Healey
(1946 - 1968)
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United Kingdom
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Automobiles became the purpose in life for Donald Healey, born in 1898, rather by chance. In 1931, he won the Monte Carlo Rally in an Invicta. In 1946, he presented his first sports car, which was followed by various others, including the famous Healey Silverstone. Large numbers were not possible, the vehicles were too expensive, but Donald Healey's cars left a lasting impression even so. This report shows the development of the early Healeys, from the first 2.4 Litre to the Silverstone, illustrated with historical photos and nine rare sales brochures. The history of the Nash Healey is not covered in detail, leaving room for another article.
At the end of the 1940s, Donald Healey and George Mason, the head of the American car manufacturer Nash, decided to build a sports car together. The Americans supplied the technical components and Healey took care of the rest, creating the Nash-Healey with a six-cylinder engine and an aluminum body built in England. This was soon replaced by a Pininfarina body, which was available as a convertible and coupé. By 1954, 507 cars had been built. This report tells the story of the only American sports car at the time, illustrated with current and historical images.
The Austin-Healey 100 was that British roadster with a four-cylinder engine, plug-in windows and minimal comfort, wasn't it? Yes, but there were exceptions, one of which was built in Belgium and was a coupé. Presented at the 1955 Brussels Motor Show, it was the prototype for a series of six cars, two of which have survived. This report is about the show car, tells its story and shows it in many pictures.
When the Austin-Healey 100 was shown for the first time at the Earls Court Motor Show in London in October 1952, it aroused enormous interest. With speed records and racing successes, it proved its sportiness, while at the same time being inexpensive. And anyone who wanted to be a little faster could get help from the factory. This is how the 100 M was created to Le Mans specification. This report summarizes the history of the four-cylinder Austin-Healey and shows a factory 100M in many pictures.
In 1956, Donald Healey presented the Austin-Healey 100 Six, the six-cylinder version of the successful 100 model. More space and more comfort was the thrust, although this was not entirely voluntary, as the British Motor Company no longer wanted to produce the large four-cylinder. Despite the additional weight and somewhat reduced sportiness, the 100 Six was a success and paved the way for the 3000 model. This vehicle report portrays a late Austin-Healey 100 Six and shows it on historical material and in the sales brochure.
With the Austin-Healey Sprite, BMC filled a gap in the car range of the late fifties. The small and lightweight roadster was well received. Only its frog-eyed face, which makes it so desirable today, was not so well received at the time. On the other hand, the price was right back then and it was possible to make it faster. This report is about an early Austin-Healey Sprite Mark I from 1959 and shows it in historical and current photos, supplemented by sales literature and sound samples.
The Austin-Healey is one of the most sought-after classic cars in the classic car community and the six-cylinder models of the 1960s are particularly popular with fans, and not just because of their sporting successes and good performance. This report describes the history and characteristics of the three-liter Healeys and shows a BJ7 vehicle in detail, supplemented by archive photos and brochures, as well as a sound sample.
Compact external dimensions, a high-torque engine and selective weather protection - this proven formula has been used for decades to produce driving pleasure in series production. This was also the case with BMC, whose second-generation Austin-Healey Sprite was produced from 1961. Additional sales incentives were the 12-month warranty and the already low maintenance costs. The original test report from 1962, which is reproduced in this article and accompanied by historical images, clarified whether it deserved the title "sports car" and which ingredients make up a Sprite.
Small, loud and leaky - objectively, there wasn't much to be said in favor of the Austin-Healey Sprite. However, there was this very difficult-to-measure criterion of driving pleasure, which rendered all bourgeois criticisms meaningless. What other sensible car could drift around bends so effortlessly and in such a controlled manner at a slightly higher walking speed? This historical test report explains what makes the little imp so likeable and why a lot of good compromises are sometimes better than a mediocre new development.
The Donald Healey Motor Company built a series of prototypes based on the road-going Healeys, which were used at Le Mans and elsewhere. The vehicle shown here is now driven in Australia and took part in Le Mans in 1967.
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