Car Spot: 58 Austin Healy Sprite

People go buggy for this “Bug Eye”

There are some cars that will always get noticed at a car show, one of them this week’s spot, a 58 Austin Healy Sprite I found at the Automobile Gallery of Green Bay on one of my recent, and frequent trips up there to visit my car buddy Darrel Burnett, who runs the place.

In 1956, after designing and manufacturing a number of high-performance luxury cars, they decided that the world of motoring was ready for an affordable sports car. To fund this project, Donald Healy partnered with the British Motor Corporation (BMC), a government corporation composed of small British automobile manufacturers that included Austin, Morris, MG, Riley, and Wolseley. This partnership presented him with the unique opportunity of using existing parts from those companies, keeping manufacturing costs low. For example, the engine (948 cc/57 bhp), transmission, and suspension were from the Austin 35. The Morris Minor 1000 provided the steering gear, brakes, and rear axle. MG providing exterior lights, interior gauges, and switches. Using these parts allowed the Austin-Healey Sprite to be priced at $1,795. ($19,966.42 in 2025 dollars).

This little bad boy was donated to the Gallery by Glenn Tank. It was “love at first sight” for Glenn as he drove his semi truck down the highway and spotted the car. Measuring nearly two feet shorter and weighing three hundred pounds less than the sixties VW Beetle, the 1958 Austin Healey Sprite is tiny compared to vehicles of the day. With a cockpit interior that would bring a new meaning to the word minimalist, the Sprite had no side windows. The doors open by using a lever inside the door, and the trunk has no lid and is accessed by folding the seats forward. Considering all this, Glenn had to have one.

Glenn looked at the Sprite and decided to purchase it, and spent many hours restoring his beloved Sprite. The memories of those long hours of work disappeared once the “Bug-Eye” was restored and on the road. Glenn spent over twenty years happily driving between Appleton and Black Creek, returning a friendly wave to smiling admirers of the Bug-Eye.

So when I was there taking pictures, I wanted to take a look under the bonnet. I first looked in the usual spots, like in the interior by the driver’s side, but no luck. I looked all over and finally discovered a handle underneath the front of the hood. One twist and with some help had it open. The 43 bhp, 948 cc OHV engine was one modified from the Austin A35 and Morris Minor 1000 models but upgraded with twin 11⁄8 inch SU carburetors. It will go from 0-60 in under 20 seconds. Not too bad.

These are fairly affordable. A 1958 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite’s value typically ranges from $14,400 to $35,800, depending on its condition and features. Sounds like fun!

Thanks for stopping by and reading about this week’s spot. I have tons more on the site, so go ahead and check them out. Come back next Sunday for another one of my finds, along with some of its history. Have a great week.