Austin-Healey

Austin-Healey is a defunct British sports car maker. The marque was established through a joint venture arrangement, set up in 1952 between Leonard Lord of the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and Donald Healey, a renowned automotive engineer and designer.

Austin-Healey produced cars until 1972 when the 20-year agreement between Healey and Austin came to an end. Donald Healey left the company in 1968 when British Motor Holdings (BMC had merged with Jaguar Cars in 1966 to form BMH) was merged into British Leyland. Healey joined Jensen Motors who had been making the "big Healeys" since their inception in 1952, and became their chairman in 1972.

Incidentally, the name "Austin" is now owned by Nanjing who bought the assets of MG Rover Group (British Leyland's successor company) out of bankruptcy in 2005. After Donald Healey sold his original business, Donald Healey Motor Company, 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 marques 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.

Models built

Austin-Healey 100

**1953 - 1955 BN1 Austin-Healey 100
**1955 Austin-Healey 100S (Extremely limited production of aluminium bodied race-prepared cars)
**1955 - 1956 BN2 Austin-Healey 100M (Limited production high performance)
**1956 - 1957 BN2 Austin-Healey 100-4
**1956 - 1957 BN4 Austin-Healey 100-6 (2+2 seats)
**1957 - 1959 BN4 Austin-Healey 100-6 Change to 1 3/4" SU Carbs (2+2 seats)
**1958 - 1959 BN6 Austin-Healey 100-6 6 Cylinder motor (2 seat)

Austin-Healey 3000

**1959 - 1961 BN7 Mark I (2 seat), BT7 Mark I (2+2 seats)
**1961 - 1962 BN7 Mark II (2 seat), BT7 Mark II (2+2 seats), BJ7 Mark II (2 seat)
**1962 - 1964 BJ7 Mark II (roll-up windows)
**1964 - 1967 BJ8 Mark III

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)

Notes

* In 1953 a special streamlined Austin-Healey set several land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA.
* The first car for Mattel's 'Barbie' Doll was an Austin-Healey (pink with teal interior).

Racing

The Big Healey was extensively raced in the United States and was recognized from the very beginning by the Sports Car Club of America / SCCA. Healey models raced in D,E, and F production classes, winning National Championships in both D and E Production.

See also

* Donald Healey Motor Company for the models made by the independent Healey company.
* Nash-Healey for a pre-Austin sports car by Donald Healey.
* Jensen-Healey for a later Donald Healey designed sports car.

External links

* [http://www.austin-healey-club.co.uk The Austin-Healey Club (UK)] The UKs National Club for Austin-Healey Cars (also covers Healey and Jensen Healey)
* [http://www.austinmemories.com Austin Memories]
* [http://healey.org/ Austin Healey Club USA] The oldest US national and the original US based Austin Healey Club with pedigree going back to the original Healey sponsored club championed by Brian "Bic" Healey
* [http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/picturelibrary/ Heritage Motor Centre]
* [http://www.healeydata.com www.healeydata.com] Volunteer register with records and photos of Austin Healeys
* [http://www.healeyracing.com] Healey Racing dedicated to Big Healey racing in the United States
* [http://www.austinhealeyclubnsw.org.au] Austin Healeys in New South Wales Australia