Your classic: Austin-Healey Sprite

Features
 | 10 Sep 2024
Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Austin-Healey Sprite

British cars charmed me early.

As a student in Sydney, I owned a 1937 Ford Anglia, a 1951 Prefect (my grandfather’s from new) and a ’46 2.5-litre Riley.

An MG TD was then restored to roadworthy condition in the mid-’60s when I was back home in Wagga Wagga.

A friend’s Mk2 Healey Sprite impressed me, so when I came across a Mk1 in late 1972 I couldn’t resist.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Austin-Healey Sprite

The Austin-Healey Sprite’s engine is still running smoothly after its 1980s rebuild

The car was a runner, with a glassed-on hardtop, a strange glassfibre front and average paint, but basically it was complete and original.

The price was negotiated down to $240.

A hammer, a chisel and two bottles of beer got the hardtop removed, and a $50 respray tidied things up.

I was on the road after replacing a shock absorber and a tail-light bulb, and thus began a long and enjoyable relationship.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Austin-Healey Sprite

Graham’s Austin-Healey Sprite is one of the many British classic cars in Australia

Soon after that, I moved to England to work as a mechanic with Van Diemen in its first year, then spent a season in Germany as Dave Walker’s spannerman.

When I came home the Sprite was my sole transport, once taking me three hours across country to open a chemist by 9am – without the benefit of a spare wheel or a roof.

In my locum years I got another ‘Bugeye’ for $100: it donated hood hoops, bumper bars and hubcaps.

That car was later restored by a friend – who still owns it.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Austin-Healey Sprite
Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Austin-Healey Sprite

The Austin-Healey Sprite was bought in 1972 with a fixed hardtop (right), which was removed with a hammer and chisel

A half-decent steel front was eventually sourced and fitted to mine.

As I became more financially sound, by then living in Tumut, NSW, the Sprite had its seats recovered plus a secondhand soft-top and new carpets fitted.

A higher-quality respray lifted the appearance and the grille was rechromed; a close-ratio gearbox was rebuilt and fitted.

Eventually, I built a new motor using the head, cam and flywheel from my clubmans racer.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Austin-Healey Sprite

Graham and wife Pauline with their ‘Bugeye’ Austin-Healey Sprite

This engine was fitted the night before setting off to the Sprite Nationals in Sydney: we ran it in for the first 100km or so, then let it rip. It still pulls beautifully after 38 years.

We later attended three Sprite Nationals down south and made a lot of friends in the Healey fraternity, before moving to North Queensland in 1987.

We joined the MG Car Club in Cairns and have had many enjoyable runs and weekends with both the MGCC and the Far North Queensland Restorers’ Car Club.

I’m a member of the Victoria and Queensland Sprite clubs, too.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Austin-Healey Sprite

‘A few years ago the Austin-Healey Sprite had its third respray – amazingly, with no rust repair needed’

Major journeys have included three trips south to the Sprite Nationals, the longest a 5500km return haul to central NSW, with spare water, oil and fuel along with our luggage for 10 days.

A leaking rear hub seal was our only problem; I replaced it with help from other participants.

On another long trip, this one 3500km, we blew a tyre in central Queensland.

The spare failed after a short distance in the dark in an area with no phone coverage.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Austin-Healey Sprite

The Austin-Healey is no stranger to long-haul trips

Pauline, my long-suffering wife, hitch-hiked 70km to the nearest town where she found a fellow journeying club member, who came back with his spare wheel.

We then travelled without a spare between us for the next 500km.

A few years ago the car had its third respray, amazingly with no rust repair needed.

Unfortunately, the tropical humidity requires new brake cylinders every five years or so, but mechanically it has stayed reliable and any work required can be handled by me.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Austin-Healey Sprite

Standard instruments in this well-loved Austin-Healey Sprite’s cabin

Some effort has been made to maintain originality, with a 948cc block, a smooth-case gearbox, 3.5in-wide steel wheels and standard instruments.

Its owner is now well into his 70s, so we don’t undertake long drives any more, but we did tow the car through three states and a distance of 6500km for a four-day Sprite Hub rally in Victoria last year.

In our area there are plenty of opportunities to travel and meet up with like-minded people, with a highlight being All British Day in Townsville, five hours south.

Cairns cars usually travel down in convoy for an enjoyable weekend.

Classic & Sports Car – Your classic: Austin-Healey Sprite

Graham lived the Ferrari dream; it has since been sold, but his Austin-Healey Sprite remains

When each grandson turns seven, hence no child seat required, he gets a lift home from school in the ‘Bugeye’, to the envy of his mates.

The Healey now shares a garage with an ’88 Daimler Double-Six, but the Sprite is first choice when the weather suits.

It always gets waves from kids and puts a smile on my dial as I go up through the gears to the sound of that raucous exhaust.

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Factfile

  • Owned by Graham Hepburn
  • First classic MG TD
  • Dream classic Ferrari 365GT4 2+2

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