1962 Austin Healey Sprite Mark II - Will It Run?

[@brettlaurila]

I recently purchased a 72 MG midget that hasn’t run in 10 years. Your video confirmed the process that I went through in checking the motor and it’s condition!

[@JourneymanRandy]

Nice tip on priming the oil pump. Good stuff Steve

[@reijerlincoln]

I would love to see this car brought back to live, as a series of project videos.

[@tomfurie2996]

The oil pump priming, top tip! Thanks. Keep ‘em’ coming.

[@lloydgreen4091]

For someone who has Two early Mark IIs & a '64 Midget all in need of this type of TLC, I say Thank You Steve for your effort & sharing this Info with us.

[@88SC]

A lot to work with here. I prefer this style to the earlier versions. Looks like it will be a lot of fun for all of us. 🎉

[@visionsofhere3745]

Love those MK2 Sprites, easily the prettiest non-frogeye Spriget.

[@bobpenner4260]

This is the exact car that I am building even matching colour. Great tips on priming the oil pump. Thanks.

[@chasbari]

Sure wish KZbin and your channel was around when I had my Sprite way back when. I might actually still have it and be driving it. You know your stuff!

[@markmurphy3578]

I like the fact that you can find an old MG that hasn’t been used for decades and it’s still in such great condition. The brakes and clutch are not a surprise, but the engine is amazing. Looking forward to seeing you work on this one!

[@jackdaniels14369]

Sacrilege!! You called this fine car an MG! 😖

[@markmurphy3578]

@@jackdaniels14369 Over here there was so much “badge engineering” that it was hard to work out what came first! It is a fine car, but apart from the front bonnet (hood) the rest of the car is pretty much the same.

[@grayfool]

Great car. You can never have too many Sprites/Midgets. Looks pretty solid too.

[@andyfranks2337]

I too like your style, straightforward, easy to understand, but chock full of useful tips. Looking forward to seeing more on this car. Thanks!

[@garyfeltus9801]

Super cool . Something that has been sitting that long and runes ..wild love to see you restore this every day driver. Great video.

[@Frz45]

Would love to see you get hold of a Triumph staaagggggg, or even a ford capri. I love watching an American work on old British cars using all the correct terminology etc

[@ernieleithes6545]

Can i recommend a canadian father and son building a Triumph Gt6 with a V8 not your ordinary build fabricated from ground up "Fanatik Build" i highly recomend them for their skills.

[@brwlegge]

Fantastic, looking forward to this series

[@michelmoonen3433]

Can’t wait to see this one turned into an original running and driving car! 👍🏻

[@johnpearson492]

Looking forward to the adventure. I have a 62 Spite that I drive everywhere. Super fun cars.

[@davidjackson5732]

Thanks for your obvious love of Brit cars. I was brought up with MG's, Triumph, Sunbeam and my favorite Sprites back in England. Now 66 years old and living in Ohio. So you can see why I'm glad I found your channel.

[@Broyourenglishisgood]

also, look into the left hand wheel arch you can pull on the cable and pop the bonnet open!

[@neiloconnell2120]

Yes, please. I worked on one of these (it was in a very rusty nasty state) back in 1982. It was in a bad way overall and yet still drove well down country lanes. I liked your prime the pump tip.

[@paulbarber1960]

Never in a flap, always calm, always works through the problems 👌

[@neilmackinnon3371]

Once again, watching from the UK I am amazed that you have found a Sprite in such great condition. Just like the Frog Eye's, they are hard to find over here, either they are super restored, or a rusty wreck, either way they are always expensive.... one way or another.

[@daveunderwood1528]

Please keep that Healey going...! My first ride in a sports car was in that exact model, year and color. My Uncle bought it brand new. Racing around the Berkley Hills with the smell of gas and noise of the engine is still a vivid and fond early memory. I was four. Thanks so much, you have some of the best videos on the web.

[@nutella3356]

Brings back memories, I had a 63 Sprite. Always like the low roofline and sliding side windows.

