Key Specifications

Spec	Value
Production Years	1961--1979
Manufacturer	MG (British Motor Corporation / British Leyland)
Assembly	Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England
Body Style	2-door roadster
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive
Construction	Steel monocoque (unibody)
Wheelbase	2,032 mm (80.0 in)
Overall Length	3,480 mm (137.0 in) -- chrome bumper; 3,607 mm (142.0 in) -- rubber bumper
Overall Width	1,397 mm (55.0 in)
Overall Height	1,194 mm (47.0 in)
Kerb Weight	705 kg (1,554 lb) -- Mk1; 728 kg (1,605 lb) -- Mk3; 839 kg (1,850 lb) -- 1500
Fuel Tank Capacity	31.8 L (7.0 imp gal)
Boot Capacity	170 L (6.0 cu ft)

Engine Specifications

9CC -- A-Series 948cc (Mk1, 1961--1962)

Spec	Value
Configuration	Inline 4, OHV, 8-valve
Displacement	948 cc
Bore x Stroke	62.94 mm x 76.2 mm
Compression Ratio	8.3:1
Power	34 kW (46 hp) @ 5,500 rpm
Torque	72 Nm (53 lb-ft) @ 3,000 rpm
Fuel System	Twin SU HS2 carburettors
Ignition	Contact breaker points
Valvetrain	Pushrod OHV, solid lifters
Oil Capacity	3.4 L (with filter)
Recommended Oil	20W-50 mineral
Redline	6,500 rpm

10CC -- A-Series 1098cc (Mk2, 1962--1966)

Spec	Value
Configuration	Inline 4, OHV, 8-valve
Displacement	1,098 cc
Bore x Stroke	64.58 mm x 83.72 mm
Compression Ratio	8.5:1
Power	44 kW (59 hp) @ 5,750 rpm
Torque	87 Nm (64 lb-ft) @ 3,250 rpm
Fuel System	Twin SU HS2 carburettors
Ignition	Contact breaker points
Valvetrain	Pushrod OHV, solid lifters
Oil Capacity	3.4 L (with filter)
Recommended Oil	20W-50 mineral
Redline	6,500 rpm

12CC -- A-Series 1275cc (Mk3, 1966--1974)

Spec	Value
Configuration	Inline 4, OHV, 8-valve
Displacement	1,275 cc
Bore x Stroke	70.64 mm x 81.33 mm
Compression Ratio	8.8:1
Power	48 kW (65 hp) @ 6,000 rpm
Torque	95 Nm (70 lb-ft) @ 3,250 rpm
Fuel System	Twin SU HS2 carburettors
Ignition	Contact breaker points / electronic (late models)
Valvetrain	Pushrod OHV, solid lifters
Oil Capacity	3.4 L (with filter)
Recommended Oil	20W-50 mineral
Redline	6,500 rpm

Triumph 1493cc (1500, 1974--1979)

Spec	Value
Configuration	Inline 4, OHV, 8-valve
Displacement	1,493 cc
Bore x Stroke	73.7 mm x 87.5 mm
Compression Ratio	7.5:1 (US spec) / 8.0:1 (UK spec)
Power	49 kW (66 hp) @ 5,500 rpm
Torque	113 Nm (83 lb-ft) @ 3,000 rpm
Fuel System	Single SU HIF44 or Zenith-Stromberg 150 CD
Ignition	Electronic
Valvetrain	Pushrod OHV, solid lifters
Oil Capacity	3.7 L (with filter)
Recommended Oil	20W-50 mineral
Redline	5,500 rpm

Transmission Options

Transmission	Type	Gears	Applications
BMC A-series close-ratio	Manual	4-speed (1st non-synchro)	Mk1
BMC A-series all-synchro	Manual	4-speed	Mk2, Mk3
Triumph 4-speed	Manual	4-speed	1500
Triumph 4-speed + OD	Manual + overdrive	4-speed + OD on 3rd/4th	1500 (optional, late)

Gear Ratios (Mk3, 1275cc)

Gear	Ratio
1st	3.63
2nd	2.37
3rd	1.41
4th	1.00
Reverse	4.66

Gear Ratios (1500)

Gear	Ratio
1st	3.50
2nd	2.28
3rd	1.45
4th	1.00
Reverse	3.57

Final Drive Ratios

Model	Ratio
Mk1 (948cc)	4.22
Mk2 (1098cc)	4.22
Mk3 (1275cc)	3.90
1500	3.90
1500 (overdrive)	3.90

