Category: History of the Healey

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Austin Healey 200 MPH

In 1953 the company wished to gain publicity for the Austin Healey specially in the USA. One of the best ways to get press coverage is to break some speed records, and what better place than the Bonneville salts flats in the state of Utah?

In that year Donald Healey Motor Company had built a special version of the Austin-Healey 100 sports car with the aim of setting both high-speed as well as endurance records. This Endurance car, which looked not too dissimilar to a standard Austin-Healey 100 was driven by Donald Healey himself, George Eyston, Carroll Shelby, Mort Goodall, and Roy Jackson Moore.

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Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII

Date when launched 1964 discontinued in early1968
Total produced Abingdon 17,712

Price ex Works 
Oct 1965 £915

Engine 
2,912 cc 148bhp at 5,250 rpm Max torque 165 lbs/ft at 3,500 rpm
Length 13ft 1.5ins Width 5ft 0.5ins Height (hood) 4ft 1ins
Wheelbase 7ft 8ins Track front 4ft 0.8ins rear 4ft 2ins

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    Austin-Healey 3000 MkI .

    Date when launched 1959 discontinued in 1961 Total produced Abingdon 2,825 BN7(2-seaters) 10,825 BT7(2+2 seater) Engine 2,912 cc 124bhp at 4,600 rpm Max torque 162 lbs/ft at 2,400 rpm Length 13ft 1.5ins Width 5ft 0.5ins Height (hood) 4ft 1ins Wheelbase 7ft 8ins Track front 4ft 0.8ins rear 4ft 2ins Price ex Works (Oct 1959) £1,168 (2 seater) £1,175 (2+2 seater)

    NANCY WAS A EARLY MK1 3000

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    Austin-Healey 100-six BN4

    Date when launched 1956 discontinued in 1959
    Total produced Longbridge 1956/7 6,045. Abingdon 1957/9 4,241

    Price ex Works Feb 1957 £1,144 

    Engine 
    2,639 cc 102bhp at 4,600 rpm Max torque 142 lbs/ft at 2,400 rpm
    Length 13ft 1.5ins Width 5ft 0.5ins Height (hood) 4ft 1ins
    Wheelbase 7ft 8ins Track front 4ft 0.8ins rear 4ft 2ins

    Austin-Healey 100-six BN6
    Date when launched 1958 discontinued in 1959
    Total produced Abingdon only 4,150

    Engine 
    2,639 cc 117bhp at 4,600 rpm Max torque 142 lbs/ft at 2,400 rpm
    Length 13ft 1.5ins Width 5ft 0.5ins Height (hood) 4ft 1ins
    Wheelbase 7ft 8ins Track front 4ft 0.8ins rear 4ft 2ins

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    Model 100 BN2

    Date when launched 1955 Discontinued in 1956
    Total produced BN2 3,924

    Price ex Works BN2 (1956 Jan) £1,126

    Engine 
    2,660 cc 90bhp at 4,000 rpm Max torque 150 lbs/ft at 2,000 rpm

    Length 12ft 7ins Width 5ft 0ins Height (hood) 4ft 1ins
    Wheelbase 7ft 6ins Track front 4ft 1ins rear 4ft2.8ins

    Donald Healey converted 1,159 BN2 versions with a tuned engine.
    Engine 2660cc comp.ratio 8.1 to 1. 110bhp at 4,500rpm Max torque 143 lbs/ft at 2,600rpm

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    1953 BN1 launch on Bonneville Slat Flats , Utah

    In 1953 the year that the Austin Healey 100 was announced at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah USA, a standard car broke all the American Stock Car Records from 1 to 5,000 km

    Model 100 BN1
    Date when launched 1953 Discontinued in 1955
    Total produced BN1 10,688

    Engine 
    2,660 cc 90bhp at 4,000 rpm Max torque 150 lbs/ft at 2,000 rpm
    Date when launched 1953 (100 BN1) 1955 (100 BN2)

    Length 12ft 7ins Width 5ft 0ins Height (hood) 4ft 1ins
    Wheelbase 7ft 6ins Track front 4ft 1ins rear 4ft2.8ins

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    1953 The Longbridge Factory

    The first of the line built at Longbridge, with bodies supplied by Jensen was the 2.6 litre Austin-Healey 100 BN1 in 1953. Two years later came the BN2 version. Next on the scene was the BN4 and called the Austin-Healey 100 six which used the “C’ series engine 6 cyl. 2,639 cc. this stayed in production at Longbridge till 1957.

    Production was transferred to Abingdon in November 1957, at around the same time the engine was updated by means of a new cylinder head and manifold, this increased power from 102 to 117 bhp.

    Later that year (1958) the BN6 arrived using the revised engine, one of the major changes was that the seating reverted back to the original design, making it a two-seater, not 2 + 2 as in the BN4. In 1959 it was change time again with the Austin-Healey 3000 Mk I Engine size went up to 2,912 cc and power output was now 124 bhp at 4,600 rpm with torque at 162 lbs/ft at 2,700 rpm. When the Mk II came out in 1962 it was called a Convertible as it had various changes with a more rounded larger windscreen and windup door windows. The soft top was now a proper foldaway type and seating layout was 2 + 2, although the room in the back was cramped for adults. Power output was again increased and although the overdrive unit was an optional extra, most were fitted with it as standard. It was in 1964 that the Mk III and final version was announced. The model was again given a more powerful engine along with a nice wooden veneer facia. Seating was improved and round the gear change was a central console with a storage box. 

    The 2.6 litre Austin-Healey 100 BN1

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    No34 Car at Le Mans

    1953 after the Mille Miglia

    Later in 1953 and just after the Mille Miglia the same car was prepared for Le Mans, but when driven back from the scrutineering session by Gordon Wilkins, he was involved in an accident. Because of the major damage, it was necessary to do a total rebuild to get the car ready for the practice session. On event day, bearing the race number 34 it completed 2,153 miles in the 24 hours, finishing in twelve overall and second in class.

    This particular car is the only one that to this day is original in all respects.

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    The Sixth Healey

    The Sixth Austin Healey (build No AHR60) was the second racing car to be built at Warwick. The car had a strengthened but lighter chassis with a special engine No IB 13676 supplied and built by Austin’s Experimental Department Longbridge. With a nitrided crankshaft, special camshaft, racing pistons and lightened flywheel. Various other modifications were carried out and for the Le Mans 24 hour race it was fitted with a cold air box and 1¾ SU carburettors, which helped the engine to produce 103bhp at 4,500rpm. A Borg and Beck competition clutch transmitted the power through to a Austin Taxi gearbox which also had a high ratio overdrive unit, which reduced the engine revs by a third, then finally to a high ratio axle. 

    It was registered in Birmingham on the 22nd April 1953 and given the number NOJ 392. The chassis number was SPL225B and body No JM 4079-6.

    Donald Healey thought that British racing green was unlucky, so it was painted a metallic light green, with dark green leather for the seats. Then entered in the 1953 Mille Miglia with racing number 552, driven by Bert Hadley and Bertie Mercer. Sadly on the stage between Brescia and Ravenna they had to retire with a broken throttle linkage.


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    The Works

    Donald Healeys factory was referred to by the workforce as ‘The Works’ and was actually a former aircraft hangar that was re-erected on three acres of reclaimed land made available by Warwick Council after WWII. Not the ideal place to build a stylish sports car. Offices were added later and also a brick workshop for Roger Menadue to house the experimental department. It was here that the first five cars were assembled. It was planned to produce the next batch of pre-production vehicles in the hanger, a total of fifty, under the watchful eye of Harry Bradish. Actually in the end only nineteen were made at Warwick all been left-hand drive versions.