[@PhilipDjaferis]

excellent Steve; really enjoy your videos.and the way you explain things

[@kenem1946]

Another great video, Steve ... I salute your knowledge and how you share it. Thank you, Ken

[@ricoramos9864]

I too love this stuff. Looking forward to see it on the road.

[@ericwilkinson9447]

I see three thumbs down, that could only mean one thing.... Somewhere there's three dingleberries that do not appreciate quality videos

[@billsuddell9508]

A very enjoyable video. watched over in the UK this evening. looking forward to the next few on this MkII Sprite.

[@bradfordsimms715]

Steve, you depth of knowledge is remarkable. I has a 64 69 and a 72 MGB and a 72 Interceptor so I lived the dream. Thanks for the memories

[@tomk4199]

Really looking forward to following this project! I owned a 70 and then a 71 MG Midget way back and I loved those cars!

[@richardsims1805]

Used to own a 1967 mk IV Sprite and this brings back some happy memories. Fix it!!!

[@shannonwittman950]

Thanks, man! ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Really a joy to watch you bringing these pretty little cars back to life again. I'll be watching for future episodes.

[@robertcringely7348]

What I love about these videos is your depth of knowledge, your logical approach, and the way you so clearly explain what you are doing and why. Over the years I had a pair of Bugeyes -- a 1959 with a 1275 and a rib-cage gearbox and a 1960 with the original 948 and smooth case gearbox but added front disk brakes (that was my favorite). Gosh I loved those cars! You can drive down the road at 55 and feel like you are going 100, your hair of course blowing forward into your eyes. Now I'm 68 and wish I had another one to share with my sons. I'll sure be following along on this Mk II.

[@Dino.808]

Those Snap-on devices have taken your videos to another level.

[@144agency9]

Great to see this Steve, the body looks very clean considering the interior and engine bay. Looking forward to watching this car return to its former glory.

[@robertmorin1454]

That is a great step by step look at bringing a car back to life after 40 years ! Unbelievable you got it running that well! Previous owner likely just messed up with the electric power supply and gave up!! Can’t wait for part 2👍🇨🇦

[@MikeJones-nu4sd]

Looking forward to seeing you work on this car. Had a '69 MGB-GT back in the day. Loved it, but I spend many a weekend working on it.

[@robertcallahan4065]

Looking forward to the next vid

[@stevevisek7422]

Great to see another Sprite video, Steve! Looking forward to the complete resto process.

[@awesomeguy8392]

Looking forward to this series Steve! What a gem!!

[@geraldbly4903]

What a sweet Mark I. Hopefully you will do a series on bringing this car back to life.

[@Zillustration]

YES! Great to see a car from my birth year getting back in shape!

[@regsparkes6507]

Waaay back in 1962 my brother owned an Austin Healey Sprite Mark II almost exactly like this. I seem to recall that the upholstery was a red leather and it came with both soft and hard tops. The hub caps for this car were rather simply chromed semi domed style with the initials 'AH" stamped in the center. Ahhh the memories this video brings to me! I wish I could buy that one from you, but as I am in Canada the import costs, I imagine, would be cost prohibitive.

[@markfisher8206]

Steve always interesting videos !takes me back to my 66 MGB for sure!

[@TheBohemianAngels]

This guy knows he's stuff.

[@gryfandjane]

Great stuff. Coincidentally, a couple friends and I just revived a white ‘61 Midget that had been sitting for years.

[@windmill1965]

Very methodical approach, with clear explanations. Thank you for this educational video (which is fun to watch at the same time)!

[@frglee]

Indeed. There is a certain joy in this kind of relative mechanical simplicity that even non mechanics can understand.

[@rustybum2]

Hey Steve, thanks for showing how to prime the oil pump, could be very useful to me when I try to start my Morris Traveller which hasn't run for over 15 years. Great channel, your no-nonsense style is very refreshing. Best regards from Ireland.

[@mundanestuff]

Looking forward to it. Just took the master cylinders out of my Bugeye for rebuilding, and my dad raced one of those you're working on all through the late 60s and 70s right into about 82. I still have the doors from that car, but sadly the rest of it went to the scrap yard. I can still remember driving past that scrap yard months later, they had it sitting on the top of a pile and you could see it from the road. Sad.

