Everyone wanted small sports cars in the 1950s, but none were available. Until, that is, BMC asked Donald Healey to design a small two-seater for the Austin-Healey stable. The result was the Sprite, a car which started a new trend. An ever-improving family of Sprites emerged from the MG Abingdon factory until 1971, and the MG Midget which derived from them would be made until 1979.
Spiritually, the new Sprite was related to several earlier BMC cars (MG T-series Midgets because of their size, MGAs and Austin-Healey 100 Sixes) because of the way they also used so many existing parts, such as engines, transmissions and suspension units. Although the car’s monocoque structure was new and unique, with a neat way of locating the rear axle by cantilever leaf springs, almost all its running gear was lifted from the BMC ‘parts bin’, which meant that it would be easy to maintain, and support, at dealerships all over the world.
By using Austin A35 and Morris Minor 1000 pieces (including a tuned-up version of the famous 948 cc engine), Donald and Geoffrey Healey produced a simple and rugged little two-seater, into which they built a great deal of sports car behaviour, and appealing character. Simple to the point of being rather starkly-equipped at first, the Sprite cut costs to the bone by specifying plastic side curtains, and by making the soft-top a simple item with a build-it-yourself frame.
No sooner was the new car launched, of course, than its unique styling, with headlamps grafted on to the top of the bonnet panel, inspired the affectionate nickname of ‘Frog Eye’ (or, in the USA, ‘Bug Eye’). This, however, was a feature forced upon the company at a late stage. |
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Prototypes had fold-back headlamps designed to preserve a smooth line, but cost considerations forced a change to the fixed position on production cars. The entire bonnet/front wings assembly was hinged at the passenger bulkhead, and could be lifted up for access to the engine bay and front suspension assemblies. The result was a car which lacked aerodynamic purity, but had unmistakable looks. Perhaps by chance, it also made this car look ‘cute’: when added to its undeniable performance and spirited handling, this was a great marketing advantage.
The new Sprite was instantly a great success, especially in North America, where British sports cars were in great demand; over the next few years it also gained a reputation in sports car racing. Engine tune-up kits, suspension modifications and even special bodywork all helped to make it a successful race car.
This was a popular two-seater sports car designed by BMC which used many exisiting parts and which was easy to maintain. In three years, no fewer than 48,987 ‘Frog Eye’ Sprites were built, but this was only the beginning of a long success story. A restyled Mk II, with more conventional looks, then took over, and a near-identical MG Midget was also introduced; these cars then continued to sell at a phenomenal rate until the end of the 1970s. All in all, nearly 356,000 cars in this family were built, and every survivor is now revered as an affordable classic.
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