Lansdowne 1:43 - Modelauto - Austin Healey Sprite "Frogeye"

Over the years there have been many models of the original Austin-Healey Sprite in many scales. And this is the car that Brooklin chose to launch their Lansdowne range of British cars with. John Hall, creator of Brooklin Models, had owned a red Sprite and that was what he wished to launch the new range with. LDM1 was based on the car he had owned and was the first made up 1:43 Sprite model as the only available model I can identify at that time was the Airfix 1:32 scale plastic kit. Later an open version in speedwell blue without the optional front bumper was produced by Lansdowne.

The Sprite was designed by Donald Healey for BMC and was based on A35 mechanical parts and a tuned twin carburettor version of the BMC A series 948cc engine. It was the first volume produced sports car to employ a unibody and was kept deliberately basic to make it affordable so that it would sell in volume. Compromises included included replacing pop up lights with fixed lights giving the car it’s distinctive look which got it the nickname ‘frog-eye’ in the UK and ‘bug-eye’ in the US. It also lacked external door handles, had no boot lid and a front bumper was a charged for extra. This initial series was in production from 1958 to 1961 at the MG plant in Abingdon. When the Series Two was introduced it was more up market and was much less basic with re-styled bodywork, opening boot and bumpers as standard as well as a more highly tuned engine.

Lansdowne models were introduced in 1993 which long precedes the introduction of many of the later 1:43 Sprite Models from Ebbro and others. The basic simplicity of the original car meant that the fairly basic detailing Brooklin were capable of at this time was not an issue. As long as the basic shape was right and key details were present a characterful model would result. The photographs below are of this original Lansdowne release which has survived the passage of thirty-two years well.