1962 Sprite From Barn to Driver

Today I take a look at a 1962 Austin Healey Sprite Mark II that has been sitting for a very long time and bring it back to life.
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This Week With Cars - Episode 0204
#ClassicCars #AustinHealey #Sprite

[@frglee]

Really nice to see these old cars saved to give pleasure to more generations of drivers. The wonderful thing is that they are simple and mechanical, rather than complex and electronic. I enjoy watching you go through the issues step by step, methodically explaining what you are doing. You'd make a good teacher!

[@mundanestuff]

My dad picked one up for a song after someone abandoned it at the mechanic shop he worked at. The boss filed a Mechanic's lean on it and sold it to my dad cheap. It was canary yellow, but he converted it to a race car and painted it a dark blue to match the Sprites his buddies had also converted to race cars in the mid 60s. Together, they were like the three amigos, a bugeye and two mk 2s, H production sprites having a blast racing each other for over a decade.

[@dagwood64]

I wish I could find one of these here in Maine, to get road worthy but the ones I find are too far gone or way out of my price range. I did by a 1963 11 yrs ago, right hand drive Sprite green with black interior but it is rusted in two, there is no saving the frame. I did get it running 3 yrs ago it says 57 thousand kilometers on the odometer and it still has a lot of good parts if I ever can find one with a good undercarriage.

[@nikjames2965]

Looks like the rear springs are tired making the ride very bouncy

[@jockodog2009]

Binge watched your compilation after seeing your individual vids earlier. What a pleasure! So much valuable information and great tips condensed into the series. Your conservative and minimalist approach is so gratifying. Great knowledge shared so well. Thank you. The fitting end is to bring it back to its English roots on the roundabouts. Jolly good show!!

[@dennismattson8383]

I had a White '68 Sprite Mk4 as my daily for 3 yrs awhile back, and God do I miss it... Absolutely thee funnest car I've ever owned by far... Sold it due to $$$ rust issues.. I'm going to start looking for another Spridget soon.. With a metal dash this time.. There is No substitute to the driving experience..

[@PaulinesPastimes]

That was a great compilation seeing it from the beginning to the end. Very interesting and informative. Great little car, so much character too.

[@RichardRuggirello-xr6zo]

I had to leave my Sprite on Rt 80 in Pa East of I think Lehigh River in 1975 while moving to Indiana. Blew the engine and couldnt tow it. I left the keys and repair manual. Was painted Ford Grabber Orange. I hope someone saved it. Rick

[@eightbars1]

during a lifetime of living in the high Sierr4as, I can tell you with great certainty that most people get the whole snow tire thing wrong. Narrow tires are the best. Big, wide tire3s end up skidding all over the place. They may not look as cool, but a skinny tire with an aggressive tread design is the best you can do in snow zones. Save the big, wide tires for sand.

[@danwesterberg3956]

I just picked up a 66 sprite, and this video has been extremely helpful. the one i got is almost like yours, has been sitting for close to 30 years...............so wish me luck. thanks I saw an Illinois plate on the car, are you in Illinois?

[@BenPortmanlewes]

Really enjoyed that, was good to see it start to finish, had seen most of it before but this really pulled it together. I'd suggest editing out the intro on each clip but I can see why you left it in as it breaks it up. Going to bed happy after cold war motors, then a heavy dose of this week with cars! Happy new year everyone!

[@paulhall170]

Outstanding restoration of a lovely old car! A highly entertaining and instructive long video, worth watching the whole thing, thanks Steve! And thanks for the quick glimpse of the wonderful Cassie! Slow to come up to temp in the cold? Is the thermostat working?

[@andrewcampbell3304]

Note the two jacking points on the sill/rocker; it looks like a previous owner has fitted replacement sills designed for a 74-80 Midget.

[@jamesmagill5801]

I find Ducky very interesting. I have chassis number #1487 and most likely Ducky and my car sat on the factory lot at the same time

[@stevejones9788]

Evidently there are about 8,000 roundabouts in the 🇺🇸. Contrary to our European perception that they are rare over the pond

[@davidjohns.3065]

Those roads and roundabouts you could be driving in England, well apart from being on the wrong side of course.

