1961 1100cc 4-Speed Convertible Documents/Paperwork

1961 Austin Healey Sprite Bugeye Mark I Stock #444292 Additional Info:

1961 Austin-Healey Sprite Mark I For Sale in Silverthorne, CO 80498 Owners Description Four Sale: 1961 Austin-Healey Marrk I (Bigeye Sprite) British Motor Industry Trust listed as 1960, shipped to California, and sold and titled as a 1961. Correct chassis number, AN5L-45864 matches the Colorado Title. A very late production number! Left hand drive. Original color "Old English White" with black interior, red trim. When sanding and stripping the body, I found Primrose yellow, the color when I acquired the car, British Racing Green, Dark blue, and finally white. The firewall and transmission tunnel were where the color was not taken down to bare metal during

1961 Austin-Healey Sprite Mark I For Sale in Silverthorne, CO 80498

Owners Description

Four Sale: 1961 Austin-Healey Marrk I (Bigeye Sprite)

British Motor Industry Trust listed as 1960, shipped to California, and sold and titled as a 1961. Correct chassis number, AN5L-45864 matches the Colorado Title. A very late production number! Left hand drive. Original color "Old English White" with black interior, red trim. When sanding and stripping the body, I found Primrose yellow, the color when I acquired the car, British Racing Green, Dark blue, and finally white. The firewall and transmission tunnel were where the color was not taken down to bare metal during other repaints.

I purchased the car from a friend in Silverthorne Colorado. I had known about the car for years as I was involved in vintage racing for many years. Jumped at the chance to purchase the car as I previously had a Sprite in high school. Mine was Cherry Red so the restoration had to be the same color.

September of 2012 started the wake-up car for the car after it sat in a garage for 15 years. Driven by the family over the years. Old work orders in possession. Know history from 1978 to present. Thomas Kaufman, Littleton Colo. 1978 Judd Menning Engelwood Co 1982, passed down to his daughter in 1997. I purchased the car in 2012.

Non running when I brought the car home. Serviced all the safety components, full tune-up, all fluids drained and refreshed. Drove the car around the mountains and determined it needed total restoration! A bigger project than I ever guessed.

Fall of 2012 stripped all components with the idea to restore all original components in anticipation of taking the unibody to a friend’s shop in Gunnison Colo. Motor sent off to a Vintage race prep shop in Denver. Complete rebuild and update with modern internals. Target was to have a reliable street motor. All hydraulic shocks, clutch, brake, master and slave cylinders and front disk brake calipers were sent to Apple Hydraulics. All bright work, interior, seats upholstery, dash, wiring loom, were removed for testing, cleaning and polish ready for reassembly when the chassis was repainted and ready for reassembly. Driveline, ribcage transmission, drive shaft was all repaired and inspected as needed. Steering rack, all suspension components were rebuilt, refurbished, and rebuilt to as new specs.

I took the stripped shell to the body shop where we worked on all the hand stripping of paint and some kind of metal preservative. We found a second-floor pop-riveted to the whole bottom of the car, I think the car may have been raced at some time as I purchased the car with a roll bar and battle wounds. Under the POR-15 was a Swiss cheese floor from the trapped moisture. Old floors, reinforcing crossmembers, rocker panels and door pillars were all repaired with NOS parts as available and new sheet metal fabricated as needed. No Bondo or short cuts. Shell was placed on a frame table, body turned up before welding. Three years in body and paint prep as we worked on the car weekends and down time in the body shop. Got the body shell back in July of 2015 after getting the car into rolling chassis specs. Made a September deadline for the "ALL BRITISH SHOW" in Denver, First in Class!

A continual update has continued in the 11 years I have been enjoying Bugeye. After using a number of British parts suppliers, I have mainly relied on "The Bugeye Guy" for parts and car improvements. You can count on the parts fitting without modification, and they have been tested on a Bugeye.

During the restoration and reassembly, I tried to stick to an original theme as much as possible adding only components that would help with drivability and enjoyment. Added hush mats under the new carpets and interior panels. The sound deadening has made for a much quieter and rattle free car. Now you just enjoy the engine, wind in your hair, and beautiful exhaust note. Ceramic coated headers, free flow ANSA double tipped system.

After having some overheating problems at our altitude of 9500 ft I knew an update was needed! New aluminum radiator, six blade fan, uprated water pump. A complete dry out of the cooling system and block and addition of "EVANS WATERLESS COOLANT. " The product is amazing as the car now runs between 190-200 degrees even in 105 degrees Phoenix weather. All parts are Bugeye Guy parts.

Power plant has been updated to a great street motor with the addition of the Rubber Harmonic balancer, smoothed out running, Mini Mania rear main seal kit, K&N air cleaners with rebuilt H2 carbs. Solid state fuel pump still makes clicking sound upon start-up till pressures are met. Original drivers side mirror, with additional passenger mirror mounted off the windshield frame. Steering wheel is a period correct wooded wheel.

Car has restored side curtains, polished frames, new Plexiglas, and pulls. All convertible parts come with the car. Working bows and canvas roof. Only have been mounted twice, a drive to a car show in Vail and for car photos.

Repairs and updates in the last year include, all fluids replaced, new Bugeye Guy clutch, pressure plate and throwout bearing. New updated clutch slave cylinder and remote bleeder. Engine out service in 2024 to replace rear seal. New Battery. Complete color correction, polish, and paint sealing. Original paint is a single stage, and I have touch-up paint and codes. New carb mail jets, line from float bowls to carb. Car has spare tire, tool kit, and bag with jack.

This is the all-time smile on your face car! Everyone waves when you drive by!

! THE HAPPIEST CAR EVER BORN !!!Serious inquiries only.

For Assistance with Financing, Transportation, Or Inspections Please Message or Call Customer Service:

402-502-8385

Attention Buyers *Caveat Emptor*Please Remember to Inspect Vehicle Prior To Purchase!