1968 Austin-Healey Sprite Prototype

Many individuals and companies have an enviable record at Le Mans. However not many can match that of Donald Healey and his small, Warwickshire-based organization. From 1949 to 1970 there were a total of 28 cars entered in his name. This month we look at the last production-based vehicle, the prototype Austin-Healey Sprite that ran at Le Mans in 1967 and 1968.

Any form of professional motor racing is an expensive pastime. Running a single car at Le Mans would be just as prohibitive to most of us now as in the past and without any guarantee for success. Times have drastically changed, of course, as Le Mans has moved on from the days when it was seen by the English as a chance for some good sport against the “Frogs.” Le Mans today is serious business with multi-millions of dollars, pounds and Euros being spent to get a car across the line. Entrants are deadly serious today and would have been just as so in years past. Although you would like to think that it was all just that little more laidback in the years immediately following WWII.