Leaping into production in 1958, the Donald Healey Sprite was a low cost sports car which used existing BMC parts to ensure over heads of the cars productions remained low. The Austin Healey Sprite would prove to be a big success.

The commonly named “Austin Frogeye”, the Mark I Sprite, was a massive success in its three years of production, with no other car competing on price or performance. As its widely used nick name suggests, the distinctive look of the Mark I Sprite owed itself to the round headlamps on the bonnet of the car, nicked named “frog-eye” headlamps. Cheap and easy to maintain, the wings and bonnet was a one piece unit which opened up to allow easy and large access to the engine. The Mark I used the 948cc Austin A-Series engine which was tuneable and capable of 43bhp, the A35 gearbox and axels, and the twin SU carburettors. Equipped with leaf spring suspension to the front, and wishbone suspension to the rear, the Mark I got it suspension from earlier models such as the A35 and Moris Minor.

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