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If the MGB is a Marina cabriolet, then the Sprite is the Morris Minor/A35 equivalent. People love these cars for their looks - there may have been faster small sports cars, but none have been more endearing. With its gaping grin and the pop-eyed headlights that gave it its Frogeye nickname, this car captured the hearts of enthusiasts the world over. In fact, the trademark protruding lights were an afterthought when extra cost ruled out Donald Healey's idea for retracting headlights.
Taking its mechanics from the well-filled BMC parts bin (mostly Morris Minor and Austin A35) the 11 ft 5 in Sprite had a chirpy character on the road, too, with a respectable top speed of 84 mph and excellent fuel economy of up to 45 mpg. Little brother to the big 3000 Healey, the Sprite used the 948 cc A-Series engine, producing all of 43 bhp.
The model spawned many variants, with increasing levels of ugliness and luxury, although the performance of the last Austin-Healey Sprite of the early '70s was way above that of the original Frogeye. There was a badge-engineered MG variant too, reviving the old Midget name, that lasted until the late '70s in hideous rubber-bumpered form and acquired a Triumph. Less said about that the better.
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