[@stephenhenion8304]

These cars still have the side curtains! Classic Roadsters! Looks like the rear end is low. Probably a tire issue. I replaced the 1/4 elliptic springs on my 63. Great job Steve!!

[@doddsy799]

My dad died last year and left me a white Mk2 project. The body is absolutely solid having had new floors and wings at some point, all the bits seem to be there so im going to make it this summers project.

[@jackdaniels14369]

You have an amazing car and in great shape to work with not having to do a lot of restoration!! You are excellent in showing what the problems are and simply fixing them! Of course you don’t have to be “real quick” on doing anything, take you time. Funny how people always say real quick! Lol. I’m jealous, of course!! I had a running ‘62 back in ‘72 and let it go. Being in the Navy didn’t help. I subscribed and looking forward in your other videos. Nice job!!

[@modelleg]

These little cars can grow on you, which is great because they're so small.

[@aCivilServant]

Nice video, and, as someone from the UK, appreciate the fact you called the bonnet a bonnet and not a hood ;)

[@timbutton4990]

Looking forward to this if you're going to carry out a full refurb.

[@Rabblewitz]

Personal opinion ... I like the looks of the Mark II a lot more than the Frog Eye. Enjoyed the video, as usual ... more of these, please.

[@buggeroff9]

I'd love to follow this project to the end. Nice looking car too.

[@johnclayden1670]

What a delight to watch and learn. Had a Midget for a while in the 60's (and a few MGB's later). Splendid little machines. Not fast, nippy, decent predictable handling and a whole lot of fun.

[@eggy1962]

This one looks bodily in better shape than the frog eyes and their decent,looking forward to more content maybe some extra on the interior repairs seats carpets trim etc.

[@frglee]

What a sweet little car! Will be nice to see her running. I'm sure it will give a lot of pleasure on the road to whoever ends up owning it, and hopefully not end up in some dark air conditioned garage covered in plastic as an 'investment opportunity'.

[@rhiantaylor3446]

Hope you bought a job lot of those mk 1/2 brake/clutch master cylinders, this will be the third (?) so far....

[@johnfleming3289]

Thanks enjoyed that video. Keep going. I had a MK2 Sprite a LONG time ago. Great little car.

[@BobSmith-rh5gv]

Hey thanks for the video I have a old one that been setting for a long time You give me inspiration to try to make my run again

[@thirdcargarage2951]

Great tip on that style oil pump.

[@JBFromOZ]

I hate to throw a spanner into the fan blades Steve, but here in Australia, my right hand drive mk1 is a Bugeye :-)

[@atoieno]

Some nostalgia for me. My first car was mark 2. Looking forward to watching this one's progress.

[@stevew8233]

Me too, except mine was my third car and was a white Mk 1 Midget. I left it parked beside the Thames at Kingston one morning. When I came back some hours later the whole area was under water (Spring tide) and all I could see of the car was the roof and the antenna. Big fun trying to get it running again! I had never heard of WD40 in the early 1970s.

[@daveshongkongchinachannel]

Looking forward to seeing more of this car.

[@johndavey72]

Hi Steve . Thanks for clarifying "frog eye/ bug eye" . My late brother had both. An early (948) and later (1098) l had a mk2 Midget. Great cars , never fast but just fun and l prefer the purity of the side screen models . Thanks Steve.

[@basilioserrano1828]

Great detective work. Entertaining program.

[@mikus4242]

Nice, looking forward to the series.

[@spellacy29]

That's a pretty car. So glad you're gonna fix it up. I'll enjoy watching that. You make great videos, I'm sorry if some of my fellow Brits are pedantic and insist on Frog Eye, instead of Bug Eye. Neither terms were official factory names anyway so what the heck? 😂

[@van84agon]

best channel on KZbin, keep up the great work!

[@bobm2331]

Steve, hope you continue working on this and just maybe you'll put it up for sale. At least we can hope.

[@christophermarshall5765]

Love these little cars.

[@2H80vids]

Looking forward to this Steve. Always thought these were better looking than the frog-eyes.

