2018-BCD

J.D. AUTO SERVICES
British & European SPORTSCARS
Josip (Joe) Dukova
Austin-Healey
SPRITE
– 60 Years
by Ron Redshaw
Rexdale Blvd.
301 Rexdale Blvd. Unit C,
Etobicoke, Ont. M9W 1R8
TEL: (416) 746-1048
Martin Grove
BRITISH CAR
REPAIR SHOP
l TRIUMPH
l MG
l LOTUS
l JAGUAR
May 20, 2018 marked the sixtieth
anniversary of the launch of the Austin-
Healey Sprite. The Sprite became a sales
success for British Motor Corporation,
filling a void in the sports car market for
an affordable sports car aimed at the baby
boomer generation. Those who know
British sports cars will be familiar with
the Sprite. Sprite owners have included
George Harrison, David Letterman, and (of
course) Jay Leno, while the racing world’s
who’s who have competed in Sprites both
in rallies and at the track. On the field
today you can expect to see about two
dozen Sprites as well as a complement of
‘sister’ MG Midgets.
In the winter of 1956 a meeting took
place between Donald Healey and BMC
director Leonard Lord. Lord wanted
a low-cost sports car to replace the
Austin7 Nippy and Austin Ulster models
of the 1930s. Donald took this request
to the Healey works
in Warwick and
met with his son
Geoff and the
small Healey
team. This team
had previously
conceived and
developed the
Austin-Healey 100.
They were given two
constraints: minimize
the cost and use existing
BMC spec parts. The team used the stateof-the-art
D Type Jaguar and Porsche 356
as models even though they were working
to a strict budget.
The BMC directives required that,
where possible, existing BMC parts were
to be utilized. The Austin A35 A-series
948cc engine, gearbox, front suspension
and rear axle, along with the Morris Minor
rack-and-pinion steering were specified.
The combination MGA brake and clutch
master cylinders were used. While the
front brakes were A35 standard, Geoff
Healey contacted Lockheed to develop a
superior rear drum brake setup.
Barry Bilbie, the Healey chassis
designer, working with Gerry Coker, the
body designer, came up with a unibody
platform based on the size of the BMC
components. This chassis featured
compactness and structural strength all
contained within the wheelbase. Gerry set
about designing a car that would be as
light, uncomplicated and cost-effective as
possible. His proposal was to eliminate
the boot lid, which saved both cost
and weight, and to integrate a full front
bonnet lift-up to save weight and provide
easy access. While the bonnet is not light
it is appreciated by both owners and
racers for its ease of access.
The car features a tip of the hat to the
Ferrari Testarossa and its sibling Austin-
Healey 100 but was to contain several new
features. The original oval grille, inspired
by the 100S Healey, looked a bit dull so a
piece of chrome was added above. To have
a clean shape Coker proposed concealed
headlamps. These were later deemed too
expensive and abandoned. Gerry Coker
departed the Healey company in January
’57 to work for Chrysler in the United
States. Les Ireland, who had worked with
Donald Healey before the WWII took over
the final body design responsibility. The
Sprite’s appearance was subsequently
changed; the concealed headlamps
were replaced with “Frogeye”
(“Bugeye” in America) lamps.
BCD 28 www.BritishCarDay.com September 16, 2018 • British Car Day Programme
British Car Day Programme • September 16, 2018 www.BritishCarDay.com BCD 29