Austin-Healey was a British sports car maker. The marque was established through a joint-venture arrangement, set up in 1952 between
Leonard LordLeonard Percy Lord, 1st Baron Lambury KBE was a captain of the British motor industry.-Background and education:...
of the
AustinThe Austin Motor Company was a British manufacturer of automobiles. The company was founded in 1905 and merged in 1952 into the British Motor Corporation Ltd. The marque Austin was used until 1987...
division of the
British Motor CorporationThe British Motor Corporation, or commonly known as BMC was a vehicle manufacturer from United Kingdom, formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation in 1952...
(BMC) and the
Donald Healey Motor Company-History:It was formed in 1945 by Donald Healey, a renowned auto engineer and successful racing driver. It was formed after Healey discussed sports car design with Achille Sampietro, a chassis specialist for high performance cars and Ben Bowden, a body engineer, when all three worked at Humber...
, a renowned automotive engineering and design firm.
Austin-Healey cars were produced until 1972 when the 20-year agreement between
Healey-History:It was formed in 1945 by Donald Healey, a renowned auto engineer and successful racing driver. It was formed after Healey discussed sports car design with Achille Sampietro, a chassis specialist for high performance cars and Ben Bowden, a body engineer, when all three worked at Humber...
and Austin came to an end. Donald Healey left the company in 1968 when
British Motor HoldingsBritish Motor Holdings Limited was a British motor company known until 14 December 1966 as British Motor Corporation Limited .-History:...
(BMC had merged with Jaguar Cars in 1966 to form BMH) was merged into British Leyland. Healey joined
Jensen MotorsJensen Motors Ltd was a British manufacturer of sports cars and commercial vehicles, based in the Lyng – West Bromwich...
who had been making bodies for the "big Healeys" since their inception in 1952, and became their chairman in 1972.
Models built
Austin-Healey 100
- 1953 – 1955 BN1 Austin-Healey 100
- 1955 Austin-Healey 100S (Limited production — 50 race-prepared cars)
- 1955 – 1956 BN2 Austin-Healey 100M (with Le Mans Kit)
- 1956 – 1957 BN2 Austin-Healey 100
- 1956 – 1957 BN4 Austin-Healey 100-6 (2+2 roadster)
- 1957 – 1959 BN4 Austin-Healey 100-6 Change to 1 3/4" SU Carbs (2+2 roadster)
- 1958 – 1959 BN6 Austin-Healey 100-6 6 Cylinder (2 seater roadster)
Austin-Healey 3000
- 1959 – 1961 BN7 Mark I (2 seater roadster), BT7 Mark I (2+2 roadster)
- 1961 – 1962 BN7 Mark II (2 seater roadster), BT7 Mark II (2+2), BJ7 Mark II (2 seater roadster)
- 1962 – 1964 BJ7 Mark II (convertible)
- 1964 – 1967 BJ8 Mark III (convertible)
Austin-Healey Sprite
- 1958 – 1960 AN5 Mark I 'Bugeye – US' 'Frogeye – UK'
- After the Bugeye, the AH Sprite was a badge engineered twin to the MG Midget (hence the term 'Spridget'). The MG was aimed slightly upmarket.
- 1961 – 1964 AN6 – AN7 Mark II
- 1964 – 1966 AN8 Mark III (roll-up windows)
- 1966 – 1969 AN9 Mark IV
- 1969 – 1971 AN10 Mark V (UK Only)
Racing
The Austin Healey was extensively raced by the Donald Healey Motor Company in Europe at Le Mans and in Sebring in the U.S., in classic rallies by the BMC competitions department, and was recognized from the very beginning by the
Sports Car Club of AmericaThe Sports Car Club of America is a club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional racers.-History:...
/SCCA. Healey models raced in club racing in D, E, and F production classes, winning National Championships in both D and E Production.
In 1953, a special streamlined Austin-Healey set several land speed records at the
Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA.
Successors
The name
Austin is now owned by Nanjing who bought the assets of
MG Rover GroupMG Rover was the last domestically owned mass-production car manufacturer in the British motor industry. The company was formed when BMW sold the car-making and engine manufacturing assets of the original Rover Group to the Phoenix Consortium in 2000....
(British Leyland's successor company) out of bankruptcy in 2005. After Donald Healey sold his original business,
Donald Healey Motor Company-History:It was formed in 1945 by Donald Healey, a renowned auto engineer and successful racing driver. It was formed after Healey discussed sports car design with Achille Sampietro, a chassis specialist for high performance cars and Ben Bowden, a body engineer, when all three worked at Humber...
, the Healey brand was registered to a new firm, Healey Automobile Consultants, which the Healey family sold to HFI Automotive in 2005.
In June 2007, Nanjing and Healey Automobile Consultants / HFI Automotive signed a collaborative agreement that aims to recreate the Austin Healey and Healey marquees alongside NAC's MG. No timeline has been given as to when the Healey and Austin-Healey brands will return, although MG will be back on the market in China and the UK by the year's end.
See also
- Donald Healey Motor Company
-History:It was formed in 1945 by Donald Healey, a renowned auto engineer and successful racing driver. It was formed after Healey discussed sports car design with Achille Sampietro, a chassis specialist for high performance cars and Ben Bowden, a body engineer, when all three worked at Humber...
for the models made by the independent Healey company.
- Nash-Healey
The Nash-Healey is a two-seat sports car that was produced for the American market between 1951 and 1954. Marketed by Nash-Kelvinator Corporation with a Nash Ambassador drivetrain and a European chassis and body, it served as a halo vehicle for the automaker to promote the sales of the other Nash...
for a pre-Austin sports car by Donald Healey.
- Jensen-Healey
The Jensen-Healey is a two-seater convertible sports car that was originally produced between 1972 and 1976 by Jensen Motors, Ltd. Roughly 10,000 were produced at West Bromwich, England. A related fastback, the Jensen GT was introduced in 1975.-Design:...
for a later Donald Healey designed sports car.