The president of Nash Motors and British sports car builder Donald Healey met in 1949 when they were passengers on the Queen Mary, bound for New York. They decided to develop a line of cars powered by Nash engines and sold through Nash dealerships. Thus we have the Nash Healey, which in 1952 benefited from design work by Pininfarina. However, only a few more than 500 cars were constructed before Nash was absorbed into American Motors.
This 1953 Nash Healey Roadster, one of 163 made that year, has been restored and has compiled a long list of concours trophies. It was purchased with 23,109 miles and then was restored in the owner's home garage.
Nash Healeys, when being built, made a long round trip from Kenosha, Wisconsin, where the engines and drivelines originated, to England for installation in Healey frames, to Italy where Pininfarina's workers fabricated the bodies, assembled the cars, and then shipped them back to the United States. In 1954 Nash delayed the introduction of its new models until June 3 and discontinued the convertible. The coupe was only slightly updated from 1953, the primary difference being a three-piece rear window in place of the one-piece window. | |
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