Sold – 1964 Austin Healey Sebring Sprite

This 1964 Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite is believed to have been a factory entrant in the 1964 12 Hours of Sebring, where it retired after nine laps due to a bent axle. The car was then refurbished by Austin-Healey and sold to its first owner, a Pennsylvania-based BMC dealer who retained it until 1985. It was acquired from its second owner in 2015 by the selling dealer, with maintenance in 2015 and 2016 including a fuel system cleaning, installation of new rubber hydraulic hoses and reproduction wheels, and rebuilds of the hydraulic cylinders and starter motor. Power is from a 1.1-liter inline-four paired with a close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential. This Sprite was reacquired by the selling dealer in 2017 and is now offered in Connecticut with historical photographs, factory correspondence, copies of its original invoice and shipping documents, stock wheels, and a clean Florida title.

The red-finished aluminum body features a white Kamm tail, a laminated windshield, and Perspex lift-up side windows. The car was reportedly repainted in 1964 during a post-Sebring refurbishment prior to delivery to its first private owner. Imperfections are shown in detail in the gallery below.

Reproduction 13″ magnesium wheels were cast after the selling dealer first acquired the car in 2015 and are mounted with Michelin tires. The stock Healey magnesium wheels are included in the sale.

The right-hand drive interior was reportedly installed around the same time as the paintwork, and is trimmed in red vinyl with black carpets and white door panels. A wood-rimmed steering wheel, roll bar, and fire extinguisher are equipped, and a dash plaque lists the car as special-ordered by its first owner.

Smiths instrumentation includes a rotated 8k-rpm tachometer and a 120-mph speedometer as well as gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, and water temperature. The 5-digit odometer shows 900 miles.

The 1.1-liter inline-four was reportedly rated at 100 horsepower at 7,700 rpm by the factory and features a racing camshaft, a nitrided crankshaft, dry-sump lubrication, a Weber 45 DCOE carburetor, and a free-flow racing exhaust. Maintenance performed in 2015 and 2016 is said to have included a fuel system cleaning, installation of new rubber hydraulic hoses, and rebuilds of the hydraulic cylinders and the starter motor.

The 1.1-liter inline-four was reportedly rated at 100 horsepower at 7,700 rpm by the factory and features a racing camshaft, a nitrided crankshaft, dry-sump lubrication, a Weber 45 DCOE carburetor, and a free-flow racing exhaust. Maintenance performed in 2015 and 2016 is said to have included a fuel system cleaning, installation of new rubber hydraulic hoses, and rebuilds of the hydraulic cylinders and the starter motor.

The photo above reportedly shows the car on track during the 1964 12 Hours of Sebring, where it is said to have retired after nine laps due to a bent axle. Photos in gallery show participation in the Hershey Hill Climb in the 1960s as well as indicating the car’s condition when it was purchased in 2015. A timeline of the car’s history has been provided by the selling dealer:

• 3/21/1964, entered in the 12 Hours of Sebring, DNF with drivers Al Pease and Donna Mae Mims
• 1964, returned to England for refurbishment
• 7/23/64, titled by first registered owner in Pennsylvania
• 1965, participated in the Hershey Hill Climb
• 1966, participated in the Hershey Hill Climb
• 1985, sold to a friend of the original owner
• 2015, purchased by the selling dealer and sold to a Florida collector
• 2016, shown at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance
• 2017, reacquired by the selling dealer