In Over His Head: 1962 Austin Healey Sprite Mark II, Datsun Power, Bugeye Look
When we had a discussion about sellers in over their heads, the collective bargain hunters/tippers around the world really stepped up their game. This next one comes from Zach Z and looks like Exhibits A, B and C in a divorce proceeding. Find this 1962 Austin-Healey Sprite with Datsun 510 engine offered for $2,500 in Lake Stevens, WA. Tip from Zach Z.
This car started life as a Mark II Austin-Healey Sprite, which means that the Mark I Bugeye front clip has been ziptied grafted onto the front of this thing…but that is just a footnote in the list of modifications to this car.
Under the hood is a Nissan L16 inline-4 from a Datsun 510, expect 96 horsepower and about 100 ft-lbs of torque — not a monster, but much more oomph than the original engine and decent aftermarket support if you want to go faster. But first, you will need to address the gaping holes in the transmission tunnel…
See another project car that comes with a fire extinguisher? tips@dailyturismo.com
haven't i made you a "project car" badge yet? – give me a minute here…
hahahaha, If this was near me I'd be in so much trouble.
This one is near me and i think it's Trouble !
For $2500 you can be in over your head!
Love the contact-paper fake wood dash.
The problem with this is that L16 might have seemed like a good idea back about, oh, 1975, but by present standards it's barely a hiccup ahead of the original motor and in some folks' eyes a step backward.
This might be worth the asking price, but it's an incredible bodge in need of someone with fab skills and a lot of patience.
If I had any confidence the hood was either actually attached or they had the stuff to put it back together again I'd, well, I dunno, run away slower?
If I had any confidence the hood was either actually attached or they had the stuff to put it back together again I'd, well, I dunno, run away slower?
Or maybe back away…kinda?
It's just a collection of parts, piled into the approximate location they would be in an actual car. I can't see any evidence that anything is attached to anything else.
Actually, evidence is to the contrary – hoisting straps still on the engine, tunnel cut away for gearbox, hood sitting proud, or on the bench.