Spridget 50 Review

Over 1000 Austin Healey Sprites and MG Midgets gathered at Gaydon to celebrate fifty years since the launch of the Sprite MK I in Monte Carlo on the 20th May 1958. The introduction of the Sprite brought sports car ownership within the reach of ordinary motorists and also marked the beginning of a model range that stayed in production for 21 years.

The grounds of the Heritage Motor Centre were crammed tight with Spridgets of every type

The immaculate MK I Midget of John Davies on display outside the MGOC marquee

Very special Sprite 50th Anniversary badge

Pride of Ownership entrants

Leonard Lord, Austin’s Chief perceived a gap in the market for a small capacity sports car and it was decided to design one around the components of the Austin A35. The new sports model was minimalist in concept the specification was cheap and cheerful and based upon a tub monocoque. For simplicity the body had no bootlid with access only through lifting forward the seat backs, while the one-piece rear hinged bonnet was quite complex and also incorporated the front wings. The Sprite’s distinctive pod shaped headlights where originally conceived as pop up units, but production costs dictated that they had to be fixed. The Sprite had no external door handles, no door locks, nor wind up windows, and the trim was basic with rubber mats on the floor. The removable hood and side screens were equally simple. The power unit was from the A35 but with twin 1 1/8th SUs to bring the power output up to 42.5 bhp. A Morris Minor rack and pinion gave the Sprite its pin sharp and responsive steering. Overall the package resulted in a simple but charming little sports car with excellent road manners, that was easy to live with and great fun to drive.

The success of the Sprite which was assembled at the MG factory in Abingdon brought about the joint development of the MG Midget MK I and Austin Healey Sprite MK II, these models lost the one-piece bonnet and distinctive headlight pods but gained a more conventional front end and separate boot with boot lid. Almost identical except for badging and trim differences these new models were assembled on parallel production lines at Abingdon. Somewhat confusingly they retained their separate identities although they were out of sync with their respective model designations the MK III Sprite was equivalent the Mark II Midget, and the Sprite MK IV was the same spec as the Midget MK III. In January of 1971 the name Healey was dropped from the grille and boot badges of the Sprite, which continued as Austin Sprite until production ceased on 6th July. The 1275cc engined MG Midget continued until October 1974 when it was replaced by the revamped Midget 1500 with its Triumph Spitfire power plant, impact-absorbing bumpers and raised ride height. In this form the Midget survived until December 1979 when production ceased.

In addition to making a great fun car the Spridget also provided the ideal basis for competition and from its launch numerous special bodied and uprated performance versions were constructed and raced. Many examples of these competition Spridgets were present at Spridget 50 among them was 410 EAO based on a Sprite built in 1960 and then dispatched to the Donald Healey Motor Co. to be converted to Sebring specification to compete in motorsport at club level. In 1961 the car was re-registered 410 EAO and offered for sale by John Sprinzel Ltd. and purchased by Andrew Hedges, it was then fitted with alloy coupé bodywork by Williams & Pritchard Ltd, while expert Cambridge based tuner Don Moore provided the race engine. The remains of the Williams and Pritchard Sprite was eventually discovered by Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird and it has been subject to a meticulous rebuild to the original 1961 specification.

364 EAC The XQHS Super Sprite built by the Donald Healey Motor Company with an alloy body designed by Barry Bilby, it was originally fitted with a 1220 FEW Coventry Climax engine

Stuart Gunn’s V8 4WD Midget attracted a lot of attention

The French contingent with their Amicale Spridget banner

Peter Healey cutting the specially commissioned Spridget 50 cake

410 EAO Sebring Sprite with complex competition history. It has recently been comprehensively restored by Jonathan Whitehouse-Bird

Left to right Bob Clarkson owner of the Highway Yellow MK II Sprite, John Davies Red MG Midget MK I and Alan Lo with the oldest MK I Midget in the UK

Laurent Derancourt from Lyons who drove to the event in his MG Midget MK I

There was every possible version and model of Sprite and Midget present at Spridget 50, hard tops, soft tops and closed coupés. The Frogeye’s simple specification and charming manners won the heart of sports car enthusiasts throughout the world and began a dynasty of small, affordable, agile sports cars that have always been fun to own and drive.