[@trwsandford]

You sir, are quite a good mechanic. Interesting side note, I have that same engine in my Datsun forklift... kinda..

[@bryancohn9406]

Datsun’s pushrod A series of engines were copied from the BMC A series engines used in Sprite’s and Midgets. So the reason they look the same is cause they very much the same. The first Datsun’s were Austin’s built under license, the Japanese and British had a long standing relationship with things like this.

[@trwsandford]

Bryan Cohn that, and Datsun bought a bunch of tooling to cast those blocks

[@slothzombi307]

Likely an "A Series" engine. Very popular. Like I had in my '71 Datsun 1200.

[@trwsandford]

SlothZombi my Datsun forklift does have an A series, it is an 1100. Vintage 1973. Runs on propane, it will last literally forever. This engine was cast on tooling bought from The British in the late 1960’s

[@reijerlincoln]

I hope you keep it looking as it does now. Suits the car.

[@robertthompson9684]

The rockers with 2 jacking points were introduced about 1975 with the 1500 engine. Early 1500s (1974 to 1975) had single jacking point rockers. The earth strap should be secured to one of the bell housing bolts, not the slave.

[@mikego18753]

Thumbs up Steve.

[@DarkFlamage]

Yes, if you would continue the repairs, please.

[@infocpctrainer]

yes please, more on this car

[@strokenumber3]

Looking forward to the series of videos on this. Any hope of videos on that GT6 that appeared in the background of a video a few months back ?

[@nta.16]

It'll be great and very informative to follow your progress on this car. Different makes of batteries often have different date coding on or in the battery casing, before submitting it for recycling you could try putting it on a glacial recharge and doubtful but who knows it might pick up enough to run a shop radio, waste not, want not.

[@BMC1100]

They are right hand drive 'Bug Eyes' in Australia.

[@georgezeck1396]

I have the same one. Thanks!

[@TERRYB0688]

Had one back in 1966 we called it a Midget, one things for sure you know your way round British cars, nice job Steve, Steve you must go see a KZbin channel " Ivan's She'd" this guy will blow your mind

[@visionsofhere3745]

The Midget was the MG, the Sprite was the Austin Healey. I think Morris dealers sold the Midget, and Austin dealers sold the Sprite. Apart from the badges, there really wasn't any difference.

[@caroldave4037]

Hi steve ...slight tangent here but have you seen here in UK a utuber ..'Ivan's shed ' namely ivan dutton building a A series twin cylinder engine ..... it based on prototype mini 2cylinder motor...atb dave

[@stephenfillingham6289]

Where do you keep finding these cars from? I'm looking forward to this one, thanks.

[@JeffCrowell11]

That paint still has a shine. How did you find it?

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Sounds like fun! 😊👍

[@BJHolloway1]

Great job as usual

[@dopeynightlifetv6859]

Steve where can we find that handy dandy snap on tool that?

[@nickbruscia1566]

Hi Steve - thanks fo this series! I just picked up a '63 Sprite and will take it through the same process. This playlist is invaluable! Quick question to help a first timer - how do you 'bump' the cam lobe open while it's in gear (around the 8:25 mark)?

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Put it in gear and rock the car by hand, the engine will turn. Stop when you see the points are on top of the cam.

[@nickbruscia1566]

@@ThisWeekWithCars got it, thanks!

[@robertcallahan4065]

Is this an early MKII? Later ones had the 1071cc

[@ThisWeekWithCars]

Early with 948 same as the Mark I

[@jjmac3561]

948, then 1098, then 1275.

[@makestufflearnstuff2386]

Bring it on!

[@CharlieMetcalf]

Good looking Sprite, is that the original color/paint? If so it is in GREAT shape

[@DONALDMORSE02562]

Thanks.

[@59vaughn]

What a darling of a machine....😍must be ready for miles of smiles......ok maybe not a darling...🤔maybe a very spritely imp..ready for many mile of mischief..😎

[@robber_h]

I have a Mk3 Midget but I'd love a Mk2 Sprite or Mk1 Midget as well :)