Austin Sprite

Austin Sprite: which version to buy, and why the numbers differ

The Austin Sprite is a Cabrio sold across 4 generations from 1958 to 1971. There are five catalogue versions, all Gasoline, Inline 4, 2 valves per cylinder, No boost, Front, longitudinal, Carburetor, Manual 4, RWD, 27 l tank, 127 mm ground clearance.

The Austin Sprite is a Cabrio sold across 4 generations from 1958 to 1971. There are five catalogue versions, all Gasoline, Inline 4, 2 valves per cylinder, No boost, Front, longitudinal, Carburetor, Manual 4, RWD, 27 l tank, 127 mm ground clearance. Wheel size is not measured on every version; gross weight is not measured on every version; fuel consumption (city, highway, combined) is not measured on every version; CO2 and eco class are not measured. The buying question is therefore not “which body” — every generation is Cabrio — but which engine and which chassis package the numbers actually buy.

People looking up Austin Sprite MK1, MK2, MK3, MK4, Bugeye/Frogeye, horsepower, engine size, top speed, weight, dimensions, mpg, and Sprite vs MG Midget are comparing the same five rows. Below, each version is named exactly as in the catalogue: 1.0 MT, 1.1 MT, 1.3 MT, split by generation and by power where two 1.1 MT rows exist.

Austin Sprite generations: what actually changed between MK1, MK2, MK3 and MK4

1 generation (1958–1961), Cabrio, 1 version. The only engine is 1.0 MT: 948 cm³, 44 hp (32 kW) at 5200 rpm, 71 Nm at 3300 rpm, compression 8.3, bore × stroke 62.9 × 76.2. Kerb weight 664 kg is the lightest Sprite in this set. Front and rear brakes are Drum. This is the baseline every later row is measured against.

2 generation (1961–1964), Cabrio, 2 versions. Same body type, two engines: 1.0 MT (46 hp / 34 kW) and 1.1 MT (57 hp / 42 kW). Brakes stay Drum / Drum. This is the only generation that lets you stay at 948 cm³ or step up 100 cm³ without changing generation.

3 generation (1964–1966), Cabrio, 1 version. One engine: 1.1 MT at 60 hp (44 kW). Displacement stays 1048 cm³. The hardware change that is not displacement is the front brake: Disc at the front, Drum at the rear. Top speed stays 145 km/h, the same figure as 2 generation 1.1 MT.

4 generation (1966–1971), Cabrio, 1 version. One engine: 1.3 MT, 1275 cm³, 65 hp (48 kW). Front Disc, rear Drum, kerb 714 kg — the same kerb as 3 generation 1.1 MT. Production runs through 1971. If the search is “Austin Sprite 1971”, the catalogue row is this 1.3 MT.

Restyling is not a fifth generation. There are four generations, not eleven.

Austin Sprite engine specs: every version, named as in the database

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 1 generation 1.0 MT 46.4 hp/l; 2 generation 1.0 MT 48.5 hp/l; 2 generation 1.1 MT 54.4 hp/l; 3 generation 1.1 MT 57.3 hp/l; 4 generation 1.3 MT 51.0 hp/l. The densest engine on this list is not the largest: 3 generation 1.1 MT at 1048 cm³ extracts more horsepower per litre than 4 generation 1.3 MT at 1275 cm³.

Torque per litre: 1 generation 1.0 MT 74.9 Nm/l; 2 generation 1.0 MT 75.9 Nm/l; 2 generation 1.1 MT 80.2 Nm/l; 3 generation 1.1 MT 84.0 Nm/l; 4 generation 1.3 MT 76.9 Nm/l. Again, 3 generation 1.1 MT is the peak specific torque; 4 generation 1.3 MT wins on absolute 98 Nm, not on density.

Peak rpm. Power peaks move up the rev range as the line ages: 5200 (1 generation 1.0 MT) → 5500 (both 2 generation engines) → 5750 (3 generation 1.1 MT) → 5800 (4 generation 1.3 MT). Torque peaks do not follow the same ladder: 2 generation 1.0 MT makes 72 Nm already at 2750 rpm — the lowest torque peak on the list — while 3 generation 1.1 MT waits until 3500 rpm for 88 Nm.

