Austin Healey Sprite MK 1 Frogeye new home.

 After several months of being very busy selling our home and moving, then rebuilding it.

Changing jobs and Covid 19 the Frogeye as we have arrived at our new home.

Our last garage was big enough for one car and is where I had hours of fun doing the Sprite Mk3 and the Cooper S 1978. But I now have the luxury of a garage where I could probably squueeze in 3 sprites or 2 and still have place to work.

After having a new garage I thought time for a new work bench.

Got a cuboard given and had it filled in minutes, also thought that was a great place to store some gearboxes. My daughter thought they were UFO's ??? :-)

 Cracked on with the work bench and give the surface a coat of black paint before I fitted the vice  and started filling the tool board.

And finally a basic bench ready to be filled and used, the basics anyway.

Here is a pic of the sprite in its new home, already started struggling for room as we still have loads of other things still in the garage taking up valuable hobby place. ;-)

Just a quick look at what the car would look like with an outer sill fitted.

 And if I am still wondering so I thought fit a few outer panels just to equip me with a bit more motivation to start getting involved in the project.

Austin Healey Sprite MK 1 Frogeye Collection Day.

 After having tackled a Sprite mk 3 and a Mini Cooper S, I thought I would have a shot at a Austin Healey Sprite MK 1 "Frogeye".  So after having a look around for a few months came accross one about an hour up the road. I made an apppointment and went to view with my father inlaw Wiel & my youngest son Liam.

After arriving in a rural area and knocking on the door I was led by this nice guy to one of his out buildings at this quirky old farm building. He threw the doors open and showed us this very sorry looking Sprite Mk 1 already sitting on a homemade trailer.

The Frogeye had been disassembled and  sand blasted for the majority and coated in an epoxy many yrs ago to stop any further rust. At this moment I was given the history of the vehicle.

Starting in the Uk in 1960 then leaving for the USA and after many years been inported back to the Netherlands which is where I found it stranded under a layer of dust.

We decided on a price and loaded the parts on the trailer and in the car.

As per usual rain when you dont really need it.

At least you see a bit of colour on the Frogeye.

Original colour Autum Red code:20216 (1958-1961)

Primer most probably epoxy so I am told.

Steering post and rack, doors etc all in the car and netted up.

Engine at the front of the trailer to the right fastend down too ;-)

 After atleast an hour driving very carefully with the rickety old trailer arrived home safely and nothing had fallen off....

Propped up the bonnet and had a bit of a look at what had been done or not done or what I was going to re work. Obviously a lot of work however thats the part I like most and also seeing the result. What now appears to be a pricey pile of scrap can eventually turn into a lovely old car to have a load of fun in.

 Here You can see the previous owner has started removing parts he wanted to renew and even welded in the odd panel. Not much stripping to do as almost everything has been done.

I like the way the bonnet on the Frogeye lifts giving more access than the later model Sprites to the engine compartment. I was wondering if a flip front would give more access and If it can be made adequatley.

I suppose this is where my journey/adventure  begins with this car....