NEW AUSTIN HEALEY SPRITE ANNOUNCED
Confidential until May 20th. 1958
An Inexpensive Sports Car with many Outstanding Features
Today the Austin Motor Company makes motoring history with the announcement of a completely new small and in­expensive sports car. It is the Austin Healey Sprite powered by a special 948 .c.c. B.M.C. ‘A’-type engine (developing 42.5 b.h.p. at 5,000 r.p.m.) and costing £455 plus £233 17s. Purchase Tax in Great Britain.
It is some twenty years since Austin made a small sports car but the “Sprite” lives up fully to the fine tradition established in the 1920's and 30's and more recently by the Austin Healey 100. It has a maximum speed in the eighties and rapid acceleration but with a fuel consumption ranging from 30-45 m.p.g.
POWER UNIT
The power unit is a tuned version of the well proven A35 engine, fitted with twin S.U. carburetters, and special valve springs; compression ratio is 8.3 to 1. Mechanical specification includes a four speed gearbox, independent front wheel suspension by wish bones and coil springs, quarter elliptic springing at rear with trailing arms (giving a low unsprung weight). A hypoid 3/4-floating rear axle, ratio 4.22 to 1, provides overall gear ratios of: First 15.31, second 10.02, third 5.96, and top 4.22 with 19.68 reverse. Steering is by rack-and-pinion, with 2 1/3 turns from lock to lock. Tyres are 5.20 x 13 in., tubeless. The Sprite has a two-seater body with all-weather equipment in the form of sidescreens and a detachable P.V.C.-coated hood.
Ease of maintenance has been given considerable attention; the entire front of the body is hinged from the scuttle giving excellent access to engine, suspension and steering unit.
A selection of bright finishes for body exterior, trim and hood range from cherry red to primrose. A wide range of extra equipment is available including heater and demister, windscreen washer, rev-counter, tonneau cover and laminated windscreen.