Vehicle Description
Sitting in an Iowa garage since 1975, this little Bugeye Sprite is
a fun project waiting for a new caretaker. Motor spins freely but
does not run - appears distributor is missing but most everything
else can be accounted for. Boxes of parts included in sale (not
pictured). Will need a complete restoration but the potential is
there! Please note this car is located in IA and not at our
showroom in Stanley, WI.
The Austin-Healey Sprite, introduced for 1958, continued the
collaboration between Austin and The Donald Healey Motor Company
and took further advantage of the massive British Motor Corporation
parts bin. Although it was aimed at the very bottom of the sports
car market, the Sprite used a modern unibody and offered precise
handling if modest acceleration from its 948cc A-series overhead
valve engine and transmission with synchromesh on the top three
gears.
To keep costs down, the independent front suspension was joined by
a live rear axle with quarter-elliptic springs, braking was by
front and rear drums, and the headlamps - originally intended to
pop up - were fixed in the up position. Thanks to the grinning
grille and those bulging headlamps, the car was dubbed the "Bugeye"
Sprite, or "Frogeye" in the U.K. The Sprite quickly gained a
following and they could be seen racing for several decades.
Approximately 50,000 Sprites were sold, introducing many to the
world of sports cars. Although stock Bugeyes are relatively scarce,
many have survived, often with 1275 engines, front disc brakes and
other modifications. Although more spartan and slower than later
Sprites, Bugeyes are the most collectible by a considerable
margin.
Terms of Sale: All vehicles are sold AS-IS with no warranties of
any kind, and all sales are final. We strongly encourage you to
inspect, in person, any vehicle you are considering purchasing.
Third party inspections are also welcomed and encouraged. To place
a vehicle on hold for 7 days to allow for an inspection, a deposit
of $500 (via credit card) is required. This deposit will be applied
to the purchase price. This deposit is refundable should you
inspect the car and decide it's not the one for you, but once you
take delivery, it's yours. All sales are final. Acceptable forms of
final payment include cash, cashier's check (once cleared), or wire
transfer. A $100 dealership service fee is added to the final
purchase price. Wisconsin residents will pay sales tax and titling
fees. Out-of-state buyers will be responsible for any applicable
taxes and registration in their state/country of residence.
