I just picked up off Amazon "Austin Healey Sprite 1958 - 1971" published by Brookland Books. It's a collection of car reviews and articles written during the time period. I thought the most interesting thing was how each successive generation was lauded as being an improvement over the previous one, most notably the Square Sprite compared to the Bugeye as a headline announces:
With a new look, new power and new gearing, the Sprite has come of age. It's more expensive than before, but it's more fun and more automobile, too.
The Mark III was introduced "More power, wind up windows and a new rear suspension", and the Mark IV "Best Sprite yet"
When did the pendulum start tilting back towards the Bugeye? The last article from Road and Track "Used Car Classics" in May 1976 seems to suggest it started even while the latest and greatest Midgets were still being produced. "The Bugeye is rapidly approaching classic status and the prices are beginning to reflect this" It says a fully restored Bugeye may bring $2000 or more, and unrestored ones can occasionally be found in the $600 to $800 range, but generally are $200 to $400 more than that.
With a new look, new power and new gearing, the Sprite has come of age. It's more expensive than before, but it's more fun and more automobile, too.
The Mark III was introduced "More power, wind up windows and a new rear suspension", and the Mark IV "Best Sprite yet"
When did the pendulum start tilting back towards the Bugeye? The last article from Road and Track "Used Car Classics" in May 1976 seems to suggest it started even while the latest and greatest Midgets were still being produced. "The Bugeye is rapidly approaching classic status and the prices are beginning to reflect this" It says a fully restored Bugeye may bring $2000 or more, and unrestored ones can occasionally be found in the $600 to $800 range, but generally are $200 to $400 more than that.