1960 Austin-Healey Sprite

1960 Austin-Healey Sprite

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

Latest updates

Nov
15
Nov 15, 2023
Why not haul a classic with a classic?

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

Nov
14
Nov 14, 2023
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.

Nov
07
Nov 7, 2023
How to get enough fuel to our supercharged Sprite

Adding an electric fuel pump to our supercharged Sprite.

Nov
01
Nov 1, 2023
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.

Jan
17
Jan 17, 2023
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
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
How to prepare a Bugeye Sprite body for paint

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

Jan
05
Jan 5, 2023
Time to focus on our Bugeye Sprite's facial features

Making sure the face of our Bugeye is ready for a close-up/

Dec
26
Dec 26, 2022
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 22, 2022
How to rejuvenate a once-mangled body? Lots of time.

Restoration tip: Good bodywork isn't cheap or quick.

Dec
15
Dec 15, 2022
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
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
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
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.

Oct
04
Oct 4, 2022
How to fill a hole in sheet metal | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

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

Mar
25
Mar 25, 2022
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Disassembling a New Project Car | Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite Project

One of the most important restoration steps? Disassembly.

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