1960 Austin-Healey Sprite

1960 Austin-Healey Sprite

Restoring a Bugeye Sprite while converting it back from race car to street car. 

Latest updates

Sep
01
Sep 1, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite
Don’t miss these steps when installing an early Sprite dashboard

Here is a step-by-step guide on how we installed the refinished dashboard in our 1960 Austin-Healey Sprite project car.

Aug
24
Aug 24, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Restoration | Austin-Healey Sprite
Why a Bugeye Sprite should be your next project

Whether you want to build a hot street car, restore a car to show-ready condition or–in our case–both, the Austin-Healey Sprite is an ideal choice.

Jun
11
Jun 11, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Restoration | Austin-Healey Sprite
Success: We turned a tired racer into a show-ready Sprite

While some might say we spent too much time and money restoring a lowly Austin-Healey Sprite, we're confident we now own one of the finest Bugeye Sprites in the world.

Jun
07
Jun 7, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Austin-Healey Sprite | Tonneau Cover
How to install a tonneau cover on an Austin-Healey Sprite

If, like us, you get frequent rain, a tonneau cover for your roadster is a wise investment. Here's how we installed one on our Austin-Healey Sprite project car.

Jun
04
Jun 4, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Restoration | Austin-Healey Sprite
One of the most rewarding parts of any project? The first drive.

After just a few small tweaks, our Bugeye Sprite project car was ready to hit the road–and attend its first big outing.

May
30
May 30, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Restoration | alignment | Austin-Healey Sprite
Giving our Sprite an alignment fit for spirited driving

While our Sprite likely won't be seeing any track time, we still wanted to give it an alignment that will maximize its performance on the street.

May
28
May 28, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Restoration | Exhuast | Austin-Healey Sprite
Devising a Sprite exhaust that can handle more than double the power

A supercharged engine means our Sprite would need an exhaust upgrade so it doesn't restrict power. Luckily, the simple stock system makes that easy.

May
16
May 16, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Restoration | fuel pressure regulator | Austin-Healey Sprite
Ensuring proper fuel pressure with an inline fuel pressure regulator

Now that our Sprite is running an electric fuel pump and a larger, single SU carb, we installed an inline fuel pressure regulator to prevent future fuel pressure issues.

May
14
May 14, 2024 | Austin-Healey | brakes | Restoration | Austin-Healey Sprite
How to modernize the brakes on a Bugeye Sprite for improved safety

To improve safety in the event of a brake failure, we upgraded our Sprite from a single master cylinder to a later, dual master cylinder setup.

May
09
May 9, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Restoration | Bugeye Sprite | Windshield
How to restore a dirty, scratched windshield

What good is a windshield if you can't see out of it? Follow along as we restore the windshield of our 1960 Austin-Healey Sprite project car.

May
06
May 6, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Seats | Austin-Healey Sprite
How we installed the seats in our Austin-Healey Sprite

With the seat frames repaired, we could now install the seats for our Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite.

May
03
May 3, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Restoration | Bugeye Sprite
Repairing our Sprite’s seat frames so the seats could hinge forward

As great as our Sprite's freshly primed seat frames are, they were missing important parts: the studs that create the pivot point so the seats can hinge forward.

Apr
30
Apr 30, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Restoration | Bugeye Sprite
How to make a Bugeye Sprite interior more comfortable

The stock interior in an Austin-Healey Sprite is pretty spartan. Our early Bugeye, however, deserves better.

Apr
26
Apr 26, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Bugeye Sprite
Upgrading our Sprite’s interior with proper carpeting

Since we were upgrading the rest of the car, why not improve the interior, too? We knew we could do better than the rubber floor mats originally fitted to our …

Apr
24
Apr 24, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Bugeye Sprite
Adding a five-speed to a Sprite? Additional mods to make.

Since our Sprite wasn't designed with a five-speed in mind, we needed to modify the interior to ensure we had the room to shift into fifth gear.

Apr
18
Apr 18, 2024 | Austin-Healey | insulation | Bugeye Sprite | Design Engineering
Upgrading our Sprite’s insulation to better keep out unwanted noise

A quieter cockpit doesn't have to be expensive. We upgraded our Sprite for just $100.

Apr
16
Apr 16, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Sprite
Why picking the right size steering wheel matters

Since a steering wheel is one of the things you touch most in a car, why not spend a little more and get something that looks and feels right?

