1958 Austin-Healey Sprite (Frogeye) Works Rally
- Colour
- Colorado Red
Chassis AN5/7565 is the sole Works Rally Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite ever built, prepared by the Donald Healey Motor Company at Cape Works, Warwick, for the 1959 Monte Carlo, Sestriere, and Alpine rallies. Driven by Tommy Wisdom, it recorded a 5th in class at Monte Carlo and outright class victories at Sestriere, before passing through several enthusiast owners and ultimately undergoing a thorough restoration completed in January 2018. Its history is documented in the Sprinzel and Coulthard book Spritely Years.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold £109,250 (≈ $137K)
- 1958-11-01 →Factory deliveryDonald Healey Motor Company / BMC Competition Departmentfull documentation
Prepared as a works rally car at Cape Works, Warwick; equipped with wire wheels and disc brakes for specific events. Team manager Marcus Chambers oversaw competition preparation.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCecil Winbypartial documentation
Acquired from the works team after rally duties concluded; Winby was associated with the British Piston Ring Company and had prior co-driving experience on works Healeys.
- Date unknownVarious enthusiast ownersnone documentation
Car passed through multiple private hands and was campaigned in various European events during this period.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Commissioned a thorough restoration finished in early 2018 and presented the car at a major Dutch classic show.
Competition
- 19591959 Monte Carlo RallyDriver: Tommy Wisdom5th in class
Navigator was Douglas Johns; car ran with registration XOH 277.
- 19591959 Sestriere RallyDriver: Tommy Wisdom1st in class
Navigator was Tony Lucas; car ran with registration XOH 277.
- 19591959 Alpine RallyDriver: Tommy Wisdom2nd in class
Navigator was Jack Hay; car fitted with wire wheels and Girling disc brakes for this event, running under original registration XOH 276.
- 2018Interclassics Maastricht 2018Best club car award
Displayed following restoration completion as part of the Frogeye Sprite 60th anniversary celebrations; recognised as standout exhibit.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2018Restoration
A comprehensive restoration was completed, timed to coincide with approximately 59 years since the car's original preparation for the 1959 Monte Carlo Rally.
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