This 1959 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite was refurbished under prior ownership and fitted with a 1,275cc inline-four before being acquired by the seller in 2019. Work conducted under current ownership involved installing dual SU carburetors, a sway bar, and three-point seatbelts as well as replacing the convertible top, carpeting, exhaust, shocks, fuel tank, fuel gauge, fuel-sending unit, and battery. Finished in white over red vinyl upholstery, the car is equipped with a four-speed manual transmission, steel wheels, hubcaps, and a heater. This Mark I Sprite is now offered with side curtains, a tonneau cover, refurbishment photos, and a clean Idaho title in the seller’s name.
The car was refinished in white under previous ownership. A red convertible top was sourced from Bugeyeguy.com under current ownership but is not fitted to the car, and side curtains and a worn tonneau cover also will accompany the vehicle. Equipment includes a forward-tilting hood, dual side mirrors, and chrome rear bumperettes. The seller notes chips around the door openings and a dent in the left-rear quarter panel.
Silver-painted steel 13″ wheels with hubcaps are mounted with 175/70 Hankook Kinergy ST tires. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel drum brakes. A sway bar was added by the seller, who also had the tires and the elbow shocks replaced.
The cabin features bucket seats trimmed in red vinyl with white piping, which is complemented by a color-matching dashboard and door cards. The red carpeting was replaced under current ownership, and three-point seatbelts were installed. Other equipment includes a heater, a leather shift knob, a passenger-side grab handle, and storage pockets in the doors.
The two-spoke steering wheel frames Smiths instrumentation consisting of a 100-mph speedometer, a tachometer, a fuel gauge, and a combination gauge for coolant temperature and oil pressure. The five-digit odometer shows less than 50 miles, and approximately 500 miles are said to have been added under current ownership; true mileage is unknown.
The 1,275cc inline-four was installed in 2018 under prior ownership. The seller installed dual SU carburetors, and the car has a Sprite-branded aftermarket air cleaner. Other work performed under current ownership reportedly included replacement of the fuel tank, fuel-sending unit, fuel gauge, battery, and battery brackets as well as replacement of the exhaust system from the manifold back. The carburetors were synched and adjusted in August 2023.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. The clutch, pressure plate, and slave cylinder are said to have been replaced when the current engine was installed.
Refurbishment photos are viewable in the gallery below.