1961 Austin Healey Sprite Roadster 948 CC 4 Speed Manual Classic Vintage Collec

1961 Austin Healey Sprite -- Additional Info:

Lightweight sports car fun with a legendary name attached to it is why this 1961 Austin Healey Sprite is so alluring. These first-gen Frogeyes have become truly desirable collectors, and so it's great to see one so expertly restored. The Sprites were all about the joy of driving, and these first-gens really did it the best. After all, you can't help but smile when you see the styling that's unique to these first few years. And while the... design is endearing, this had a much larger purpose. It's a featherweight machine that could even shed the roof, side curtains, and windshield for racing. And while the tan vinyl top might be for temporary use, it's striking against the deep aqua green paintwork. That beautiful hue continues the tradition of bold colors on British roadsters, and it looks particularly impressive because of a recent professional application that makes this sunshine-friendly car shine even brighter. In fact, the restoration really took its time to get this one looking like its fresh off the boat from England. You see it everywhere from the straight body panels, to the delicate rear bumpers, to the factory "AH" hubcaps. If you love the way the tan top looks against the green paint, then you'll love the interior, too. You can tell this was a thoughtful restoration by the way the supple leather buckets have piping to match the exterior color. And with the carpeting, side panels, and dash all in a coordinating tan, this is a very fashionable and fresh machine. But while it's stylish, we all really know the real purpose is to be a driver-focused machine. That's why you get a grippy steering wheel with dual spokes that make it easy to see the clear Smiths gauges. This one doesn't need a center console because your right hand rests perfectly and naturally on the gearshift. The unique hood fully opens up the front end. This is a good thing, because it really gives everyone a chance to see the level of detail in the restoration. You can see they spent a small fortune rebuilding and detailing this motor. The 948cc engine has a dual set of rebuilt SU carbs, and it works with the weight-saving diet to deliver a spirited performance. Combine this with the close ratio four-speed manual transmission, and you begin to understand why people love these cars. After all, there's no better feeling than rowing through the gears at the exact right time to stay in the powerband. The last key to the Sprite being so good on the backroads is its unibody construction. It was revolutionary for a road car at the time, and it keeps the featherweight body nice and stiff in the turns. It even handles quite nicely thanks to a fully rebuilt suspension and modern Kumho tires at all four corners. The sale comes with build receipts and photos. But you can already tell from the photos that everything (including the undercarriage) was carefully restored on this Healey. So when it has this total quality level, all you have to do to enjoy it is be the first one here to snap it up. Call today!!!