This Sprite is believed to be the last Austin Healey delivered in the State of Missouri and is the last to be registered for warranty in the United States. The car was carefully stored by the original BMC dealer and remained undriven for thirty nine years. In 2008, it was purchased by the current owner. At that time, the odometer registered 148 miles.
The body of this Sprite was manufactured by Pressed Steel Company at Stratton St. Margaret near Swindon, England. It was then transported to Cowley, Oxford where it was primed, painted and partially trimmed. From Cowley, the finished chassis was trucked to the MG Car Company in Abingdon. The car began moving down the Abingdon upper level trim line on July 10, 1969. The following day, it was lowered to the body line for final assembly, test driven on the Marcham Road, and parked in the factory lot.
On July 18, 1969, the car began its journey to the United States via the Port of New Orleans as an import of British Leyland Motors Inc. and Continental Cars Distributors, Inc. of St. Louis, Missouri. It was delivered by truck to Economy Cars Ltd. in North Kansas City, Missouri on September 25, 1969. The retail price listed on the window sticker was $2,341.00.
Factory fitted equipment: disc wheels, tonneau cover, SP68 radial tires, cigar lighter,
anti-roll bar
Dealer fitted equipment: chrome wire wheels