Kyosho 1/18 Scale Austin Healey Sprite, Cherry Red

The Sprite went into the Austin Healey line-up in 1958 as the entry sports car model established by BMC (British Motor Corporation) which existed from 1952 to 1966. Conceived as a little sports car for mass appeal, the minimalist engine and undercarriage were created to keep expenses down. Weight reduction was also a focus, and the Sprite embraced the world's very first semi-monocoque open body. While the 948cc inline 4-cylinder engine output was only 43ps, this was sufficient power for the 600kg lorry weight (less than modern-day 'light vehicles'), which was the highest power to weight in its class at the time. Combined with the rack and pinion steering transmission, the extremely responsive Sprite declared the pure joy of driving with a light-weight sports car. Produced from 1958 to 1960, the Mk 1 was the most popular model in the series, which remained in production for 13 years through to 1971. The Mk 1 not only embodies the elements of the initial advancement principle of only including parts required for driving efficiency, but also includes a distinctive front mask with headlights extending from the bonnet hood that attracted lots of. This function earned the Mk 1 labels such as 'crab eyes' in Japan, 'frog-eye' in England, and 'bug-eye' in the United States.

Item Produced: 08/28/2023