[@lrcb40]

Another one saved!

[@quickturn66]

Can modern spark plug wires be used on these engines as opposed to solid core wires?

[@camneilsen8234]

Where do you find all these cars Steve?

[@unclesugar1174]

REALLY ENJOYED THIS ENTIRE SERIES---THANKS

[@daveshongkongchinachannel]

Motoring in its purest form.

[@stephenhenion8304]

I had a 63 Sprite. HAN7L35503.... still have my log book from 1979...

[@kcirful]

Great video, thank you so much!

[@tommygtr3571]

I had a mk3 midget. It was great fun to drive!

[@charlesarroyo224]

Don't forget the coolant replacement.

[@milgeekmedia]

It does seem strange watching an American drive what was - even by British standards - a small car! very well done sir! 👍

[@88SC]

I have just enough room left in my garage for one of these. But the Mrs. would still expect me to make room first.

[@andrewlong5444]

Great job, well done from NZ

[@MarkSr1952]

Great info for working on my 69 mk4 with the older bored 948!

[@edwardkruszon5919]

Was the hammer on the carb a gag? Asking for a friend...

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

No it works 80% of the time to knock the valve loose if it was stuck

[@brentonmanser7350]

very entertaining and inforative

[@jz9985]

Like it when the magic happened. Joe

[@jonathanbowles2577]

Good Afternoon Steve, I have just watched your Excellent videos. What a very Beautiful and Gorgeous classic car you have brought back to Life. Well Done with this Amazing project. I will continue watching your really good videos. Thank you my friend. Jonathan.

[@wessmith7408]

FIRST: I WOULD LOVE MORE VIDEOS. I know you have a soft spot for the Pontiac's but I have one for the Buicks and the Olds from 1948 thru 1957. I have a story I would like to share about a 1975 Datsun 510 coupe that my son and I brought back to life. It was a father/son project when he was 15 1/2 and it took us till he was close to 16 1/2 to finish. I had a lot of pictures which were lost in a storm we had sometime later. I'm 72 now and he and I still talk about his first car. He was the right age that many parents will lose a good kid that age. I wouldn't buy him a car. Yes, I did fork out the money to get the car and start the project. I will not tell the rest of t his story unless there are those who are interested and if it is OK to post it here. I will say by the end of the project we couldn't have been closer and that relationship has endured all these years. He has children of his own who are having their own kids. I will say this: After his son was born he said I hope I'm half the dad to my boy that you were with me. I couldn't help but cry. A number of his friends were into trouble and drugs. Not my boy that I know of. For me it was a life changing experience. I felt all I had learned working on a farm in some small place in NC was worth all the gold in Fort Knox. There was a great deal I learned about both cars and my son.

[@neilshovlin9888]

Leaning in to buying a AHS… My first car was a AHS,like this… Glacier White, black interior… Heck, I’d buy this in a snap…

[@MrDunky48]

I have watched all your videos for ages and this is the type I prefer. Simply cannot believe that in the States there is such an expert on 50/60 year old small and not very powerful British cars. And the way you demonstrate the work you do , which I shall never do myself, I find fascinating. I much prefer your videos to those of UK mechanics and I am unable to really explain why! Less faffing about sums it up. Going for a long slow ride in an elderly Land Rover or similar over rough terrain I find less exciting. Similarly the motor sport videos because so many others of those exist with far better film equipment than you could run to. I am still trying to work out how you make a living!! You and Jay Leno are at opposite ends of the car spectrum but I also enjoy his laid back but knowledgeable manner. Keep up the good work. There are so many things on KZbin but the only one in particular I look out for is yours.

[@Downstairsish]

I'm a classic car restorer here in the UK and have worked on lots of these cars...So nice to see one that is original and rot free! as most of the ones here completely rotted out and ended up in the breakers long ago. Just a footnote. Have driven the whole west coast of the States from LA to Seattle and never saw one single roundabout.. but in your road test there is one ... Midgets are great on roundabouts..

