This 1960 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite is said to have been delivered new to San Francisco, California in late 1959 as a completely-knocked-down (CKD) example before being initially assembled. The seller acquired the car in August 2016, and a subsequent refurbishment completed in late 2017 involved installing a 1,098cc inline-four and overhauling the four-speed manual transmission, the rear end, and the brakes. The car was repainted in gray with red stripes, and the interior was retrimmed in red upholstery. Other equipment includes dual SU carburetors, front disc brakes, steel wheels, hubcaps, a body-color hardtop, a bikini-style convertible top, a tonneau cover, and removable side curtains for both the hard and soft tops. This Bugeye Sprite is now offered with a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate, spare parts, refurbishment photos, and a clean South Carolina title in the seller’s name.
Finished from the factory in Nevada Beige, the car received bodywork to the hood and rust repair below the driver-side A-pillar prior to being repainted during the aforementioned refurbishment. The twin red stripes are painted on, and the grille has been replaced. Some photos in the gallery below depict the body-color hardtop before the rear window was reinstalled with replacement seals. The seller notes a paint blemish on the passenger door.
Silver-painted 13″ steel wheels wear chrome hubcaps and are mounted with 155-series radial tires. Braking is handled by front discs sourced from a later-model Austin-Healey as well as rear drums.
The bucket seats were retrimmed in red vinyl with white piping during the refurbishment. Interior appointments include a heater, lap belts, and door pockets.
A Moto-Lita wood-rimmed steering wheel frames Smiths instrumentation consisting of a 100-mph speedometer, a 6k-rpm tachometer, and gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, and water temperature. The five-digit odometer shows 93k miles, approximately 4k of which were added under current ownership.
The 1,098cc inline-four was installed in 2017 and is augmented by dual SU carburetors.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. The gearbox and the rear end reportedly were overhauled during the refurbishment.
The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate lists factory colors and options as well as initial shipment to San Francisco on September 1, 1959.
A bikini-style convertible top will accompany the vehicle along with two sets of side curtains, a tool bag, spare parts, and refurbishment photos.