Close window
Print details

Innocenti S Spider

Innocenti S Spider

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

Innocenti S SpiderInnocenti S SpiderInnocenti S SpiderInnocenti S SpiderInnocenti S Spider
Lot number 112
Hammer value WD
Description Innocenti S Spider
Year c.1965
Colour Red
Engine size 1,275 cc
Chassis No. S321103170

In 1958 Donald Healey and BMC launched the brilliant Austin-Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprite, opening up a new market for budget sports cars that had been left untapped since the demise of the MG Midget.

A year later, the Lambretta scooter manufacturer, Innocenti of Milan, signed a license agreement with BMC to manufacture their own Italian version of the Austin A40. Assembled from CKD (Complete Knock Down) kits, the cars were well received in Italy and gradually gained more local content. On the back of this success, the company looked at other products from the BMC range to work their Italian style magic on and came up with the Austin Healey Sprite as a likely candidate for a makeover.

Innocenti engaged the services of the young American designer, Tom Tjaarda at Carrozzeria Ghia, to come up with a more contemporary body style for an Italian Sprite. Body manufacture would be handled by the newly formed OSI (Officine Stampaggi Industriali), a company with close links to Ghia.

The Innocenti 950 Spider was unveiled in November 1960 at the Turin Motor Show. It had a completely new outer skin built over a largely unaltered Frogeye monocoque. The front end housed the headlamps and grill in one neat package. From the side the car had lost its bulbous curvy Healey shape and the rear aped the trend of Italian convertibles in the style of an Alfa Giulietta Spider. It had large lockable doors that housed wind-up windows, an exterior boot lid that could also be locked and a full width dashboard which also housed a lockable glove box.

A total of 4,790 Spiders (950s) were manufactured up until February 1963, when the new ‘S’ was introduced. The body remained largely unchanged with improvements coming under the bonnet with the arrival of the 1098cc A-series from the Austin Healey Mk2 .The ‘S’ gained disc brakes and revised rear suspension. Just over 2,000 Innocenti 'S' Spiders were produced.

Thought to date from 1965, this project Innocenti 'S' has just arrived from the dry climate of South Africa and is described as largely complete. At the time or writing, we have no further information to add, although we are advised that it will come with the necessary NOVA (Notice Of Vehicle Arrival) documentation which will show that the relevant duties have been paid. Bidders are advised that it will not be UK registered at the time of the sale.

 

Close window
Print details