1961 Austin Healey Sprite Mk2 HAN6 948cc
I have owned this since 2004, and been off the road since 2005 when the timing chain jumped. At the time it happened, I was undergoing treatment for skin cancer, so sorting out an open top car was really not a priority... It has since been in dry storage under an interior car cover. I always intended to sort it out one day, and really don't want to sell it but have now sadly come to the conclusion that I will never have the time to do this.
Very early HAN6 (chassis number in the mid 4ks & built only a few months after launch), so it has various features that were discontinued shortly afterwards (e.g. different boot handle). UK market RHD according to the Heritage certificate, and still in the original paint and trim colours. From what I understand, there are probably not many older RHD examples left, as most were LHD for the States. Unlike later Spridgets, this is still essentially a Frogeye but with the later style front and rear, as it retains the Frogeye style interior, sidescreens and quarter elliptic & radius arm rear suspension. Consequently, there was a time when many MK2s were used to reshell ropey Frogeyes, so not many left now.
It was built as a deluxe spec car, so has full bumpers (whilst not currently fitted, the rear one is still with the car), tacho and heater, which base spec ones did not have...
Comes with a rebuilt engine (correct Sprite Mk2 unit bored out to 998cc (IIRC, +66thou) to take standard 998 pistons & con rods, which gets rid of the pinch bolt little end weak point on the 948 con rods. Balanced crank with centre main bearing strap and Swiftune SW5 cam, and unleaded head. This is out of the car, and has never been run. Once installed, it would be visually identical to original. Whilst not shown in the pics, the correct air filter covers (with radiused, rather than chamfered corners - chamfer required to clear bonnet on the later ones due to the taller block) are also present.
Body is externally pretty tidy, with old but respectable paint from a prior restoration. It has had a replacement rear panel in the past, and appears to have also had full replacement rear quarters / wings too as I haven't been able to find any signs of repair panels being let in. Front wings are tidy except for under the bumper. However, like most Spridgets, it’s probably best to assume it will need floors, sills & spring boxes.
Seats & weather equipment are good – including a new tonneau cover fitted shortly before coming off the road. Unusually, it also has the correct steering wheel (although not shown in the pics), which is the same as a Frogeye & not cheap.
Originally fitted with drums all round when new, but has had discs fitted at the front, as per later Spridgets.
Comes with both the correct 13” perforated steel wheels (which are currently fitted) & a set of new & unused hubcaps. Also included are a set of period 13x5.5 Mamba alloy wheels. These are the real thing – very rare in 13” (usually seen on 10” for Minis), and not to be confused these with the crude modern copies. Four have 155/80R13 tyres (best used only for mocking up due to age though as they must be about 16 years old now!) and one is bare.
Currently in dry storage at my father’s in North Devon, where it has been since 2006.
Please see the thread in my signature below for some older photos.
I have owned this since 2004, and been off the road since 2005 when the timing chain jumped. At the time it happened, I was undergoing treatment for skin cancer, so sorting out an open top car was really not a priority... It has since been in dry storage under an interior car cover. I always intended to sort it out one day, and really don't want to sell it but have now sadly come to the conclusion that I will never have the time to do this.
Very early HAN6 (chassis number in the mid 4ks & built only a few months after launch), so it has various features that were discontinued shortly afterwards (e.g. different boot handle). UK market RHD according to the Heritage certificate, and still in the original paint and trim colours. From what I understand, there are probably not many older RHD examples left, as most were LHD for the States. Unlike later Spridgets, this is still essentially a Frogeye but with the later style front and rear, as it retains the Frogeye style interior, sidescreens and quarter elliptic & radius arm rear suspension. Consequently, there was a time when many MK2s were used to reshell ropey Frogeyes, so not many left now.
It was built as a deluxe spec car, so has full bumpers (whilst not currently fitted, the rear one is still with the car), tacho and heater, which base spec ones did not have...
Comes with a rebuilt engine (correct Sprite Mk2 unit bored out to 998cc (IIRC, +66thou) to take standard 998 pistons & con rods, which gets rid of the pinch bolt little end weak point on the 948 con rods. Balanced crank with centre main bearing strap and Swiftune SW5 cam, and unleaded head. This is out of the car, and has never been run. Once installed, it would be visually identical to original. Whilst not shown in the pics, the correct air filter covers (with radiused, rather than chamfered corners - chamfer required to clear bonnet on the later ones due to the taller block) are also present.
Body is externally pretty tidy, with old but respectable paint from a prior restoration. It has had a replacement rear panel in the past, and appears to have also had full replacement rear quarters / wings too as I haven't been able to find any signs of repair panels being let in. Front wings are tidy except for under the bumper. However, like most Spridgets, it’s probably best to assume it will need floors, sills & spring boxes.
Seats & weather equipment are good – including a new tonneau cover fitted shortly before coming off the road. Unusually, it also has the correct steering wheel (although not shown in the pics), which is the same as a Frogeye & not cheap.
Originally fitted with drums all round when new, but has had discs fitted at the front, as per later Spridgets.
Comes with both the correct 13” perforated steel wheels (which are currently fitted) & a set of new & unused hubcaps. Also included are a set of period 13x5.5 Mamba alloy wheels. These are the real thing – very rare in 13” (usually seen on 10” for Minis), and not to be confused these with the crude modern copies. Four have 155/80R13 tyres (best used only for mocking up due to age though as they must be about 16 years old now!) and one is bare.
Currently in dry storage at my father’s in North Devon, where it has been since 2006.
Please see the thread in my signature below for some older photos.
