This car, Lot 146178, sold for $30,713, including buyer’s premium, on Bring a Trailer’s online auction on May 9, 2024.
The Bugeye story is well known, as the Austin-Healey Sprite has been a bedrock of the British sports car market for decades.
Donald Healey conceived the car to occupy a low-priced niche vacated by other manufacturers. Post-war enthusiasm still permeated the world in the mid-1950s, and sports cars had grown larger, elaborate and costly. The little Bugeye, as it came to be known, arrived in 1958 as an antidote, offering unit-body construction, rack-and-pinion steering, and 43 horsepower — but little else — for just $1,795.
There was no trunk lid and the “weather equipment” was an oxymoron, but the car was handy on the road and simple to fix. Though no one knew it then, the Sprite would father an entire family of affordable sports cars under the MG and Austin badges stretching into 1979 — a worthy accomplishment for the cheap little roadster.
Buy low, sell high
Five years earlier, the consignor purchased this attractive example on BaT for just $19,950. The recent sale price represents a considerable accrual in value — more than $10k — despite the generally lackluster British-roadster market segment over that time frame. A number of factors that contributed to this “windfall,” perhaps none more than the astute purchase in March 2019. As any successful wheeler-dealer will tell you, the money is made when you buy a car, not when you sell it.
Our subject car is attractively presented in Leaf Green, a period-correct color, over green vinyl with darker green piping. According to its British Motor Heritage Industry Trust Certificate, it was delivered in Old English White over black. While a color change might cause a quake over in the Jaguar corner, Bugeye aficionados will more likely applaud the shift away from an uninspiring factory combination.
Dark green carpet covers the floor, whereas the factory would have installed color-coordinated rubber mats. Unless the new owner is headed to a concours, the market is unlikely to punish this change. Carpeting civilizes what is normally a rackety ride. A custom cloth hood in an elegantly dark shade accompanied by refinished side curtains round out the cosmetics.
The Sprite was built with a 948-cc 4-cylinder straight from the parts bin over at Morris and Austin. Hanging twin SU carbs off the engine boosted horsepower from 36 to 43, but even at only 1,500 pounds, the car cannot be described as fast — “quick” is more like it.
Note that while this car’s engine number matches its BMHT certificate, the stamped tag is affixed by rivets and could easily be swapped to a different block. The same is true of the VIN and body numbers. That said, for those who care, it is reassuring that the tags appear original and not restamped, and their numbers are correct for this car.
The car retains its smooth-case gearbox, rebuilt by a prior owner. That rebuild should be considered a bit of a victory since parts can be scarce. But this aging unit isn’t much of an advantage. Thanks to weaker synchros and less-than-optimal gearing, the smooth-case transmission is not as robust as the later rib case, and the parts situation is more likely to worsen than improve.
No mods
While a matching-numbers 948 paired with a smooth-case 4-speed ticks the “originality” box, legions of Bugeyes are plying the roads with later powertrain combinations. The installation of a 1,098-cc (introduced in 1962) or 1,275-cc (from 1966) engine completely transforms the driving experience, and these cars can draw strong prices. Enthusiasts familiar with the “resto-mod” phenomenon have observed the price gap that’s opened between original cars and their modernized counterparts. That said, this Bugeye will resonate with the segment of enthusiasts who would never consider anything but a factory-original configuration.
This car’s seller spent his five years of ownership improving what was already a fine example. Two pages of notes describing the work performed mostly boil down to testing for and curing leaks in various components, with a sprinkling of cosmetic work and parts upgrades. Minor corrosion is noted and should be arrested before it gets worse, and the underside of the car’s rear sheet metal remains slightly crumpled. Speaking of the underside, other than the one defect, its overall condition is top-notch, with no undercoating and not a speck of grease marring the finish, a testament to the fastidiousness of the seller.
Driving a Bugeye involves much noise with less-than-commensurate progress but considerable fun. Parts availability is outstanding, as is help from enthusiasts on several continents. The car can be made suitable for most any pursuit, whether track, road or tour. It is a wonderful “starter classic.” This example, displaying a striking color scheme and in terrific condition, should be welcome at many events.
Clearly these factors inspired a few bidders who had wound up bridesmaids in previous auctions to stretch their bidding. The last hour of the auction recorded 13 bids from four discrete suitors before the result came in. This car was well sold, but given its quality, we doubt the buyer regrets paying a top-of-the-market price. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of Bring a Trailer.)
