1968 Austin-Healey Sprite

It’s affordable, usable, easy to maintain and a whole lot of fun. The Sprite was repainted during the restoration from its original colour of 'Basilica Blue' to what is believed to be 'British Racing Green'. The paintwork presents well; there are a couple of minor blemishes in places, and some areas do look to have been repainted since the restoration. The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there yourself. Please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car to make up your own mind about the condition of the paint. Walking around the Sprite, the bodywork presents well. There was a restoration carried out in the late 1990s, from what we can tell from the paperwork. There are no dings or dents spotted, and the doors, bonnet and boot appear to align well. We’ve highlighted our observations in more detail through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves. The dashboard looks to be original and is in good order. The instruments present well and appear to be working correctly, and the odometer shows ~82,010 miles at the time of our visit. Capturing the spirit of classic British motoring perfectly, the Austin Healey Sprite is a great driving experience that any classic car fan should experience. Its lively 1275cc A-Series engine delivers eager performance, while the lightweight body, direct steering and low driving position make the journey a charming experience which shouldn’t be missed. The windscreen and side windows are in good condition; there are a couple of age-related marks in keeping with the age and mileage. The headlights and rear lights are in good order, with no damage to the lenses, and any chrome work has a bright finish with minimal tarnishing. The vinyl roof was replaced several years ago and is in good condition; it can be easily fitted in a few minutes. There is also a tonneau cover included, which does look to be original and is still in good order. The Sprite wire wheels are in excellent condition, with a bright finish to the chrome spokes and knock-offs. Two different brands of tyres are fitted to the front and rear, but all have plenty of tread remaining. Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn or over 10 years old. The original seats have been retrimmed in an original-style vinyl and are in very good condition, with no signs of excessive use or damage. The carpets have also been replaced and are in very good condition. Looking through the paperwork, the Sprite’s 1275cc engine was rebuilt in the early 1990s. The engine starts up with a little choke and the flick of the key, and it comes to a smooth idle, with no issues reported with the running of the car. It has a four-speed gearbox with the typical sound; the gears are easily selected, and the little Sprite pulls well throughout the range. The switchgear in the Sprite is minimal due to its age, and everything is said to be working correctly. There is an upgraded stereo connected to a boot-mounted 10-disc CD multi-changer. Alan told us everything is in working order. There is plenty of reading if you like to search through old invoices to see what’s been carried out on your new purchase in its early life. These invoices date back to the early 1990s, where you can see the car had a full engine rebuild and many, many new parts purchased during its restoration. We’ve carried out our usual seller checks, including verifying photo ID, the V5C and an HPI check. This confirms the car has not been stolen, written off and does not have any outstanding finance. Please note: this check does not include mileage verification. We’ve summarised the car based on the seller’s information above. As always, we go to great lengths to photograph and film the car in high-resolution detail so you can make your own informed assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy reviewing everything in this listing. Viewings are welcome for all our listings. Please get in touch to arrange a time – we just need to speak with you first and receive valid photo ID before confirming. If you have any questions, no matter how small, please ask the seller in the comments section below before placing your bids, as bids cannot be retracted and form a binding contract if you win, just like in a traditional auction. On the road, the Sprite handles lovely. Sitting low to the ground makes you feel like you’re going faster than you actually are. The car handles bumps with ease, and no knocks or bangs were heard coming from the suspension. The brakes bring the car to a stop in a straight line, with a solid pedal feel and no issues reported by Alan. A Mountney three-spoke steering wheel has been fitted and is in good condition, with no signs of heavy use. The gear knob has the Austin Healey logo at the top and is in good condition, with minimal signs of age.