Austin-Healey was a British sports car maker established in 1952 through a joint venture between the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and the Donald Healey Motor Company (Healey).

Produced from 1958 to 1971, the Austin-Healey Sprite was intended to be a low-cost roadster that "a chap could keep in his bike shed". As a result of cost-cutting, the Mark I had the headlights mounted prominently on top of the bonnet, and so it became affectionately known as the "frogeye". The 43 horsepower came from a 948 cc engine, and it had a top speed of 83 mph (133.5 kph).

Introduced in 1961, the Mark II Austin-Healey Sprite had a revamped body, with the headlights now positioned in a more conventional position on the front guards. The rear styling provided clues to the yet to be released MGB. The 948cc engine was retained and joined in 1962 with a more powerful 1098cc engine option.

From 1964 to its demise in 1971, the Mark III and Mark IV models of the Austin-Healey Sprite remained relatively unchanged, apart from some minor interior changes and engine upgrades. British Leyland discontinued the Healey connection in 1971, and the MG Midget maintained the torch for the affordable roadster for the next decade.