[@mescko]

Roundabouts are being used more and more in new road construction in urban areas, which explains why you never saw any. I am having difficulty with them because I have gone on 3 extended holidays to the UK, always renting a car, and have driven over 4k miles there. I have dealt with many more roundabouts there and am used to them. Here, I have to tell myself as I approach them, 'Turn right, turn right, turn right...' Btw, I live in Oregon which IMHO has some of the loveliest coastline in the US (but I'm biased :) )

[@Downstairsish]

@@mescko I have to agree about Oregon coastline... its amazing, cant remember the number but I think its called the scenic Highway...Fantastic memories of me and my late wife on our honeymoon...

[@davidbarrett1487]

I owned that model with quarter ecliptic rear springs, which on fast sharp bends could give a quick kick at the rear if it lost rear adhesion through a road bump or wet, their was no panhard rod fitted. This was long ago in the early ‘60’s, I drove a lot of miles and thrashed the superb reliable 1098cc engine to bits, they were bullet proof, I blew the gearbox up, stripped a gear, dirt cheap to repair and easy to fix.You need a five speed box as high revs & exhaust a bit noisy on motorways. Sports dept Leyland or BMC did straight cut racing gears for those that thrashed them. You need to fit a front anti-roll bar at the front, they weren’t standard fit U.K. The A series engine so utterly reliable, just look after the ignition points with a clean now & then. They can be tuned up well, head work etc. GREAT LITTLE CARS & fun, so easy to work no thin wiring & relays no electronics- bullet proof. THE AH SPRITE was the first before the midgets.🇬🇧

[@ChrisinOSMS]

My dad had a mkII in the 70’s as a daily driver. He got rid of it before my brother turned 15. My sister and I would ride behind the seats while my brother rode shotgun. The sounds that this car makes brought back many good memories, I can remember the smells of the carpet. I didn’t realize how much space the radio took up, this one looks wide open without it. Does this one have the original jack in the boot? That thing was sketchy.

[@tonymaiettasr.7340]

Great video. Love the sound of that Sprite..

[@DanielCurti]

Lovely job, lovely car.

[@williampaxton871]

Just found your channel and this video was a lot of fun. Ever think of doing a Crosley? Bill

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Yes would like to do a Crosley Pickup

[@williampaxton871]

They are a bit hard to find but would love to see you do one.

[@johndelong4642]

Really liked your compilation but….concerned that you put water in the rad but you did not indicate that you replaced it with anti-freeze before going for a winter drive. Hope you did or you might have to re-do that engine. Here in Canada, this is always a major issue.

[@janinapalmer8368]

Put the lower radiator hose on before you replace it ..!! Also if the temperature sender was welded up ... how did you get it out ??

[@curbozerboomer1773]

I would replace the front brakes with disc brakes!...otherwise, this is one of my dream cars!

[@lloydgreen4091]

My first model was a Lindberg 1/32 Mark II Couldn't wait to get home & get Glue All Over my Dress Pants. Needless to say, Mom Was Not Happy. Now retired & getting my shop straight to tackle one I got way back mid '90s that might have been raced in Gratten. Has a roll bar & coil kit in rear. Bought it SW of Grand Rapids & I'm Now North of GR. Steve....Thanks So Much for doin' these vids. This One ranks right up there as one of my all time favs on the tube.

[@johnburns4017]

You should *never* have started the engine until you saw to the oil pump. And replaced the old oil. You may have given excessive wear to the bearings. I am surprised it never seized.

[@31terikennedy]

You know why the Brits drink warm beer? LUCAS makes their refrigerators. :D

[@Ogma3bandcamp]

What a treat!

[@fepatton]

Excellent job - I’m kind of jealous! I’ve purchased a shop manual for a Sprite/Midget in case one should magically appear, but there aren’t a lot of barns in my neighborhood…

[@WDON2010]

great videos!

[@darcyarchambault5901]

You did a nice job gentleman.In early seventys i owned a 1963 austin healy sprite with that pull button to start the engine.

[@o.b.haleyjr8901]

great video

[@dbeelee8564]

Nicely spliced vid. Hope to see more all in one vids. Suggest adding segment description to bottom time bar.

[@martinfrance9791]

Where's the Rust ? these cars came out of the factory with more Rust than this one, well done you for reiving some motoring history.

