Austin-Healey was a British sports car maker established in 1952 through a joint venture between the

Austin Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...

division of the

British Motor Corporation The British Motor Corporation Limited (BMC) was a UK-based vehicle manufacturer, formed in early 1952 to give effect to an agreed merger of the Morris and Austin businesses.Morris-Austin Merger Company Named. ''The Times'', Friday, 29 February ...

(BMC) and the Donald Healey Motor Company (Healey), a renowned automotive engineering and design firm. Leonard Lord represented BMC and Donald Healey his firm. BMC merged with

Jaguar Cars Jaguar (, ) is the luxury vehicle brand of Jaguar Land Rover, a British multinational car manufacturer with its headquarters in Whitley, Coventry, England. Jaguar Cars was the company that was responsible for the production of Jaguar cars ...

in 1966 to form

British Motor Holdings British Motor Holdings Limited (BMH) was a British vehicle manufacturing company known until 14 December 1966 as British Motor Corporation Limited (BMC). BMH was created as a holding company following BMC's takeover of both Jaguar Cars and th ...

(BMH). Donald Healey left BMH in 1968 when it merged into British Leyland. Healey then joined

Jensen Motors Jensen Motors Limited was a British manufacturer of sports cars and commercial vehicles in West Bromwich, England. Brothers Alan and Richard Jensen gave the new name, Jensen Motors Limited, to the commercial body and sports car body making busi ...

, which had been making bodies for the " big Healeys" since their inception in 1952, and became their chairman in 1972. Austin-Healey cars were produced until 1972 when the 20-year agreement between Healey and Austin came to an end. Ahealey Motif

Models built

Austin-Healey 100

::Open 2-seater (minimal weather protection) * 1953–55 BN1 Austin-Healey 100 * 1955 Austin-Healey 100S (Limited production—50 race-prepared cars) * 1955–56 BN2 Austin-Healey 100 and 100M 1958

Austin-Healey 100-6

::Open 2+2-seater * 1956–57 BN4 Austin-Healey 100-6 (2+2 roadster) * 1957–59 BN4 Austin-Healey 100-6 Change to -inch SU Carbs (2+2 roadster) * 1958–59 BN6 Austin-Healey 100-6 6-Cylinder (2-seater roadster) 1959 Austin Healey 3000 Mk I BN7 (12081332526)

Austin-Healey 3000

::Open 2+2-seater * 1959–61 BN7 Mark I (2-seater roadster), BT7 Mark I (2+2 roadster) * 1961–62 BN7 Mark II (2-seater roadster), BT7 Mark II (2+2) 1965-austin-healey-archives

::Convertible 2+2-seater (wind-up windows) * 1962–63 BJ7 Mark II (2+2 convertible) * 1963–67 BJ8 Mark III (2+2 convertible)

Austin-Healey Sprite

Austin Healey MK 1 BW 2016-07-17 13-42-40

::Open 2-seater * 1958–61 AN5 Mark I (UK: "Frogeye"; US: "Bugeye") * 1961–64 HAN6–HAN7 Mark II ::2-seater Roadster * 1964–66 HAN8 Mark III (roll-up windows) * 1966–69 HAN9 Mark IV * 1969–70 HAN10 Mark IV (UK only) * 1971 AAN10 Mark IV (UK only; badged as Austin rather than Austin-Healey)

Concept Cars

* Austin-Healey Project Tempest (2005)

Racing

The Austin Healey was extensively raced by the Donald Healey Motor Company in Europe at

Le Mans Le Mans (, ) is a city in northwestern France on the Sarthe River where it meets the Huisne. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Man ...

and at Sebring in the U.S., in classic rallies by the BMC competitions department, and was recognised from the very beginning by the

Sports Car Club of America The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is a non-profit American automobile 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 r ...

(SCCA). Healey models raced in club racing in D, E, F, G, an H production classes, winning National Championships in all five classes. The last Big Healey to win an SCCA National Championship was the class E Production Austin-Healey 100-6 driven by Alan Barker at the Daytona ARRC in 1965. 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, which 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.

References

{{Automotive industry in the United Kingdom Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom Sports car manufacturers British Leyland vehicles 1960s cars British companies established in 1952 Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1952 Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1972 1952 establishments in England 1972 disestablishments in England Defunct manufacturing companies of England Joint ventures Healey