In keeping with the same stripped-down formula, the interior was as basic as it could get: two narrow bucket seats, a simplistic dashboard featuring traditional circular gauges and a support handle for the passenger. And since the car was devoid of a roof, the floor was covered with waterproof rubber mats. Obviously, a plastic cover was optionally available to protect the interior.
In terms of hardware, the Sprite not only got the Austin A35's capable engine but also its front suspension. Meanwhile, the rack-and-pinion steering, the rear axle and the rear brakes came from the Morris Minor. Talk about clever, cost-efficient solutions! Incidentally, the Sprite retailed for less than $1,800, making it the cheapest sports car on the market.
Leonard Lord and Donald Healey won their bet since the Sprite not only managed to pioneer a new segment but also conquered the hearts of thousands of enthusiasts in Europe and especially in North America. No doubt the car's success was also motivated by its superb driving experience. While power was anaemic (only 48 horsepower), handling and agility offered enhanced thrills to the driver. Open-air motoring had never been that much fun and affordable at the same time.
Old-school sports cars
From the modest Sprite to the "big" Austin-Healey, these genuine English roadsters are now highly coveted by collectors for whom sports cars are all about having fun and becoming one with the machine. You have to stay focused at all times, but the reward is a feeling of unparalleled satisfaction -- not even today's cars, full of comfort creatures and electronic nannies, can match the excitement of yesterday's roadsters. If old-school sports cars sound interesting to you, then get out of your not-so-sporty SUV and jump behind the wheel of an Austin-Healey. Be careful, though, the fun is contagious!
photo:André Lussier
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In terms of hardware, the Sprite not only got the Austin A35's capable engine but also its front suspension. Meanwhile, the rack-and-pinion steering, the rear axle and the rear brakes came from the Morris Minor. Talk about clever, cost-efficient solutions! Incidentally, the Sprite retailed for less than $1,800, making it the cheapest sports car on the market.
Leonard Lord and Donald Healey won their bet since the Sprite not only managed to pioneer a new segment but also conquered the hearts of thousands of enthusiasts in Europe and especially in North America. No doubt the car's success was also motivated by its superb driving experience. While power was anaemic (only 48 horsepower), handling and agility offered enhanced thrills to the driver. Open-air motoring had never been that much fun and affordable at the same time.
Old-school sports cars
From the modest Sprite to the "big" Austin-Healey, these genuine English roadsters are now highly coveted by collectors for whom sports cars are all about having fun and becoming one with the machine. You have to stay focused at all times, but the reward is a feeling of unparalleled satisfaction -- not even today's cars, full of comfort creatures and electronic nannies, can match the excitement of yesterday's roadsters. If old-school sports cars sound interesting to you, then get out of your not-so-sporty SUV and jump behind the wheel of an Austin-Healey. Be careful, though, the fun is contagious!
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photo:André Lussier
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