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Fancy owning a motorsport legend for road and track use? Paul Davies looks at true classics that made their name on stages and circuits, and still provide a fine drive today

With the Big Healey such a storming success, motoring entrepreneur Donald Healey reasoned the world also needed a really small and economical sports car, in the true traditions of the tiny MGs that rocked the world in the pre-1939 era. With the diminutive A35 saloon as a starting point, designer Gerry Coker fashioned a minimalist two-seater that - despite just 43bhp from its 948cc, twin carb, A-Series engine - was light enough to be a lively performer. Morris Minor rear brakes made the stopping system hydraulic all-round, and rack and pinion steering from the same car sharpened the handling. Just like the Big Healey, BMC really liked the idea and the Austin Healey Sprite went on sale in 1958. The Frog-Eye bonnet was cheeky looking (it lifted in one piece, just like the later Triumph Herald and Jaguar E-Type), and no-one minded the plastic side-screens, or that the only access to the boot was from behind the two basic bucket seats either. People soon discovered what a marvellous car the Sprite was for club motor sport. Rallyman John Sprinzel took one on the ’58 Liege-Rome-Liege, and the following year Marcus Chambers’ BMC team entered a brace on the Monte Carlo, Tommy Wisdom netting 5th in class. That year Sprinzel (with co-driver Stuart Turner) won the class on the Liege. The Sprite, and later its Midget clone, was a consistent class winner. Pat Moss got into the cockpit on several occasions with good effect, and in 1961 the MG version took an excellent 1-2 on the RAC Rally with Derek Astle and Roy (‘King Cod’) Fidler. In ’63 the Reverend (really!) Rupert Jones was a class winner on Monte Carlo, but by then the Mini Cooper S was the rally car of choice for BMC. But Donald Healey then went racing, particularly in the USA where the Sprite was a sensation. Check this result from the 1962 Sebring 3 Hours for one-litre cars: Stirling Moss (3rd), Pedro Rodriguez (6th), Innes Ireland (7th), Steve McQueen (yes him) (9th)! Sprites and Midgets raced at Le Mans and the Targa Florio, as well as in the US. Development continued with lightweight cars and engines that were delivering over 110bhp. Alec Poole and Roger Enever delivered the works’ swan-song in 1968, with 15th overall at Le Mans in a very special alloy-bodied coupe. Sprinzel created his own Sebring Sprite - front disc brakes were a feature - and several others also made their own specials, DouglasWilson-Spratt’s WSM being one of the most successful of them all. Austin Healey or MG, from 948cc to1275cc(but excluding the rather nasty 1500cc Triumph engine model that ran from 1974-79), sidescreens or wind-up windows, the Spridget in all its forms was, and still is, the ultimate classic small sports car for road or track.