Apr
11
Apr 11, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Moss Motors | Bugeye Sprite
How to supercharge an A-series engine

Although we originally bought a vintage supercharger for our Bugeye Sprite, we decided to save ourselves time and effort and opt for a supercharger kit from Moss Motors.

Apr
09
Apr 9, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | oil cooler
Finding the ideal spot for our Sprite’s oil cooler

Since our Sprite will be making more horsepower than stock, we figured that an oil cooler is a wise investment–but where to mount it?

Apr
05
Apr 5, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Bugeye Sprite | Cooling System
Sprite cooling system install: One step forward, two steps backward

Although our Sprite's engine install was completed with little issue, we didn't have that same luck when installing the cooling system.

Apr
03
Apr 3, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Bugeye Sprite
Tips for installing a modified drivetrain into a Bugeye Sprite

With the engine and transmission mated, it's time to install the entire drivetrain into our Bugeye Sprite.

Mar
28
Mar 28, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Moss Motors | Project car | Bugeye Sprite
Installing our Sprite’s throttle pedal

Here's how we fitted our Bugeye Sprite project with a new throttle pedal.

Mar
26
Mar 26, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Bugeye Sprite | Rivergate Restorations
How to mate a five-speed Datsun gearbox to an A-series engine

Looking to add more gears behind an A-series engine? Why not attach a five-speed transmission from a later Datsun?

Mar
20
Mar 20, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | Brake Lines | Bugeye Sprite
Installing all-new brake lines is easier than you think

How we were able to easily install new brake lines in our Bugeye Sprite project car with help from Classic Tube.

Mar
13
Mar 13, 2024 | Austin-Healey | BimmerWorld | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Optima Battery
Figuring out the best place to mount our Sprite’s battery

What's the best way to mount a battery in a Bugeye Sprite? Here's how we mounted ours.

Mar
01
Mar 1, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Bugeye Sprite | MSD
Installing an ignition that'll give our Sprite the spark it deserves

We install an MSD 6AL into our Bugeye Sprite project car to ensure a consistent, powerful spark.

Feb
28
Feb 28, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite
Amelia Island Kickoff: Come see our Austin-Healey Sprite project car

Come see several Classic Motorsports project cars at our first-ever Classic Motorsports Amelia Island Kickoff Presented by Sunoco–including our 1960 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite.

Feb
23
Feb 23, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Fuses
Converting our Sprite from a voltage regulator to a fuse box

Since we are adding a number of electrical components to our Sprite, we'd need something with capacity for more than the two fuses the car originally came with.

Feb
15
Feb 15, 2024 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | alternator | generator
Why we're converting our Sprite from a generator to an alternator

In our continued efforts to improve our Bugeye Sprite's operability and performance, we opted to upgrade from a period-correct generator to a more modern alternator.

Dec
20
Dec 20, 2023 | Austin-Healey | headlights | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite | taillights
Instead of buying new Sprite lamps, we restored the originals

How we restored the original headlights and taillights on our Bugeye Sprite project car to like-new condition.

Nov
15
Nov 15, 2023 | Austin-Healey | hauler | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite | Ford F-350
Why not haul a classic with a classic?

Our Bugeye Sprite needed exhaust. So how did we get it to the shop?

Nov
07
Nov 7, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Bugeye Sprite
How to get enough fuel to our supercharged Sprite

Adding an electric fuel pump to our supercharged Sprite.

Nov
01
Nov 1, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite
What went into installing the wiring harnesses on our Bugeye Sprite

Here are the steps we took to install the wiring harness in our Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite project car.

Oct
18
Oct 18, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Wiring | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite
Adapting a Bugeye Sprite wiring harness for modern upgrades

The unique properties of a Bugeye Sprite's wiring harness make it somewhat easier to work on.

Oct
10
Oct 10, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Moss Motors | Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite | Beehive Lamp
How to rebuild classic beehive British marker lamps

Here's how to fix up those beehive lamps used on Triumphs, Lotus, Austin-Healeys and more.

Sep
14
Sep 14, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite
How to easily restore old switches and cables

When it comes to switches and cables, don't settle for ratty old ones or cheaply made reproductions. Here's how to easily restore yours to like-new condition.

Aug
01
Aug 1, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Moss Motors | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite | Blast Masters
Picking the best method to refinish our Sprite's dash

How to best attach vinyl to a Sprite's dash, clips or glue?

