Cookie Consent

Our website uses Cookies in order to function properly.

We do not use advertising cookies on the site, but we do use analytics cookies. You may choose not to allow analytics cookies, but please bear in mind that they are used to help us see how people are using the austinhealeyclub.com and that by not allowing them, it makes it harder for us to manage the site.

You can either Accept All, or tailor the settings and click Save Settings.

For more information, please see our Legal Statement and Privacy Notice.

These cookies are required for the proper functioning of the website. These cookies are all first party and store essential information such as your login session and your cookie consent preferences.
These cookies are used for monitoring traffic to the website. They are not needed for the proper functioning of the website, but allowing them helps us to properly manage the site. They collect information about how you use the website, which pages you visited and which links you clicked on. All of the data is anonymized and cannot be used to identify you.
NameDomainDescription
^_gaaustinhealeyclub.comLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit
_gataustinhealeyclub.comLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit
_gidaustinhealeyclub.comLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit
Cookie Consent
Our website needs to use Cookies in order to function properly.
Click Accept All to accept cookies, or Manage Settings to choose which cookies you wish to accept.
The Warwick Healeys
©JB
© Copyright 2024, John Bowman

In 1946 Donald Healey set up his own Motor Company in Warwick, UK, to design and produce sporting cars.

Warwick Healey
©JB
© Copyright 2024, John Bowman

The company designed their own chassis and suspension which were fitted with the Riley gearboxes, axles and 2443cc 4-cylinder engine producing 106BHP. The cars produced during this period are generally referred to as Warwick Healeys, but are also known as pre-Austin or pre-BMC.

The chassis were bodied as a sporting saloon by Elliott and Company, a sports convertible by The Westland Aero Company of Hereford, and both saloon and convertible by Duncan Industries of Norfolk. These were all coachbuilt using an Ash frame clad in Aluminium Panels.

In 1949, the 2 seater Silverstone sports/racing models was introduced, selling for £995, in order to avoid the double purchase tax that was applied on cars above £1000. The Silverstone was extremely successful in competition.

Healey Silverstone
©JB
© Copyright 2024, John Bowman

A small number of 4 seat Sportsmobile models were built, using a more modern design with the wings (fenders) styled into the body.

In 1949 the Elliott and Westland versions were superceeded with bodies from Tickford (saloon) and Abbott (convertible), also Ash framed, aluminium clad and with 4 seats.

Due to a chance meeting between Donald Healey and the president of Nash motors on a liner crossing the Atlantic, and agreement was made to build a new model, the Nash-Healey. This would use the Healey chassis, Nash engine and gearbox, and a more modern styled 2 seat body built by Panelcraft, later replaced with a Pinifarina styled body.

Additionally the Healey company introduced the 2 seat, 3 litre sports convertible (also known as the Alvis Healey) which used the Alvis 3000cc 6 cylinder engine. Special bodied cars were also made by a number of other manufacturers, these included sports, saloon and shooting brake versions. It is not clear how many of these specials were produced. In total the company produced approximately 1377 cars, until they were replaced by the new Austin-Healey 100 models.

Warwick Healey Saloon
©JB
© Copyright 2024, John Bowman

There are some sub divisions within these groups, but these are the Main variants:

  • Westland, 1946-50, 2443cc, convertible, 70 built
  • Elliott, 1946-50, 2443cc, saloon, 104 built
  • Sportsmobile, 1948-50, 2443cc, convertible, 25 built
  • Silverstone, 1948-50, 2443cc, sports/racing, 106 built
    Dedicated web site Classic Healeys, Germany, including a Silverstone Register www.healey-classic.de
  • Duncan, 1946-48, 2443cc, convertible, approx 3 built
  • Duncan, 1946-48, 2443cc, saloon, 39 built
  • Duncan, 1946-48, 2443cc, 'Drone' minimalist sports, 50 built
  • Abbott, 1950-54, 2443cc, convertible, 88 built
  • Tickford, 1950-54, 2443cc, saloon, 225 built
  • 3 Litre Sports convertible (Alvis), 1951-52, 3000cc, 6 cyl, 28 built
  • Nash, 1950-52, 3848cc, 6 cyl, convertible, Panelcraft body, 104 built
  • Nash, 1952-54, 4138cc, 6 cyl, convertible, Pininfarina body, 250 built
  • Nash, 1952-54, 4138cc, 6 cyl, fixed head coupe, Pininfarina body, 150 built
  • Various specials, 1946-54, 2443cc, sports/saloon/shooting brake, 135 built

For more details, and to view photographs of these cars, refer the Association of Healey Owners