After helping develop armored vehicles in World War II, Donald Healey ran a small works company in Great Britain, producing only a small number of cars. In search of a smaller car to export to the lucrative American market, Healey incorporated a 2.6-liter, four-cylinder, overhead-valve engine from Austin Atlantic into a car he released at the 1952 Earls Court Motor Show. It was so popular that Len Lord insisted on producing it through his new company, the giant British Motor Corporation. The car was named the Austin-Healey 100 and awarded the title "International Motor Show Car of 1953" in New York.

Austin-Healey exported 89 percent of their cars to the United States. Among these automobiles, the 100 and 3000 Series "Big Healeys" were the fastest and most glamorous. The 3000s were also successful racing machines with front disc brakes and nearly 18,000 Austin Healey 3000 Mk III were built in a four-year period.

In 1958, the much-loved "Frog-Eyed-Sprite" was released — smaller, lighter and priced below the other Austin-Healey models. Since it was too expensive to make the headlights retractable, they were just bolted to the hood, an idea that sold some 40,000 vehicles.

In December 1967, only 15 Austin Healeys were completed, effectively the end of the marque, although one last 3000 was assembled in March 1968. Healey's name lived on, however, with the Jensen-Healey — and Sprite parts were still to be used in the MG Midget.

Resources

Austin Healey Club of America
www.serve.com/AHCA

Austin Healey Club USA
www.healey.org/index

Austin Healey 100 Restoration Site
www.acmefluid.com.au

Austin-Healey 100/100-6/3000 Restoration Guide by Gary G. Anderson, Roger L. Moment

Special Thanks:
El Rancho Verde Golf Club, Rialto CA
Austin Healey Owners Association of Southern California