[@mikego18753]

Thumbs up Steve,belting little car. Thanks.

[@mikehamilton3833]

Love your Sprite videos. No longer own a Sprite but still enjoy watching you show how to do each test and repair. Unfortunately in 1971 when I owned my '61 Bugeye I made a lot of tuning mistakes but loved every minute of driving a Sprite. Thanks for sharing your passion for these great little cars.

[@rambler1964]

What solution do you use in the ultrasonic cleaner? great video btw!

[@Heypockeyway]

Extremely well explained. Good communicator.

[@tonysheerness2427]

Be careful with those old brake shoes and dust they contain asbestos.

[@pickering9200]

Marvellous stuff.

[@crumblefest]

This guy knows his stuff. I don't have a carb air flow meter, or a thermal parts cleaner. but there was lots of good tips to be had... well done, Laddie...

[@mrwhite292]

Gotta love that sound, thank you for the video, peace.

[@RedneckTaZ]

This was a very good series! I'm going to miss seeing this car but I know we'll get to see more Sprites soon!

[@WaywardCars]

Yikes! You started it without getting oil pressure first? This was going along fairly well until then! Always get oil pressure by running the starter first, so you don't starve the (dry) bearings. As you then show, just pull the gauge line to check for oil, and prime if necessary.

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

The oil will be there through capillary effect and will create a hydrodynamic wedge. As long as you are not putting a load on it everything is fine for a bit just as running the engine without coolant is fine if it is just a few minutes.

[@wilson42cc]

Can you buy disc brake front and rear for them ,,

[@johnwren3976]

Just use later Midget brakes.

[@gazzafloss]

@@johnwren3976 I had a Mk 2, that was 55 year ago, if I remember correctly it had front disc brakes, drum rear. Edit, mine was a Mk 2a front disc, 1100cc engine, I think 1964 was the year.

[@stecam]

Great job on the restoration, but you really need to sort out that oil pressure…

[@thirdcargarage2951]

Love it

[@thecar5284]

Love you videos

[@robertandrews7182]

Great job Steve..!! Bob Andrews

[@wileecoyote5749]

That car can easily fetch $672K as it sits

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

No low ballerz I know what I have! ;)

[@danbeardshear1356]

loved it thanks

[@glendonhall9120]

Hello Steve, I have a 67 healy that has been stored for at least ten years. I'm trying to figure out if the engine has seized. When I try to start it, the fuel pump comes on and all I get is a clicking sound. Could you tell me where the starter silenoid is so that I can try your same method?

[@davidbarrett1487]

SU Fuel pump has contact breaker points, makes & breaks like in a distributor, clicking continuously it’s not sucking petrol, they are simple to take apart, easy to spot faults, and usually very reliable. Sometimes after taking apart they have an airlock, Just hit the casing, sometimes they work you drive a mile or so and the engine stops, this after engine work etc, it’s just an air lock tap it, with ignition on in neutral gear, brake on. Clicking engines solenoids, it’s usually dirt oxides on contacts, check leads, clean starter motor all contact point etc, check starter motor off the car.

[@grayfool]

Excellent job Steve. I love these card, they're just so much fun.

[@131R30]

Drive it in the snow? OK. In the salt? I hope not!

[@andyfletch455]

Its good to watch someone who knows what they're doing!

[@bobkids009]

This is a very well presented and detailed restoration process video..... It shows how much love Steve has towards this Austin Healey Sprite Mark II and transformed it into a beauty running horse again . Well done Steve.....Greeting from South East Asia....

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Thank you very much!

[@georgeross9834]

Thanks for calling it a bonnet

[@micheltebraake7915]

Another car ready for a new life.

[@johnhirtle4300]

My first car was a Mk 3, which I bought in 1975 for $250. I swapped drive train, interior, and other parts from my dad's rusted out Mk 3, and eventually rebuilt the engine, did the body and paint myself. I had the car for 25 years, having wrecked and repaired it twice. My dad replaced his Mk 3 with a '72 MG Midget, which he eventually retrofitted to appear as a Mk 4 Sprite. Great series on your rehab of the Mk. 2. What an amazing find. Illinois plates and NO RUST!? Not many like that (or at all) still about. Looking forward to other vids/projects. P.S. Don't forget to lube the trunnion bushings on the front suspension!

