Introduced in 1958, the Austin-Healey Sprite took the sports car world by storm. From the outset, the Sprite was intended to fit below its bigger brother, the 100-6 Convertible. Despite the relatively small amount of horsepower it produced, the car was very lightweight. With its rack-and-pinion steering and diminutive footprint, the little Healey handled like it was on rails.

By 1961, the Sprite received a major update and was given the Mark II designation. The body was completely different from its predecessor and featured a squared-off nose and more rectangular grille, which gave the car an appearance not too dissimilar from the 3000. The 1963 model year introduced the biggest change, which was a new 1,098-cubic centimeter engine, replacing the earlier 948-cubic centimeter version that powered the popular Series I Bugeye Sprites. This brought an increase of 10 brake horsepower and 9 foot-pounds of torque, which was a considerable upgrade for a car that tipped the scales at just 1,450 pounds. Built at MG’s facility in Abington, it was closely related to the MG Midget, which was produced just three years after the introduction of its older cousin.

The 1963 Austin-Healey Sprite offered here is presented in fantastic condition and finished in a timeless color combination of black with a red leather interior and matching convertible top. The dashboard is also red and offset by black-face Smiths gauges, which was typical of this era of British sports cars. This example was restored to exacting specifications by a previous owner who went to great lengths to ensure accuracy. If a replacement part was needed, a factory-correct example was sourced in order to keep this car as original as possible. As a result, nearly every part on this Sprite is factory correct, down to the authentic script headlights. This car is also equipped with a restored jack, side curtains, tonneau, and original bag to hold the top bows. This Sprite also sports aftermarket wire wheels with a chrome finish, which were installed on the car in period.

This exceptional Sprite will give its new owner a driving experience that modern cars simply cannot match. Austin-Healeys, and particularly the Sprite, have always been regarded as fantastic sports cars that handle well and provide plenty of thrills for the driver behind the wheel. Restored as such, this example is in very good condition and would certainly be welcome at any concours of British sports cars, and it is bound to return home with a trophy to its name.