Jul
27
Jul 27, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite
The practical reason for picking a one-piece steering column for our Sprite

How we turned our sedentary Sprite into a true rolling chassis.

Jul
18
Jul 18, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite | DEI | Heat Insulation
How to keep heat away from a Sprite's drivetrain

It's almost time to install the drivetrain into our Bugeye Sprite–but first, we fit some heat insulation in the tunnel and firewall area.

Jul
05
Jul 5, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Moss Motors | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite | The Blast Masters
How to install a fuel tank into an Austin-Healey Sprite

Thankfully–with some media blasting and fresh paint–we were able to reuse our Bugeye Sprite's original fuel tank.

Jun
20
Jun 20, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite
Does a Bugeye Sprite really need a Panhard bar?

Whether or not a Bugeye Sprite actually needs a Panhard bar, here's how to fit one with a handy kit from The Winner's Circle.

Jun
06
Jun 6, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Moss Motors | anti-roll bar | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite | The Winner's Cricle
How to install a front anti-roll bar on an early Austin-Healey Sprite

Our Bugeye Sprite didn't leave the factory with a front anti-roll bar, so we add one to better prevent oversteer.

May
15
May 15, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Moss Motors | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite | Winner's Circle
Sprite front end rebuild: bushings, A-arms, springs and more

The rear end of the Sprite is rebuilt, so, naturally, it's time to turn our attention forward.

May
08
May 8, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | bugeye | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite | Winner's Circle | Apple Hydraulics
Starting our Bugeye Sprite reassembly with the rear end first

In following with our Sprite's reassembly plan, we're starting first with fitting the rear end.

May
05
May 5, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite | Reassembly
The easy way to plan out a project car reassembly

Just as you would during disassembly, reassembling a project car requires a proper plan of attack.

Mar
16
Mar 16, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Welding | Sprite | Sheet metal | Bugeye Sprite
Filling holes in sheet metal with fill welding

Have a lot of holes in that sheet metal to fill? Why not fill welding?

Jan
17
Jan 17, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Paint | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite | Wet Sanding | Buffing | Spite
The key to achieving a genuine, glass-smooth paint finish

The last step in painting our Bugeye Sprite? Wet sanding and buffing the paint to a glass-smooth finish.

Jan
13
Jan 13, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Paint | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Jeff’s Restorations | Austin-Healey Sprite | Clearcoat | Basecoat | PPG
How to get the best possible paintjob? Plenty of time and effort

After all the bodywork, it was finally time to apply the basecoat and the clearcoat.

Jan
09
Jan 9, 2023 | Austin-Healey | Paint | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite | Sanding | Primer
How to prepare a Bugeye Sprite body for paint

The last critical steps before our Sprite could head to the paint booth.

Jan
05
Dec
26
Dec 26, 2022 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite
Fixing the holes under the hood of our Bugeye Sprite, too

Guess what? There were lots of holes that shouldn't be there under the hood of our Sprite, too.

Dec
22
Dec
15
Dec 15, 2022 | Austin-Healey | Moss Motors | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Sprite
How to make a Bugeye Sprite bonnet flip up and forward

To give us more access to the engine in our Sprite, we order and fit a kit that lets the hood flip up and forward.

Dec
07
Dec 7, 2022 | Austin-Healey | Restoration | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Jeff’s Restorations
Restoration tip: Make sure the trim fits before you paint

The worst time to figure out your trim doesn't fit? After spending hours painting the body.

Oct
27
Oct 27, 2022 | Austin-Healey | Sprite | Bugeye Sprite | Jeff’s Restorations | Body Shop
The joys of finding a new body shop | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

A change in shop ownership had us scrambling to find a new body shop.

Oct
12
Oct 12, 2022 | Austin-Healey | Moss Motors | Sprite | Frame Rails
We need new frame rails, too | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite

Has this project become economically unviable? Yes. Does that mean we're going to give up? No.

Mar
25
Mar 25, 2022 | Austin-Healey
How to easily replace floor pans | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

We're working on a 1960 Bugeye Sprite, but this guide should help you replace the floor pan in virtually any classic car.

Mar
12
Mar 12, 2022 | Austin-Healey
How to repair a hole left from a roll bar install | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

Before we could finish the install of a new rear quarter panel, we'd need to fix the hole cut by a previous owner to fit a roll bar.