Compression: 8.3 (1 generation 1.0 MT) → 9 (both 2 generation versions and 3 generation 1.1 MT) → 8.8 (4 generation 1.3 MT). The last engine is larger, not more highly compressed.

Austin Sprite performance, top speed, and mpg (what is measured)

0–100 km/h is measured on two rows only. 1 generation 1.0 MT: 20.9 s. 2 generation 1.0 MT: 19.8 s — 1.1 s quicker on +2 hp and +36 kg. For 2 generation 1.1 MT, 3 generation 1.1 MT, and 4 generation 1.3 MT, 0–100 is not measured. Do not treat a blank as “this Sprite does not accelerate.”

Top speed, every version: 129 km/h (1 generation 1.0 MT) → 137 km/h (2 generation 1.0 MT, +8 km/h) → 145 km/h (2 generation 1.1 MT and 3 generation 1.1 MT, another +8 km/h from the 948, then +0 between those two 1.1 rows) → 153 km/h (4 generation 1.3 MT, +8 km/h from 145). From first Sprite to last, top speed rises 24 km/h. Three of the four steps are 8 km/h; the step that is not is the MK3 1.1 MT, which keeps MK2 1.1 MT’s 145 km/h.

Fuel consumption / mpg. City, highway, and combined are not measured on 1.0 MT, 1.1 MT, and 1.3 MT in every generation listed. Tank volume is 27 l on all five versions, so range cannot be calculated from catalogue consumption because consumption is not measured. Searches for Austin Healey Sprite mpg hit a wall of missing figures, not a hidden number.

Austin Sprite dimensions, weight, tank, clearance

Exterior dimensions (length, width, height, wheelbase) are not measured in this dataset for any generation, including MK1 / Bugeye / Frogeye, MK2, MK3, and MK4. Ground clearance is measured: 127 mm on every version. Wheel size is not measured on every version.

Kerb weight: 1 generation 1.0 MT 664 kg; 2 generation 1.0 MT 700 kg (+36 kg); 2 generation 1.1 MT 715 kg (+15 kg vs that generation’s 1.0 MT, +51 kg vs MK1); 3 generation 1.1 MT 714 kg (−1 kg vs 2 generation 1.1 MT); 4 generation 1.3 MT 714 kg (same as 3 generation). Gross weight is not measured on all five.

kg per horsepower (kerb ÷ hp): 1 generation 1.0 MT 15.1 kg/hp; 2 generation 1.0 MT 15.2 kg/hp (slightly worse despite +2 hp, because mass rose faster); 2 generation 1.1 MT 12.5 kg/hp; 3 generation 1.1 MT 11.9 kg/hp; 4 generation 1.3 MT 11.0 kg/hp. The last Sprite is the least mass per horsepower. The first two 1.0 MT rows are almost tied on this ratio; buying 2 generation 1.0 MT over 1 generation 1.0 MT is not a mass-to-power win.

Tank 27 l and clearance 127 mm do not differentiate versions. Independent, spring front and Dependent, leaf spring rear also do not: they are the same wording on all five.

Which Austin Sprite version to choose

There is no price in this catalogue, so “what the extra money buys” is read as what the extra centimetres, kilograms, and hardware buy.

Choose 1 generation 1.0 MT (1958–1961) if the priority is mass. 664 kg, 44 hp, 71 Nm, 948 cm³, 129 km/h, 20.9 s to 100 km/h. It is 50 kg lighter than 4 generation 1.3 MT and 51 kg lighter than 2 generation 1.1 MT. You give up 21 hp and 24 km/h versus the last 1.3 MT, and you keep Drum / Drum. Specific output is the lowest (46.4 hp/l). This is the lightest Sprite here, not the strongest.

