Simon Cars - Austin-Healey Sprite

Having sealed a deal with Austin for the Austin-Healey 100, Donald Healey followed this up by designing the Austin-Healey Sprite based around Austin A35 and Morris Minor components. Launched in 1958, the Austin-Healey Sprite was powered by a tuned 948cc A-series engine and given a distinctive 'Frogeye' style bonnet. In 1962 the MkII Sprite was launched with a more conventional front by Healey and a tail by MG, the chassis remaining as for the MkI. The MkII was to be sold as the Austin-Healet Sprite, and the MG Midget MkI. In 1962 both Sprite and Midget were upgraded with a 1098cc engine, improved gearbox, and disc brakes. The Sprite was produced under licence in Italy as the Innocenti 950 and 1100 with its own Tom Tjaarda-designed body. The MkIII Sprite (and MkII Midget) was launched in 1964 with revised windscreen, wind-up windows, improved rear suspension. In 1966 The Austin-Healey Sprite MkIV (and MG Midget MkIII) was launched with 1275cc A-series engine, revised (and fixed) convertible hood. The final Sprites were produced in 1971 with 'Austin' badges on as the Healey contract had expired.

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Austin-Healey Sprite Mk1 - boot badge	Austin-Healey Sprite MkIII - badge on bonnet	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI - The 'Frogeye' grille	Austin-Healey Sprite mkIII - grille	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI - the 'Frogeyes' were supposed to be pop-up headlamps but this solution was cheaper.	Austin-Healey Sprite Mk1. The BMC - Healey partnership was rekindled by the creation of this small Healey. Using an Austin 948cc engine and components from A35 and Minor cars, the Austin-Healey Sprite MkI sold almost 50,000 cars from 1958-61.
Austin-Healey Sprite MkIII. The MkII had introduced the squarer non-frogeye body, and with the MkIII the luxury of wind-up windows and quarterlights was given. The equivalent MG Mideget was the MkII	Austin-Healey Sprite Mk III went "soft" with larger winscreen, wind-up windows and more comfortable interior. The convertible hood could be fully removed, useful but the hood itself wasn't very good.	Austin-Healey Sprite MkIII. In 1963 the Sprite MkII and Midget MkI gained a 1098cc 55bhp A-series engine and disc brakes, and in 1964 the wind-up windows MkIII Sprite was launched.	Austin-Healey Sprite MkIV. Produced from 1966-71, the MkIV Sprite (and MkIII MG Midget) gained the 1275cc engine and more comfort.	Austin-Healey Sprite MkIV. On the MkIV a new hood was fitted, being a fold-down type in place of the removable hood fitted on earlier carsw.	Austin-Healey Sprite MkIV 1969. From 1969 the Sprite and Midget models were revised with the 'British Leyland' style, consisting of matt black sills, plastic grille and rostyle wheels.
Austin-Healey Sprite Mk1 - interior of the 'Frogeye'	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI - the 'Frogeye'	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI - front sidelamp	Austin-Healey Sprite Mk1
Austin-Healey 100, 100S, 100M, 100/6	Innocenti Spider	MG Midget MkI, II and III