Mini Sprite - 17th October 1983

Another 2,500 Mini Sprite's were sold in export markets, in Primula Yellow, Cinnabar Red or Silver

By 1983 Austin Rover had assumed that the Mini was in terminal decline. The once large range of Mini variants had shrunk to only two versions, the City E and Mayfair, and Mini production was planned to cease in 1984. The MG Metro was only a year old, and the brand new MG Metro Turbo was Austin Rover's flagship small car. Despite the Mini being completely overshadowed by the Metro, Austin Rover decided that the forthcoming 25th birthday of the Mini would again be celebrated by a limited production run of 5000 cars - the Mini Sprite - (as the Mini's 20th birthday was in 1979 with the Mini 1100 Special). The Mini Sprite was an unexpected sales success, and sold so well that Austin Rover followed it up with the hastily put together Mini 25 and subsequently with the many Limited Edition and Anniversary model Mini's since. The Mini Sprite was the Limited Edition which 'kick started' the Mini's renaissance in the 1980's through to today.

The Mini Sprite is undoubtably the only Mini with a sporting image produced in the ten years between the demise of the Mini 1275GT in 1980 and the introduction of the Rover Mini Cooper in 1990. Based on the Mini City E, the Mini Sprite came equipped with a 998cc, 43bhp Mini-Metro specification A+ engine, wide alloy wheels and black wheel arch extensions from the 1979 Mini 1100 Special, full-length body side stripes in Nimbus Grey, non-reclining front seats with Herringbone seat trim from the MG Metro, black vinyl headrests, black bumpers and grille, and 3-dial instruments from the Mini 1275GT. At the time, just as the the use of the MG badge on the Metro had caused uproar, the use of the Sprite name on a Mini caused complaints from Austin-Healey enthusiasts.

Part Number	Description	Price (UK Pounds Sterling)
JRC 6234 LP	O/S front wing	NLS
JRC 6235 LP	N/S front wing	NLS
JRC 6236 LP	O/S door	NLS
JRC 6237 LP	N/S door	NLS
JRC 6238 LP	O/S rear body side	NLS
JRC 6239 LP	N/S rear body side	NLS

Notes:	1.	Reproduction Mini Sprite side stripes/decals (although in black) were produced by the UK National Mini Owners Club, but the current availability of these is unknown at present.
	2.	Prices, if quoted, are in UK Pounds Sterling and in the UK are subject to VAT @ 17.5%.
	3.	NLS = No Longer Serviced (i.e. not available from Rover).
	4.	Prices quoted are from the Rover Parts Retail Price List effective from 5th July 1999.

1/36th Scale Corgi Mini's - The Mini Sprite came in the 3rd 'Mini Limited Editions' gift set sold in the UK exclusively by Woolworths in 1992. Also in the set were a Mini Advantage and a Mini British Open Classic.

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