Austin-Healey Sprite Mk II (1962–1963) Price Guide

The Austin-Healey Sprite MkII arrived in 1961 with a conventional bonnet, a proper boot lid, front disc brakes, and a redesigned body styled by Enrico Fioravanti at Pininfarina. It was by any objective measure a more practical and capable car than the Frogeye it replaced. It was also considerably less distinctive; a fact that has kept its values perennially lower than the original despite being, in many respects, the better car to use.

The Car

The MkII used the same 948cc A-series engine as the Frogeye, now producing 46bhp through larger carburettors. The new Pininfarina body retained the Frogeye’s basic dimensions but replaced the clamshell with a conventional opening bonnet and added a proper external boot lid. This solved the two most practical criticisms of the original. Front disc brakes arrived mid-production in 1962, a significant safety improvement. The MG Midget launched alongside the MkII using the same body with different badging and trim. The MkII also introduced the 1,098cc engine option from 1962, raising output to 56bhp and transforming the car’s performance relative to the 948cc unit.

What to Know

The Pininfarina body shares most of its structure with subsequent Sprite and Midget generations, so parts availability is consequently excellent across all sources. Early 948cc MkIIs are the most affordable; later 1,098cc cars with front discs are the most usable. The 1,098cc engine is more prone to head gasket failure than the 948cc unit: check coolant and oil for contamination. The MkIII that followed introduced wind-up windows and a half-elliptic rear spring revision for improved handling.