England's Donald Healey was a fighter pilot during World War One. He also developed a passion for automobiles and won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1931. Fifteen years later, at the age of 48, he started to build cars that bore his own name despite using different brands of mechanical components. In 1952, Healey unveiled at the British International Motor Show in London an all-new sports car powered by an Austin-sourced, 4-cylinder engine. Leonard Lord, who was then President of the British Motor Corporation (BMC), became so enamored with this roadster that he immediately purchased the manufacturing rights... even before the show doors opened to the public. His plan was to export the car in America where the lack of domestic sports machines made consumers fall madly in love with English two-seaters.
Thus, the Healey 100 (meaning 100 miles per hour) became the Austin-Healey. The first model -- mounted on a classic, stiff frame -- borrowed its 90-hp, 2.6-liter mill from the Austin A90 Atlantic. Output was later increased to 110 horsepower, allowing the car to reach 170 kph. It was enough to rival the famous MGs, both in terms of styling and performance.
From the 24 Hours of Mans to the Mille Miglia
In the mid-fifties, Austin-Healey introduced its first few variants: the 100M, which took part in the 24 Hours of Mans, and the 100S roadster, which benefited from an aluminum cylinder head and 132 horsepower while sporting a beautifully patriotic, white and blue aluminum bodywork. Featuring four Dunlop disc brakes and a foldable windshield, the latter delivered remarkable performances at the time: 0-100 kph in under 8 seconds and a top speed of 200+ kph. A prototype of the 100S had previously finished third at the 12 Hours of Sebring (1954), hence the "S" designation for the 50 limited-edition units that were later produced.
In 1955, three 100S roadsters participated in the Mille Miglia, a legendary endurance race between Rome and Brescia, Italy. Two of them were painted in white and blue, while the other was all red. "Italians love red cars; as soon as they spot one, they think it's an Italian and they're willing to do anything to help it win," explained Donald Healey. As it turned out, only the crimson-colored Healey drove the entire thousand miles and crossed the finish line; the others either fell into a river or suffered from mechanical failures.
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Thus, the Healey 100 (meaning 100 miles per hour) became the Austin-Healey. The first model -- mounted on a classic, stiff frame -- borrowed its 90-hp, 2.6-liter mill from the Austin A90 Atlantic. Output was later increased to 110 horsepower, allowing the car to reach 170 kph. It was enough to rival the famous MGs, both in terms of styling and performance.
From the 24 Hours of Mans to the Mille Miglia
In the mid-fifties, Austin-Healey introduced its first few variants: the 100M, which took part in the 24 Hours of Mans, and the 100S roadster, which benefited from an aluminum cylinder head and 132 horsepower while sporting a beautifully patriotic, white and blue aluminum bodywork. Featuring four Dunlop disc brakes and a foldable windshield, the latter delivered remarkable performances at the time: 0-100 kph in under 8 seconds and a top speed of 200+ kph. A prototype of the 100S had previously finished third at the 12 Hours of Sebring (1954), hence the "S" designation for the 50 limited-edition units that were later produced.
In 1955, three 100S roadsters participated in the Mille Miglia, a legendary endurance race between Rome and Brescia, Italy. Two of them were painted in white and blue, while the other was all red. "Italians love red cars; as soon as they spot one, they think it's an Italian and they're willing to do anything to help it win," explained Donald Healey. As it turned out, only the crimson-colored Healey drove the entire thousand miles and crossed the finish line; the others either fell into a river or suffered from mechanical failures.
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