Description
For sale is a fantastic and very rare 1971 Austin Sprite. Only 1, 022 were built and there are very few left of those on the road. This car is a piece of UK motoring history.
The Healy name was dropped, as Donald Stokes, the chairman of BLMC (British Leyland Motoring Company), was not a great believer in the value of traditional brands. Two of the great BLMC successes had been the Mini Cooper and the Austin-Healey. In 1970 the Leyland board decided, on Stokes' recomendations, to terminate these two royalty agreements, and with them, to discontinue both the Mini Cooper and the remaining Austin-Healey model, the Sprite.
The last Mini Coopers were made in 1971 and the last Austin-Healy badged Sprite was produced in December 1970. From January 1971 there was a new model in the BMC range - the Austin Sprite (A-AN10 series). Apart from revised badges it was absolutely identical to the Austin-Healey Sprite.
One of the most renowned sports car names of the post war period was thus laid to rest, with very little ceremony after 18 successful years.
I am helping to sell this car for my friend who has owned it since 1981 and has been his pride and joy. Anyone interested can contact me and I will arrange a viewing.
