Austin-Healey - A Brief History
In 1945 Donald Mitchell Healey, a very capable auto engineer and successful racing driver, founded the Warwick based Healey Motor Company. But the history of the Austin-Healey Marque really started in 1952 at the Earls Court Motor show in London. Donald Healey was showing his latest model there, which was known as the Healey Hundred. It featured a sleek 2-seater sports body and was powered by a 2.6 litre 4-cylinder Austin engine. It attracted a great deal of interest not just from the public, but as legend has it also from Sir Leonard Lord of Austin who needed a sports model to meet impending new competition from rivals such as MG and Triumph. An arrangement was made between the two men, and the car was put into production at Austin's Longbridge factory. It was sold as the Austin-Healey 100. It is now more widely known that talks between Leonard Lord and Donald Healey had occurred earlier than the 1952 show, and that discussions of a possible deal between them were mentioned when Donald Healey had arranged to use Austin running gear for his car. The 100 did very well in motor sport which was then, as it is now very good publicity for a car manufacturer, and sales were good. This same car was later fitted with a six cylinder engine and became known as the 100 Six and after further development ultimately became the Austin-Healey 3000 - now widely acknowledged as being the one of the greatest British sports cars of all time. Production of a small sports car, the Austin-Healey Sprite began in 1958, and this was powered by the BMC A series engine. The Sprite proved to be extremely popular and became fondly known as the Frogeyed Sprite due to the positioning of the headlamps which protruded above the low bonnet to meet lighting regulations. Austin-Healey went on to produce cars right up until 1972 when the 20-year agreement between Healey and Austin came to and end. Donald Healey left the company in 1968 when the British Motor Corporation (Austin had merged with Morris in 1952 to form BMC) was taken over by British Leyland. Donald Healey became Chairman of Jensen Cars, and was later awarded a CBE. Donald Healey died in January 1988 at the age of 89.
Austin Healey 100/4 Model BN1
Production started May, 1953. 10,030 produced.
Engine: 4 cylinder Transmission: 3 speed.
Radiator grille bars had a satin finish. Crease line of the front wing/door/front of rear wing did not continue to back of rear wing. Ignition to the right of center of the dash.
Austin Healey 100/4 Model BN2
Production started August, 1955. 4,604 produced.
Engine: 4 cylinder Transmission: 4 speed.
Radiator grille bars had a chrome finish. Crease line of the front wing/door/front of rear wing did continue to back of rear wing. Front wheel arch larger than that of the BN1. Ignition in the center of the dash.
Austin Healey 100/6 Models BN4 (2+2) BN6 (2 Seater)
Production started May, 1956. 14,436 produced.
Engine: 6 cylinder 2,639cc had gallery cylinder head and 1.5" carburettors. Later cars (Nov. 1957) had a 12 port cylinder head with 1.75" HD6 cards available. Cars made at Longbridge up to December 1957, had a centre line down the length of the bonnet. Both models had drum brakes on all 4 wheels. All had a 100/6 grille badge.
Austin Healey 3000 Models BN7 (2 Seater) BT7 (2+2) MKI
Production started March, 1959. 13,650 produced.
Engine: 6 cylinder 2,912cc. Front disc brakes. Same body as 100/6. 3000 badge on boot lid.
Austin Healey 3000 Models BN7 (2 Seater) BT7 (2+2) MKII
Production started March, 1961. 5,450 produced.
Engine: 6 cylinder Triple 1.5" HS4 carbs. Vertical grille slats. New badge with MKII text on boot lid. From November, 1961 center change grabox standard.
Austin Healey 3000 Model BJ7 MKIIA
Production started January, 1962. 6,113 produced.
Engine: 6 cylinder reverted back to twin 1.75" carbs. Wrap around windscreen, quarterlights and wind down windows. In June, 1963 changed from 48 spoke wires to 60 spoke.
Austin Healey 3000 Model BJ8 MKIII Phase 1
Production started October, 1963. 1,390 produced.
Engine: 6 cylinder reverted back to twin 2" HD8 carbs. Dual exhaust system with rear silencer. New wood facia dashboard. Electronic tachometer. Gauges with black faces. Continued with pull door handles until May, 1964.
Austin Healey 3000 Model BJ8 MKIII Phase 2
Production started May, 1964. Changed profile of chassis at the rear under the axle. Radius arms to rear axle replaced panhard rod. Larger lens on sidelight/indicator. Push button door handles with external locks replace pull handle. In March 1965 started seperate amber front and rear indicators.
Austin Healey
Last car made March, 1968
Total produced: 71,987