[@jettrink7510]

Gee I feel like this Austin is mine.

[@pegtooth2006]

Nice montage, brother

[@pensioner43enginedriver13]

Watching you on this 1962 sprite took me back to 1970 when I purchased my first car, Prime Rose Yellow Mk11. I do notice the export model had heaters fitted as standard. What was the condition of the side windows?, here in the UK they suffered from leaks. Norman Young

[@jontemple1038]

Hi, well done with all your work! they're great little cars... I owned a '64 Mk1 Midget at college in the 70s, then bought a Mk3 Sprite some years later which I subsequently rebuilt with a glass-fibre Sebring front and rare after-market Kamm-type rear with an open top (not a Lenham-type coupe). Then did full bare-metal rebuilds with a friend on another three Mk3/Mk4 Midgets. Here in the UK corrosion was/is always a huge issue (wet and road salt, etc), necessitating A LOT of fresh metal. I'm guessing yours tend to fare better in that respect. or has your car had much welding done?... Replaced pretty much everything else too - including the felt bushes in the steering columns which have to be soaked in engine oil...and quite a lot of engine modifications as well...

[@janforward8784]

Great video Steve from start to finish.

[@breezeone3514]

CAN I PURCHASE A CAR FROM YOU

[@johndavey72]

Hi Steve . Teriffic job and your tuition is top drawer ! My brother had the 948 cc with drums and the later mk2 with the 1098cc and front discs . Becoming fery sought after !

[@donaldrentfrow4333]

Good, good program.............

[@drjohn5801]

Great series of videos - really eonjoyedcwatching this, was a trip down memory lane, having several Sprites and midgets of the years including a couple of Frog Eyes...

[@craighutcheon6991]

I had a 1966 MG Midget mk 2 with roll up windows and it was a fine car for winter in BC. Open up the flap in the footwell and turn on the fan. With the tonneau cover on it was toasty. Nice to see that Sprite being restored by someone who knows what he is doing.

[@christophermarshall5765]

Nice job. Nice little car.

[@wiserman100]

I had a 1960 Bugeye with a 948 cc back in the day. I replaced the worn 948 with a newer 1098 and the hp increase was marginally appreciated. Was a fun drive with both engines. What a great era for Limey cars! Thanks for the memories.

[@space-pop3527]

I had a 1955 Austin Healey 100 which I bought with a thrown rod. It took about a year to overhaul at the time (1966-67). It was a significant learning curve for a 19 year old kid who had no experience working on cars. Had to order parts from the UK. Loved the car for the short time I had it. The backwards 3 speed was interesting with it's aluminum housing. Fun and expensive project at that time.

[@dansbrown1313]

That was just awesome! A walk down memory lane for me, as I had bought a 1964 Austin Healey Sprite Mark II done in canary yellow in 1969. Wendy put mahogany Mack tack on the dash and that white bump the shifter and rubber boot goes through (looked great) and I applied a black leather kit for the steering wheel. Thanks for this video. Oh and the one I had didn't have the front bumper. Cheers from Canada.

[@timsummers6938]

What a great source of information. I wish I had this reference when I worked on my 1963 AH Sprite HAN7. The PB Blaster helped with all the stuck nuts, not shown in this video.

[@skipstein744]

I had a 1962 zMk II Sprite. Nothing fancy, not even a radio. But, it ran strong and always fun. Thanks!

[@williamelkins1613]

Sweet video. I may have learned enough to attempt to get my 55 Austin A50 running after all these years. You .ake it look quite simple. Thanks for the great vid.

[@sgttombailes3380]

Outstanding JOB !!!

[@bobmanzi7712]

great stuff , thanks

[@jamesdearman814]

need to get some guides on the inside edges of that lift. you almost ran off it on the drivers side rear. instead of greasy fingers - can i suggest earthquake putty? available at home improvement and big box stores- works like a champ and not greasy. holds screws to screwdrivers and nuts in sockets and wrenches.