Feb
26
Feb
12
Feb 12, 2022 | Austin-Healey
Rebuilding a Bugeye’s Rear Suspension | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

With the differential put back together, we could assemble all the parts that make up our Sprite's rear brakes and suspension.

Jan
20
Jan 20, 2022 | Austin-Healey
How to assemble a differential | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

Have a differential to install? Here's how we fitted a limited-slip to our Bugeye Sprite project.

Dec
21
Dec 21, 2021 | Austin-Healey
Adding a limited-slip differential | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

Small problem: Our Bugeye Sprite needs a limited-slip differential. Bigger problem: There aren't any commercially available. Luckily, we know a guy.

Nov
14
Nov 14, 2021 | Austin-Healey
How to make lowering wedges for a Bugeye Sprite | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

The key to a lower Bugeye Sprite? Angling the springs using a wedge.

Nov
05
Nov 5, 2021 | Austin-Healey
How to rebuild a steering rack (with video) | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

Intimidated about the thought of rebuilding a steering rack yourself? Don't be. Here's how to do it.

Oct
16
Oct 16, 2021 | Austin-Healey
How to Rebuild Brake Calipers | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

How to rebuild a brake caliper–plus adding upgrading the pads to handle spirited driving.

Sep
27
Sep 27, 2021 | Austin-Healey
Restoring the Sprite’s Front Suspension | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

Since adding power without improving handling would negate any potential gains, it's time to upgrade our Sprite's front suspension.

Sep
22
Sep 22, 2021 | Austin-Healey
Planning a hot drivetrain for our Sprite | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

Here's how we plan to have our Bugeye Sprite's bite match its bark.

Sep
14
Sep 14, 2021 | Austin-Healey
Planning a sporty Sprite suspension | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

A car's performance is only as good as the parts that connect it to the road, so we asked the experts what the best setup is.

Aug
10
Aug 10, 2021 | Austin-Healey
What size wheels and tires for our Bugeye Sprite? | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

We know we want the widest tire and wheel package available for our Sprite, but we didn't know what that package looked like.

Aug
04
Aug 4, 2021 | Austin-Healey
Did our boxes of spares hide gold? | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

Our Bugeye race car came with a lot of extra parts in many boxes, so we needed help to figure out what was worth keeping and what wasn't.

Jul
19
Jul 19, 2021 | Austin-Healey
Media blasting and powder coating project car parts | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

In addition to media blasting our Sprite's body, we also have the suspension and a number of other parts treated as well.

Jul
07
Jul 7, 2021 | Austin-Healey
Media blasting and priming the body | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

Striped and cleaned, the next step for our Bugeye Sprite was media blasting.

Jul
06
Jul 6, 2021 | Austin-Healey
How to correctly order parts for a project car | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

Yes, there really is a right way and wrong way to order parts for your project.

Jun
16
Jun 16, 2021 | Austin-Healey
How to strip a project car | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

Project car plan in place, it was time to strip down our Bugeye Sprite.

May
17
May 17, 2021 | Austin-Healey
Developing a Project Car Plan for a Fun Street Sprite | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

Formulating how we will turn this tired race machine into a hot street car.

May
02
May 2, 2021 | Austin-Healey
Cleaning Up That New Project Car | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

Storied history? Championship-winning racer? We'd have to take a deeper dive to figure out what we actually bought.

Apr
14
Apr 14, 2021 | Austin-Healey
We Find a Bugeye Austin-Healey Sprite | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

How we acquired one of our latest projects, a 1960 Austin-Healey Sprite.

Mar
08
Mar 8, 2021 | Austin-Healey
How to Organize a Restoration Project | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

All the parts are off of the Sprite, but this is how do we keep them all organized.

Mar
02
Mar 2, 2021 | Austin-Healey
Using Media Blasting to See the Condition of the Bodywork | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

One of the best ways we ensure the condition of a project? We media-blast any and all components.

Feb
25
Feb 25, 2021 | Austin-Healey
Disassembling a New Project Car | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

One of the most important restoration steps? Disassembly.

Join Free Join our community to easily find more Austin-Healey project cars.
Sponsored by

Classic Motorsports House Ad

Our Preferred Partners
T9Vpe2HFllpnRuC3f3ReqZ2J77ge63Z8NMXyVTLVVBVRW6UF8IzS9XR6a93uoqg0