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| It came from the era where subs are used to defeat the Germans... |
In Top Gear's Hill Climb Challenge episode, a sports-tuned version of the Austin Healey Sprite was served for the Austin Healey Sport Club who are up against a souped up Peugeot 306 served for the punks wearing hoodies, training shoes, and Argos jewerlies in the hill climb challenge at Prescott Hill. When handed these to The Stig, the Frogeye Sprite won the Hill Climb challenge in 58.4 seconds, faster than the 59.26 time set on a modified Peugeot 306.
Sadly though, we don't get a Peugeot 306 that we can souped up to make it more like the ones we saw on those Max Power magazines but we do get a classic British roadster that kicked a souped up hatchback at Prescott Hill. Although it might not be pleasant for the September Pennzoil Car Pack from Forza Motorsport 4 to have this Frogeye Sprite but it sure is great to have another one of Top Gear memorabilia. Thank you Austin Healey Sport Club. This is the kind of car where competition meets culture and it doesn't matter which car culture you're following either you are obsessed with vintage classics, import scene, or any car culture you are on, even on Forza Motorsport 4 because car culture is part of it.
The Mark I Sprite was launched in 1958 and produced until 1961 with 48,987 units made. The Brits nicknamed it Frogeye while the Americans nicknamed it Bugeye because of its headlights mounted on top of the bonnet.
Under the bonnet lies the 948cc A-Series 4-cylinder engine that produces 43HP of power and 71Nm of torque. According to British car magazine, The Motor, the Mark I Sprite can do 0-60mph in 20.5 seconds and top speed of 82.9mph. Fuel economy is 43 miles per imperial gallon.
The Mark I Sprite's success in motorsport can be traced back to the 1958 Alpine Rally where John Sprinzel and Willy Cave gathered a class victory. The most famous Sprite used in motorsports was the Sebring Sprite.
I was very glad to take a spin on this Frogeye Sprite and I was very pleased about its lightweight bodywork. If you tweak this Frogeye whatever you like, this lightweight frog can blitz through the corners like you've never expected, just like what happened on the Top Gear Hill Climb Challenge and kicked the modified 306's bumper. It goes to show that age and experience will always win for vigor, no matter which car culture you're following at. That's what the Frogeye Sprite taught me about car cultures.