The History of Austin-Healey

Austin-Healey was a British sports car manufacturer that resulted from a joint venture between the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation and renowned automotive designer and engineer Donald Healey.

Origins

In the early 1950s, Donald Healey was hand-manufacturing a few cars in a small workshop. He showed a car, called the Healey 100, at the Earl's Court Motor Show, where it was seen by Leonard Lord, head of British Motor Corporation's Austin division. When he saw how well the Healey 100 was liked by the public, he approached Healey with a proposal for Austin to manufacture the car in larger quantities. The result was the Austin-Healey 100.

The 1950s

With the introduction of the Austin-Healey 100, the joint venture was off to a good start. The original design was manufactured from 1953 to 1955. In 1955, minor cosmetic and performance changes were made to the original 100. 1956 and 1957 saw some other cosmetic changes, including the conversion to a 2+2 seating configuration and a change to a larger carburetor. 1958 saw the introduction of a six-cylinder Austin-Healey 100.
The first Austin-Healey 3000 was built in 1959. Although it was a four-seater stock, it could be bought as a two-seater as well. It sported a 2912cc six-cylinder engine, and came with an overdrive gearbox and innovative front disc brakes. The 3000 had a top speed of around 115 mph and could reach 60 mph in 11.7 seconds. Because it was so lightweight, it got 21.6 miles per gallon of fuel.
The 1950s also saw a down-market version of the MG Midget, introduced as the Austin-Healey Sprite. This small car was very simple, not terribly fast, but fun and very easy to maintain.

The 1960s

The 1960s saw the introduction of the Austin-Healey 3000 MkII. It sported dual carburetors and had a curved instead of straight front windshield. Although its top speed was reduced to 112.9 mph, its zero-to-60 performance increased to 10.9 seconds. Its fuel efficiency increased to 23.5 miles per gallon.
The Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII was produced from 1964 to 1967. The MkIII could achieve speeds in excess of 150 mph and had power-assisted brakes. Later MkIII models increased rear suspension travel to improve handling.
1961 saw the introduction of the Sprite MkII. Early MkIIs used the original 948cc engine, but later models used a 1098cc engine. Front disc brakes were introduced with the MkII, and wire wheels were offered as options.
The Sprite MkIII was made from 1964 to 1966 and featured improvements in comfort, with additional weight making the car less sporty. Handling was improved by changes to the rear leaf springs, and, for the first time, the car was fitted with locks.
In 1966, the final car of the Sprite line, the MkIV, was introduced. The MkIV sported a 1275cc engine, and moved from a trunk-stowed removable top to a permanently fixed hinged convertible top.

The End

The joint venture dissolved in 1971 as the 20-year agreement came to an end. Final production of Austin-Healey cars were marketed under the brand name Austin. A successful racing history, including Le Mans, Bathusrt and Sebring, gave Ausin-Healey an almost legendary status.

Collector's Information

There were many Austin-Healey's produced, with later versions, such as MkIII and MkIV, being produced in larger numbers. As a result, parts aren't hard to find. Restoring an Austin-Healey will result in a car with both high collector value and high financial value. Austin-Healeys are beautifully designed and fun to drive. For their time, they were among the top performers in their respective classes, with the 3000 doing very well in a number of popular period road races.

References

• Austin-Healey Sprite History
• Austin-Healey History
• History of the Austin-Healey

Resources

• Austin-Healey