Saleofcar.com :Austin

Austin Healey Sprite (1966)
for sale

Price: US $14,995.00

Description:

The
Austin-Healey Sprite
is a small open sports car which was produced in the United Kingdom from 1958 to 1971. The Sprite was announced to the press in Monte Carlo by the British Motor Corporation on 20 May 1958, just before that year'sMonaco Grand Prix. It was intended to be a low-cost model that a chap could keep in his bike shed, yet be the successor to the sporting versions of the pre-war Austin Seven. The Sprite was designed by the Donald Healey Motor Company, with production being undertaken at the MG factory at Abingdon. It first went on sale at a price of £669, using a tuned version of the Austin A-Series engine and as many other components from existing cars as possible to keep costs down.
In 1961 the Sprite was joined by a badge-engineered MG version, the Midget, reviving a model name used by MG from the late 1920s through to the mid 1950s. Enthusiasts often refer to Sprites and the later Midgets collectively as Spridgets.
Mark IV and Austin Sprite[edit]Mark IVOverviewAlso calledAustin SpriteProduction1966–1971Body and chassisRelatedMG Midget MkIIIPowertrainEngine1, 275 cc (1.3 L) A-Series I4DimensionsWheelbase2, 032 mm (80.0 in)[3]Length3, 492 mm (137.5 in)[3]Width1, 397 mm (55.0 in)[3]The next upgrade was presented at the London Motor Show in October 1966.[7] Besides receiving the larger 1275 cc engine (which disappointed enthusiasts by being in a lower state of tune than that of the Mini-Cooper 'S'), the Mark IV and its cousin the Mark III MG Midget had several changes which were more than cosmetic. Most notable is the change from a removable convertible top, which had to be stowed in the boot, to a permanently affixed, folding top of greatly improved design, which was much easier to use. Separate brake and clutch master cylinders were fitted, as car manufacturers' thoughts began to turn to making their products safer.[8] On US market versions the larger engine sacrificed some of its performance from 1968 on, through the use of smog pumps and other modifications to comply with federal emission control requirements. 1969 was the final year the Sprite was exported to the US.
For the 1970 model year cast-alloy wheels were fitted and the grille was changed to resemble that fitted to the MG Midget.[9] 22, 790 Mark IV Sprites were made.[5]
Engine:
1966–1971: 1275 cc A-Series I4, 65 hp (48 kW) at 6000 rpm and 72 lbf·ft (98 Nm) at 3000 rpmThe Healey connection was discontinued in 1971, so the final 1, 022 Sprites built were simply Austin Sprites.[10] This was a cost-cutting move of Donald Stokes', enabling British Leyland to stop paying royalties to the Donald Healey Motor Company.[11] There was no direct successor, as BL's extensive range already contained the MG Midget, which was identical to the Sprite except for badging, and the similarly dimensioned and priced Triumph Spitfire.
From : Wikipedia

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