1959 Healey Sebring Sprite

Austin Healey Sprite

Year: 1959

Engine: BMC A Series 948cc 4 cylinder inline (originally)

Performance: 83mph 0-60mph 20 seconds

Fuel Consumption: 38mpg

Cost New: £669.00

UK average house price 1959: £2410.00

It has happened before and I dare say will repeat itself in the future when I see a machine that is so lovely, it’s more than just a car. The Prangnell family have one, a Healey Sebring Sprite from 1959; although that is not how it left the factory.The Austin Healey Sprite (known affectionately as ‘frogeye’) first arrived on the scene in 1958 and was built by BMC as a low cost sports car ‘that a chap could keep in his bike shed’, as quoted by advertisers. Designed by Donald Healey and assembled at the Abingdon Works (MG), the car was a great success. This lovely looking, small car quickly found fame, which it still enjoys today. Powered originally by the BMC 948cc engine producing 43hp, it was nippy rather than fast but immediately became popular in motorsport circles and excelled in rallying. The most legendary of the racing Sprites was to be the Sebring, named after the Florida race track that has hosted endurance races for many years. In 1959 for the 12 hour event at Sebring the competition department at Donald Healey Motor Co entered three special Sprites.Finishing 1, 2and 3in their class they brought the Oxfordshire factory to the attention of the lucrative North American market. The race winning success continued on for years and the Sebring Sprites returned annually to Florida racing well into the swinging sixties.Chichester based Mike Prangnell first acquired his ‘Frogeye’ 12 years ago, an ex-Californian rust free example that he could enjoy in competition and for fun. In 2009 a Sebring conversion proved very tempting and with a few suppliers around, the choice of Archers Garage for the replica parts was made. Archers have one of the original race Sebring’s, which is believed to have been driven by Stirling Moss and is the car that Mike took his inspiration and measurements from. The transformation took him a year and will stand up to any scrutiny. The lines and panel gaps are excellent and the interior is a great place to be unless you are over six foot. The paint work compliments the rest of the car; it is bold and bright and suits the little Sebring perfectly. Thanks to Mike and Ros for their time and input, wish I was 2 foot shorter.