This listing was posted on Americanlisted.
1959 Austin-Healey Sprite
Financing:
Summary:
Used 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite 19,501 miles
Location:
Scotts Valley, CA
Description:
Click here to view high resolution photoshttps://www.flickr.com/gp/149927902@N02/PMikCY True time-capsule condition - Original and unrestored19,501 original milesA long-time member of the Canepa Motorsport Museum collection948cc A-Series inline-4 engine, 4-speed manual transmission Known worldwide for their original open-top sports cars,Austin-Healey found success through the winning combination of fundriving dynamics and affordable entry into the sports car market.Their successful line of sports cars like the 100-6 and the "BigHealey" 3000 paved the way for their future models, including oneof the most iconic: the Austin-Healey Sprite "Bug Eye." Beginning production in 1958, the new Austin-Healey was a smallerand more precise sports car than its predecessors. Introduced tothe world through a variety of racing wins (First-in-class at the1959 Sebring 12-hours and First-in-class in the 1958 Alpine Rally),it immediately gained critical acclaim. With seating for just twopassengers, its 948cc A-Series inline-4 engine, fantastic handling,a 4-speed manual transmission and enough headroom for anyone, itproved to be a welcome addition to the pool of sports carsavailable to Americans. A "time-capsule car" is often a phrase that is used when theautomobile in question represents the best of the best in terms oforiginal quality. These unrestored masterpieces are as close as youcan get to going back in time, simply by seeing or sitting in onecan begin to transport you back to the car's original time period.This Austin-Healey Spite wears the description time-capsule carproudly. Original and unrestored throughout, owned by only 3 peoplein its lifetime, and raced in period during the beginning of itshistory, this Austin-Healey is quite possibly one of the finestSprite Mk 1 in existence. This Austin-Healey Sprite was manufactured towards the end of the1958 production run, and was titled as a 1959. The original owner,J.P. Whitaker, purchased the car from John Dennison Foreign Cars inDavenport, Indiana. Whitaker, who was a graphic artist and 30 yearsold at the time, fabricated a tow bar and modified an AMCO rearnerf bar to mount tail lights and turn signals on. His trusty towvehicle was a Plymouth Valiant station wagon, in the same colors asthe Bugeye: white, with a blue stripe, and a red interior. Whitaker raced the car from 1959 to 1967, competing in a number ofevents at Road America. Many of those tech stickers still remain onthe roll bar inside of the car, showing evidence of those races. Healso competed at Wilmot Hills, Meadowdale, Lawrenceville, and othertracks to the east. Today the odometer reads 19,501 miles, and these are all originalmiles. J.P reported that more than half of those miles are fromflat towing the car to various races during his ownership. As the Sprite sits today, it is one of the most original andunmolested Bugeyes in the world. It has never been restored, andother than what Mr. Whitaker described as a "disagreement with anOldsmobile in a parking lot", it was never in an accident on track.Its time-capsule condition is quite extraordinary as few streetcars survive in this condition, let alone a race car. The top, tonneau cover, and side curtains are original and stillhave their original bags, as does the jack. It still has itsoriginal Lucas Headlights. Remarkably so, it also still retains itsred ribbed door mats. The period racing modifications give this Sprite unique character,adding an immense amount to the car's history. The small racewindscreen is an accessory wing vent from a "T" series. The muffleris from an Excelsior motorcycle, and the rear baffle would beremoved for race days. The seatbelts are Army surplus, and the rollbar was constructed from well casing. Whitaker replaced the earlyriveted Bugeye rims with MKII welded rims in 1961. The car stillrides on the Michelin X tires, circa 1963. A strap was used toprevent the passenger seat from flipping forward during races.Throughout all of his racing, Whitaker went through the enginetwice as a preventative measure, and as a result never DNF'd. Whitaker eventually sold his Sprite to a friend, before realizingthat he couldn't actually fit in the car. The car was taken care ofby multiple owners during its history, all of which treated the carwith respect due to its current condition. Canepa acquired the Austin-Healey Sprite in 2011 and it became astaple of the Canepa Motorsports Museum. With its unique ownershiphistory, outstanding originality, and its track-weekend mentality,the car was an excellent and fan-favorite addition to thecollection of other motorsport legends. After close to a decade inthe Canepa Motorsports Museum, it was right time to find anotherloving caretaker who would appreciate the car for exactly what itis. A time-capsule track-day Austin-Healey that is overflowing withcharacter and charm, ready for its next owner to enjoy to BugeyedSprite.
Body Type:
Station Wagon
Transmission:
Manual Transmission
For sale by:
Private Party
Posted:
January 8 on Americanlisted
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More About this Listing: 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite
1959 Austin-Healey Sprite is a 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite Classic Car in Scotts Valley CA. Find other listings by searching for 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite in Santa Cruz on Oodle Classifieds.
1959 Austin-Healey Sprite is a 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite Classic Car in Scotts Valley CA. Find other listings by searching for 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite in Santa Cruz on Oodle Classifieds.