1958 Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite MK1
One of the first batch of Sprites, built on the 15th of August 1958, less than three months after the debut of the revolutionary new model at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix weekend.
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Overview
One of the first batch of Sprites
41,000 miles from new
Original paint and interior
Just two owners the first 50 years
Carefully looked after and maintained for its entire life
Part of the Historic Collection since Feb 2018
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One of the first batch of Sprites, built on the 15th of August 1958, less than three months after the debut of the revolutionary new model at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix weekend. This set of early cars can be identified by the 9 stud attachment at the top of the windscreen.
To this day it presents in outstanding original condition having covered just 41,000 miles from new and maintaining the original Cherry Red exterior paint, interior, engine and gearbox as supplied when new. The car also features a host of factory fitted extras including a heater, laminated windscreen, locking petrol cap, rev counter windscreen washers and front bumpers.
The first owner was Andrew Blakeley, a student of Oxford University, he received the car from his generous father as a 20th birthday present. He was extremely precious over the car and kept it at his family home so it was only driven when he was at home during university holidays. In a letter written to another previous owner, Blakeley stated that the family treated the car as if it was a pet, it was pampered with regular maintenance and an oil change every 2000 miles.
Blakeley owned the car for 15 years and looked after it extremely well. Interestingly Blakeley states that he had a tow bar fitted to allow him to tow his boat. He speaks of journeys from their home in Birkenshaw to Scarborough with the boat, although only a 12 foot dinghy this must have still been quite a sight!
In 1974 Blakeley sold the car through a dealership to the second owner, Peter West. In a letter Peter states that he had placed a £50 deposit but could not pull together the rest of the money to buy the car, luckily he was granted some extra time and he managed to pull the funds together with the generous help of his sister in law. West went on to be this cars longest term owner, cherishing it for 35 years until 2009. Over these years West only covered 17,000 miles which is supported by the incredible original condition. In more recent times the car has spent seven years in a heated garage in Wales where it was used sparingly but did frequently attend Austin Healey Owners Club events.
This presents a fantastic opportunity to acquire a museum quality MK1 Frogeye Sprite with extremely low mileage and unrepeatable originality.