1961 AUSTIN-HEALEY Bugeye SPRITE

OVERVIEW

This 1961 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite is an open-top English sports car that receives power from a rebuilt, well-maintained 1,275cc inline-4 paired with a rebuilt 4-speed manual transmission. Under the seller’s 17-year ownership, the car received work to the mechanical systems including electrical, fuel delivery, tires, and cooling components. Finished in a blue repaint with a black top over a black vinyl interior, this Sprite is now offered with a tonneau cover, a new Robbins top, side curtains, a car cover, a spare tire, a jack, owner’s and repair manuals, service records, spare parts as detailed below, and a clear New York title in the seller’s name.

EXTERIOR – FEATURES

This Bugeye Sprite roadster was repainted blue under prior ownership and is dressed with replacement chrome brightwork including the grille surround, dual sideview mirrors, windshield trim, and headlight bezels. The seller notes that the exterior finishes show some wear consistent with an older paint job but are overall well-presented.

EXTERIOR – WHEELS AND TIRES

Silver-finished 13-inch Minator alloy wheels with AH-branded center caps are wrapped in Aspen Touring A/S tires that have accrued fewer than 500 miles since installation.

INTERIOR – FEATURES

The two-seat interior is furnished with black vinyl bucket seats, matched to the door panels, dashboard, and new carpeting. The horn wiring was redone by the seller, and cockpit amenities include a wooden shift knob, lap belts, and a dash-mounted rearview mirror. The seller reports that new windshield washer parts have been installed but no fluid has been added and the system has not been checked.

INTERIOR – GAUGES

Smiths-branded instrumentation includes a 100-mph speedometer, a 7K-rpm tachometer, and accompanying gauges for coolant temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level. The replacement five-digit mechanical odometer reads 68K miles. The cluster has been replaced, thus true mileage on the chassis is unknown.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION

The rebuilt 1,275cc inline-4 was sourced from a later-model vehicle and has been bored to 1,302cc. Within the last 4,000 miles, the car received a new Weber 45 DCOE carburetor, a rebuilt upgraded distributor, a replacement coil, spark plug wires, a new wiring harness, a rebuilt generator and starter, a solid-state fuel pump, a Wizard Cooling aluminum radiator with an electric fan, a clutch, pressure plate, slave cylinder, and an Exide battery. Under prior ownership, the drivetrain received a new exhaust header and a clutch master cylinder. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a rebuilt replacement later-model floor-shifted 4-speed manual transmission and a rebuilt differential with hardened half-shafts. The seller notes that there is an oil leak from the rear sump seal.

UNDERCARRIAGE

Photos showing the underside are available in the carousel. Under prior ownership, the car received new front disc and rear drum brakes, replacement rear springs, a new rear sway bar, and a new brake master cylinder. The shock absorbers have been rebuilt.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

The seller has provided a series of videos showing exterior, interior, and driving footage. The sale includes service records, a tonneau cover, a new Robbins top, new side curtains, a car cover, a spare tire, a jack, owner’s and repair manuals, and additional spare parts including a spare top, Weber carburetor jets, a dual SU carburetor setup with K&N air filters, a disassembled 1,275cc engine, a lightened flywheel, fan belts, hoses, hardware for a tilt-forward hood conversion, and more.