Suspension

Component	Front	Rear
Type	Independent, double wishbone	Live axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs
Springs	Coil	Leaf (semi-elliptic)
Dampers	Lever-arm hydraulic	Lever-arm hydraulic
Anti-roll Bar	Yes (from Mk3)	No
Uprights	Kingpin (Mk1--Mk3) / ball joint (1500)	N/A

Brakes

Mk1

Component	Front	Rear
Type	Drum	Drum
Diameter	178 mm (7.0 in)	178 mm (7.0 in)

Mk2, Mk3, 1500

Component	Front	Rear
Type	Solid disc	Drum
Disc Diameter	210 mm (8.27 in)	--
Drum Diameter	--	178 mm (7.0 in)
Servo Assisted	No (Mk2/Mk3), Yes (1500)	--
ABS	Not available	--

Steering

Spec	Value
Type	Rack and pinion
Power Assist	Not available
Turns Lock-to-Lock	2.33
Turning Circle	8.8 m (28.9 ft)

Performance (Approximate, Period Road Tests)

Model	0--60 mph	0--100 km/h	Quarter Mile	Top Speed
Mk1 (948cc)	20.0 s	21.5 s	21.5 s	137 km/h (85 mph)
Mk2 (1098cc)	17.0 s	18.2 s	20.5 s	145 km/h (90 mph)
Mk3 (1275cc)	13.0 s	13.8 s	19.0 s	153 km/h (95 mph)
1500	12.3 s	13.2 s	18.7 s	157 km/h (98 mph)

Fuel Economy (Approximate, Mixed Driving)

Model	L/100 km	mpg (imperial)
Mk1 (948cc)	7.0	40
Mk2 (1098cc)	7.5	38
Mk3 (1275cc)	8.0	35
1500	9.0	31

Tyre Specifications

Model	Standard	Optional
Mk1/Mk2	5.20-13 crossply	145SR13 radial
Mk3	145SR13 radial	155/70R13
1500	155/70R13	165/70R13

Wheel Specifications

Spec	Value
Standard	13" x 3.5" steel (disc wheels)
Optional	13" x 3.5" wire wheels (48-spoke, centre-lock)
Wire Wheel Hub	Centre-lock knock-off
Bolt Pattern (disc wheels)	4 x 101.6

Electrical

Spec	Value
System	12V negative earth (from Mk3; earlier cars positive earth)
Battery	12V, 40 Ah
Charging	Dynamo (Mk1--Mk2) / alternator (Mk3 onwards)
Headlights	7" sealed beam
Fuses	2 (early) / 4 (late)

Interior Dimensions

Dimension	Value
Headroom (hood up)	838 mm (33.0 in)
Legroom	965 mm (38.0 in)
Shoulder Width	1,118 mm (44.0 in)
Seats	2

Service Intervals

Service Item	Interval
Engine oil and filter	5,000 km or 6 months
Valve clearance adjustment	10,000 km
Contact breaker points	10,000 km
Spark plugs	20,000 km
Air filter	20,000 km
Carburettor service	5,000 km
Coolant	24 months
Brake fluid	24 months
Gearbox oil	40,000 km
Rear axle oil	40,000 km
Kingpin greasing (Mk1--Mk3)	5,000 km
Wire wheel spoke tension (if fitted)	10,000 km

Model Variants Summary

Mk1 (1961--1962)

Spec	Value
Engine	948cc A-series
Power	34 kW (46 hp)
Price New	£472 (plus purchase tax)
Notable	Drum brakes all round, side curtains (no wind-up windows), quarter-elliptic rear springs

Mk2 (1962--1966)

Spec	Value
Engine	1,098cc A-series
Power	44 kW (59 hp)
Price New	£495 (plus £103 13s 9d tax)
Notable	Front disc brakes, wind-up windows, quarter-elliptic rear springs

Mk3 (1966--1974)

Spec	Value
Engine	1,275cc A-series
Power	48 kW (65 hp)
Price New	£660--£980 (over production run)
Notable	Best-regarded variant, chrome bumpers, half-elliptic rear springs (from 1964 redesign), anti-roll bar

1500 (1974--1979)

Spec	Value
Engine	1,493cc Triumph
Power	49 kW (66 hp)
Price New	£1,560 (1975)
Notable	Rubber bumpers, raised ride height, Triumph engine, Rostyle wheels, half-elliptic rear springs, optional overdrive

Production Numbers (Worldwide, Approximate)

Variant	Units
Mk1 (948cc)	~16,000
Mk2 (1098cc)	~26,000
Mk3 (1275cc)	~100,000
1500	~73,000
Total	~225,000

Austin-Healey Sprite (all marks): approximately 130,000 additional units on the same platform.