 | |
| Industry | Manufacture of high performance cars and design consultancy |
|---|---|
| Founded | 13 February 1946[1] |
| Fate | Sold |
| Headquarters | The Cape,Warwick United Kingdom |
Key people | Donald Healey - founder |
Donald Healey Motor Company Limited was a British car manufacturer.[note 1]
The business was founded in 1945 byDonald Healey, a successful car designer and rally driver. Healey discussed sports car design withAchille Sampietro, a chassis specialist for high performance cars andBen Bowden, a body engineer, when all three worked atHumber during World War II.
Healey's new enterprise focused on producing high-quality, high-performance cars which were inevitably expensive. It was initially based in the premises of Benford Ltd (who made cement mixers and dumpers) at The Cape inWarwick, but soon moved into an old aircraft components factory on the adjacent Millers Road Industrial Estate. There Healey was joined by Roger Menadue fromArmstrong Whitworth to run the experimental workshop and subsequently by his son Geoffrey, who had qualified as an engineer. On 3 July 1963 (not 1961 as is often stated) they moved again into the former Warwick Cinema at Coten End. Both these premises have now been demolished: a block of flats has been built on the cinema site, called – much to Geoff's disgust – 'Healey Court'. The cars mainly used a tuned version of the provenRiley twin-cam 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine in a light steel box-section chassis of Healey design usingindependent front suspension by coil springs and alloytrailing arms withGirling dampers. The rear suspension used a Rileylive axle with coil springs. The suspension design allowed soft springing to be combined with excellent road holding. Lockheed hydraulic brakes were used.
When it was introduced in 1948, the Elliott saloon was claimed to be the fastest production closed car in the world, timed at 104.7 mph over a mile. The aerodynamic body design was the work ofBenjamin Bowden and unusually for the time it was tested in awind tunnel to refine its efficiency. This was the start of Healey's aerodynamic styling for reduced drag, that culminated in Bowden's last UK offering, the Zethrin Rennsport. In 1949 the most sporting of all the Healeys, the Silverstone, was announced. It had a shorter chassis and stiffer springing and was capable of 107 mph. It is now a highly sought after car, and many of the other remaining Healeys have been converted into Silverstone replicas. These cars had numerous competition successes including class wins in the 1947 and 1948 Alpine rallies and the 1949Mille Miglia.
Government planning and controls in this time period required any substantial expansion of production to be for the export market alone. So in 1950 Healey entered the North American market with theNash-Healey, using aNash Ambassador engine withSU carburettors and Nash gearbox. Initially the Ambassador's 3848 cc engine was used, but when in 1952 body construction was transferred from Healey toPininfarina the larger 4138 cc engine was fitted.
The final Healey car of this era was the G-Type, using anAlvis TB21 engine and gearbox. This was more luxurious (and heavier) than the Riley engined models, and performance suffered.
| Type | Engine | Approx Production | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healey Westland Roadster | 2443 cc Riley 4 cylinder | 64 | 1946-50 |
| Healey Elliott Saloon | 2443 cc Riley 4 cylinder | 101 | 1946-50 |
| Healey Sportsmobile | 2443 cc Riley 4 cylinder | 23 | 1948-50 |
| Healey Silverstone | 2443 cc Riley 4 cylinder | 104 | 1949-50 |
| HealeyTickford Saloon | 2443 cc Riley 4 cylinder | 222 | 1950-54 |
| HealeyAbbott Drophead Coupe | 2443 cc Riley 4 cylinder | 77 | 1950-54 |
| Nash-Healey | 3848 or 4138 cc Nash 6 cylinder | 506 | 1950-54 |
| Healey G-Type Roadster | 2993 cc Alvis 6 cylinder | 25 | 1951-53 |
Healey judged a cheaper sports car marketable in large numbers was needed to save the business, one that would fit between theMG andJaguar cars then selling so well in USA. Working with his eldest son Geoffrey in the attic of the family home, Healey designed a two-seat roadster employing numerous low-cost Austin components, theHealey Hundred. Austin chiefSir Leonard Lord was so impressed when he saw it on the Healey stand at the 1952 Earls Court Motor Show he offered to make it in his own factories under the nameAustin-Healey 100.[2]
The result was a 1953 a joint venture which created theAustin-Healey marque with theBritish Motor Corporation manufacturing the cars and the Healey company doing the designs and running racing operations. The 100 evolved into the highly regarded and collector coveted 3-litreAustin-Healey 3000, and the diminutive 950ccAustin-Healey Sprite, known affectionately as the "frog-eye" or "Bugeye" was also manufactured.
Commenting on the 3000 after Donald Healey's deathThe Times observed: "The big Healey's brutally firm ride, heavy steering and engine so close it would roast a driver's feet never detracted from the superb, timeless styling and classic proportions."[3]
Donald Healey became a director ofJensen Motors in the late 1960s and a result of this was theLotus-enginedJensen-Healey which appeared in 1972.
Donald Healey Motor Company was finally sold to the Hamblin Group, although Healey Automobile Consultants and the engineering parts of the company remained in the hands of Geoffrey and Donald Healey.
There is one club worldwide who cater for (pre Austin) Healey cars -The Association Of Healey Owners