Choose 2 generation 1.0 MT (1961–1964) only if you want the 948 with the later 1.0 tune. Versus 1 generation 1.0 MT: +2 hp, +1 kW, +1 Nm, compression 8.3 → 9, power peak 5200 → 5500 rpm, torque peak 3300 → 2750 rpm, 0–100 20.9 → 19.8 s, top speed 129 → 137 km/h, kerb 664 → 700 kg. You pay 36 kg for 2 hp and 8 km/h. kg/hp barely moves (15.1 → 15.2). Front brakes remain Drum. If the goal is “small engine, later car,” this is the row; if the goal is “lightest 948,” it is not.

Choose 2 generation 1.1 MT (1961–1964) if you want the first real power step inside one generation. Versus the same generation’s 1.0 MT: +11 hp (46 → 57), +8 kW, +12 Nm, +100 cm³ (948 → 1048), bore × stroke 62.9 × 76.2 → 64.6 × 83.7, top speed 137 → 145 km/h, kerb 700 → 715 kg (+15 kg). That is +11 hp for 15 kg — 1.4 kg per extra horsepower on the step. 0–100 on this 1.1 MT is not measured. Brakes stay Drum / Drum. Specific power jumps to 54.4 hp/l. This is the in-generation fork: stay 1.0 MT or take 1.1 MT.

Choose 3 generation 1.1 MT (1964–1966) if you want Disc fronts on 1048 cm³. Two catalogue rows share the name 1.1 MT; they are not the same car. 3 generation 1.1 MT is 60 hp / 44 kW at 5750 rpm and 88 Nm at 3500 rpm; 2 generation 1.1 MT is 57 hp / 42 kW at 5500 rpm and 84 Nm at 3250 rpm. Same 1048 cm³, same 64.6 × 83.7, same compression 9, same 145 km/h. Delta: +3 hp, +2 kW, +4 Nm, kerb 715 → 714 kg, front Drum → Disc. Top speed does not move. 0–100 remains not measured. Specific power is the catalogue high: 57.3 hp/l. kg/hp 12.5 → 11.9. What MK3 buys over MK2 1.1 MT is 3 hp, 4 Nm, 1 kg less, and Disc fronts — not a higher top speed and not a larger engine.

Choose 4 generation 1.3 MT (1966–1971) if the priority is absolute power, torque, and top speed on the same 714 kg as MK3. 65 hp (48 kW) at 5800 rpm, 98 Nm at 3000 rpm, 1275 cm³, 70.6 × 81.3, compression 8.8, 153 km/h, front Disc, rear Drum. Versus 3 generation 1.1 MT: +5 hp, +4 kW, +10 Nm, +227 cm³, +8 km/h, kerb 714 = 714. Versus 1 generation 1.0 MT: +21 hp, +16 kW, +27 Nm, +327 cm³, +24 km/h, +50 kg. 0–100 is not measured. Specific power 51.0 hp/l sits between the two 1.0 MT rows and the two 1.1 MT rows: the 1275 wins on size and 98 Nm, not on hp per litre. kg/hp 11.0 is the best mass-to-power ratio in the set. Torque arrives at 3000 rpm, 500 rpm earlier than 3 generation 1.1 MT’s 3500 rpm peak.

Sprite vs MG Midget. This file has no MG Midget numbers. The Sprite comparison that is in the data is internal: five Gasoline Inline-4 RWD Cabrio manuals, 44–65 hp, 664–715 kg, 129–153 km/h.

Short map. Lightest: 1 generation 1.0 MT (664 kg). Smallest jump that is still a 948: 2 generation 1.0 MT. First 1048 and first 57 hp: 2 generation 1.1 MT. Highest hp/l and first Disc: 3 generation 1.1 MT (60 hp). Strongest, fastest, best kg/hp, 1971-era: 4 generation 1.3 MT (65 hp, 153 km/h, 714 kg). Do not pick by name 1.1 MT alone — use 57 hp versus 60 hp. MPG, 0–100 on the three later engines, wheels, and gross weight stay not measured.