HIGHLIGHTS

• Beautiful example 
• Extensive history
• Fully restored 
• Thousands spent    
• 5 speed gearbox                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

THE APPEAL

This stunning example has been the result of an extensive restoration in the late 90s. The Sprite was taken apart and rebuilt by the vendor in 2019-2020 to ensure everything was as perfect as possible, including the engine, suspension and drivetrain. The vendor has taken a great deal of time to build the car so it handles well, stops perfectly and performs superbly.

THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK 

• Manufactured 7th October 1958 
• Registered 31st December 1958
• V5C is present
• Extensive body restoration in 1998 
• Original registration booklet
• Hundreds of invoices and receipts
• British Heritage Trust Certificate

THE INTERIOR

• Fitted with the correct seats, which are in excellent condition. There is a tiny wear mark on the edge of the driver's seat, but this is minimal
• Door cards have a small amount of patina, in keeping with the age of the car 
• Rare early-style flat interior door handles
• The dashboard is in excellent condition 
• The instruments are working correctly, and the odometer shows a reading of 37,658 miles
• Additional oil temperature gauge fitted on a bracket which can drop down and lift up, so it’s hidden away for a standard look
• The gear pod and gaiter are correctly installed 
• Switchgear is in excellent condition with two additional period toggle switches and 50s-style label plates
• Orange oil pressure warning light built into green indicator light
• Upgraded tachometer with the internals from a mk3 Sprite now works with the alternator and electronic ignition 
• The carpets are 20 years old and do show some signs of age. There is a set of fitted mats which are in very good condition 

THE EXTERIOR

• Finished in Speedwell Blue
• The bodywork is in excellent condition after an extensive restoration in 1998
• There is a small ding on the rear of the car near the fuel cap where something fell on it
• The panel gaps align well for the doors and bonnet 
• The paintwork presents well; there are a few small chips here and there, but nothing excessive
• Headlights are in good condition with no chips to the lenses, and there are uprated bulbs fitted
• The grille has a minimal amount of tarnishing
• Rare nine-stud windscreen frame 
• Square painted window stanchions
• The roof is in very good condition and fits well 
• Side screens have new plexiglass windows and felt seals fitted
• Steel wheels have been refurbished and fitted with hubcaps which are in excellent condition
• The tyres have a good amount of tread remaining, having not covered many miles
• No underseal has been used, and the underside is in excellent condition 

THE MECHANICS

• 1380cc engine with an extensive spec:
  • Powermac 9cc dished pistons
  • Lightened con rods 
  • Strapped centre main bearings 
  • ARP bolts throughout 
  • Mini Cooper S oil pump and adjustable oil pressure relief valve
  • Balanced crank
  • Peter May Engineering lightweight flywheel and competition clutch
  • Rob Walker 11 stud stage 3 gas flowed, big valve cylinder head and Swiftune SW5 camshaft
  • SU HIF44 carburettor, manifold and K&N filter
  • Vernier timing gears
  • Duplex chain 
  • High-flow water pump 
  • Alloy radiator with electronic cooling fan
  • Stealth electronic ignition system
  • Will accept unleaded E10 fuel
• Set up for low-mid-range torque
• Stainless steel exhaust
• 2,000 miles covered since the engine was built
• Recommissioned in 2019-2020, when everything was stripped down and inspected
• AVO adjustable shock absorbers
• Peter May Engineering brake kit consists of 9” cross-drilled discs and Wilwood 4-pot calipers, and Sebring twin master cylinder pedal box
• Double-bearing hubs all around 
• Rose jointed anti-roll bar, radius arms and Panhard rod
• New fuel tank and fuel lines fitted
• New wiring loom installed 
• Five-speed type 9 gearbox
• Minor oil leak, which the vendor reports seem to be standard on A-Series engines
• As you can imagine from the above spec, the Sprite runs like a dream and is excellent fun to drive with no issues reported

SUMMARY