usable sports car. Mike Renaut finds four modified examples that make a good thing even better.

Article	Road Test - Austin Healey Sprite MK I	38
Publication	Classic Car Weekly 23 December 2004	38
Road Test - Austin Healey Sprite MK I - Built 1958-61, two-door, two-seater convertible. Front-engined, rear-wheel-drive, 948cc OHV four-cylinder engine.

Article	Frog March - Austin-Healey Sprite Mk 1	112
Publication	Classic & Sports Car December 2004	112
Frog March - Does fettling a Frogeye to top 120mph make it a spanking good drive or destroy its DNA? To find out, Simon Charlesworth compares three very different sprites. Austin-Healey Sprite Mk 1

Article	Starter Classic - Midget and Sprite	154
Publication	Classic & Sports Car May 2004	154
Starter Classic - Midget and Sprite - The archetypal miniature sports car makes a great first classic, explains Malcolm McKay.

Article	Classics May 2003 pg 21	21
Publication	Classics May 2003	21
Restoration Rivals. If you fancy searching out a Lotus Seven to restore, Tim Morgan suggests these rivals also worthy of your attention.

Article	Classics July 2001 pg 22	22
Publication	Classics July 2001	22
Make mine a small one. These three cars are the best Spridgets from more than 40 years' production. But which of them is the best Spridget of all? Andrew Noakes and Tim Morgan help Andrew Charman to decide.

Article	Classics February 2001 pg 36	36
Publication	Classics February 2001	36
Rare treats at Goodwood. Malcolm McKay revistis this years Goodwood Revival Meeting to bring you details of some of the most interesting cars at the meeting.