 1952 Healey LeMans |
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1953 Nash Healey Pininfarina news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | LeMans Roadster Coachwork: Pininfarina |
Nash Motors supplied the Ambassador's long, heavy & bulky inline six-cylinder OHV engine. Healey fitted a lighter, higher-compression aluminum cylinder head in place of the cast-iron stock item and also, on the smaller engine, installed the twin 1.75-inch SU carburetors that were popular on British sports cars.
Many judge the 1953-54 Farina-styled Nash-Healey's more critically than the 1951 models. Nevertheless, the 1953 'LeMans' model was awarded first prize in March of that year in Italy. In light of meager sales for the preceding years, Nash delayed introduction of the 1954 models until June 3 and discontinued the convertible, leaving just a slightly reworked 'Le Mans' coupe, distinguished by a three-piece rear window instead of the previous one-piece glass.
Nash cut the price by more than $1,200 to $5,128, but production finally ceased in August, 1954. A total of 507 production Nash-Healey's were built in the four-year model run.
 |  | LeMans Roadster Coachwork: Pininfarina Chassis Num: 12486 |
| Sold for $60,500 at 2007 Worldwide Auctioneers. | ||
The managing director of the Donald Healey Motor Company of Warwick, England, Mr. Donald Healey, had created a car and outfitted it was a Nash Ambassador engine and drive line. The resulting creation was entered in the grueling 24-Hour of LeMans endurance race in July of 1950. At the conclusion of the race, the car was sitting in fourth place which was truly a remarkable accomplishment and a true testament to the durability of the automobile. In honor of this success, Nash ordered a limited number to be created for the public.
The cars came complete with an overdrive transmission, a six-cylinder engine fitted with an aluminum head and dual carburetion. A prototype example was created and given a light-weight aluminum body. Upon completion, it was shown at the 1950 Paris Automobile Show. Production began in December of 1950 with a total of 36 examples created in that month. From January through March of 1951, an additional 68 examples were created bringing the total of 104.
Standard equipment included the 234.8 cubic-inch engine that produced 125 horsepower, chrome wheel discs, adjustable steering wheel, leather upholstery, directional signals, foam rubber cushions, and five four-ply whitewall tires. Only two colors were available, Champagne Ivory and Sunset Maroon.
Production was frozen from April of 1951 through January of 1952 while Pinin Farina of Turin, Italy created a new roadster body. There would be a total of 150 examples of the Roadster created when production resume. Nash produced the engine and main parts in their Kenosha, Wisconsin plant. These parts were then sent to England where Donald Healey's Company assembled these parts to the chassis and 'trailing link' front-end suspension. This chassis was then sent to Pinin Farina who attached the custom bodies which had been built by hand.
The new Roadster made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show in February of 1952. A Nash-Healey was entered in the 1952 LeMans race where it emerged First in Class and third overall. A total of 58 cars had entered the race with only 17 crossing the finish line.
A hardtop model was introduced in early 1953. A total of 162 roadsters and hardtops were constructed during this year. The hardtop versions are often referred to as the LeMans hardtop.
In 1953, the Nash-Healey carried a hefty sticker price of $3,982.
This example is powered by a 4.1-liter straight six LeMans dual Jetfire engine coupled with twin Carter Sidedraft carburetors and producing 135 horsepower. It is finished in original Champagne Ivory with Burgundy top and interior. It is a well restored car that has seen very little use in the past few years.
On auction day the low range of the estimated value was $60,000. A high bid of $60,500 including buyer's premium was enough to secure new ownership. The lot was sold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2007
 |  |  | LeMans Hardtop Coachwork: Pininfarina |
This automobile is the first of only 60 built in 1953 with production ending in 1954. This sports car is a blend of English, Italian, and American talent.
 |  |  | LeMans Roadster Coachwork: Pininfarina Chassis Num: N2360 |
| Sold for $231,000 at 2007 RM Auctions. | |||
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2007
 |  |  | LeMans Roadster Coachwork: Pininfarina Chassis Num: 3142 Engine Num: NHA 1499 |
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.
 |  |  | LeMans Hardtop Coachwork: Pininfarina Chassis Num: 3072 |
| Sold for $126,500 at 2008 RM Auctions. Sold for $77,500 at 2010 RM Auctions. | |||
The Nash Healey made its US debut at the 1951 Chicago Auto Show and soon after, sales began. It was not long before the cars were entered in competition. At the 1951 Mille Miglia, a specially-prepared car with a special body and a Lemans Dual Jetfire Ambassador Six engine finished ninth overall. At the 24 Hours of LeMans, it finished fourth overall. The following year, an open-bodied Nash Healey finished third overall and second in the Index of Performance.
In 1952, Pinin Farina re-styled the Nash Healey Roadster giving it a more curvaceous appearance. The aluminum body was replaced by steel and a larger Nash engine with twin carburetors replaced the old powerplant. The engines and mechanical components were shipped to Healey, who assembled the rolling chassis and sent it to Pinin Farina who added the body and finished the car.
In 1953, a closed coupe bodystyle joined the lineup. The LeMans Coupe bodystyle had a six-inch longer wheelbase than the roadster. It had a steel top and rear quarter windows. Standard equipment included leather upholstery, a tachometer, full wheel covers, cigar lighter and ashtray, and wide whitewall tires. The 1953 and 1954 Coupe versions are easily identified by their back windows. The 1953 version had a one-piece window while the 1954 coupe versions had a less-expensive three-piece window.
Production totals after four years amassed just 506 units.
This 1953 Nash-Healey LeMans Coupe has had a complete professional restoration. There is a black exterior with a chestnut interior with Wilton wool carpeting. It rides on chrome wire wheels, wide whitewall tires, and has the factory-correct aluminum cylinder head, as opposed to the cast iron head that many Nash Healeys have since been fitted with.
In 2008, this 1953 LeMans Coupe was offered for sale at the 'Sports & Classics of Monterey' presented by RM Auctions where it was estimated to sell for $100,000 - $125,000. It was offered without reserve. The lot was sold for $126,500, including buyer's premium.
In 2010, the car returned to the Sports & Classics of Monterey, again under the care of RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $100,000 - $125,000. As bidding came to close, the car had been sold for the sum of $77,500 inclusive of buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2010
 |  |  | LeMans Hardtop Coachwork: Pininfarina Chassis Num: 2321 |
In 2008, this Roadster was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, CA. It was estimated to sell for $200,000 - $250,000. As the gavel fell for the third and final time, the car had failed to find a bidder willing to satisfy its reserve. The car appeared at the 2009 Russo & Steele Auction held in Arizona a short time later.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2009
 |  |  | LeMans Hardtop Coachwork: Pininfarina Chassis Num: 13557 Engine Num: NHA 11286 |
In 1949 Donald Healey and George Mason had a chance meeting on an ocean liner. Healey was in the business of designing and producing sports cars while Mason was the president of Nash-Kelvinator. Their conversation led to sports car and resulted in an agreement that the Nash Company would provide engines for a new Healey sports car. In 1950, production began on this Nash-Healey alliance. In 1951, the Nash-Healey was debuted at the Chicago Auto Show. It was a sporty vehicle with amenities such as leather upholstery and adjustable steering wheel. A three-speed manual transmission with overdrive was coupled to the powerful Nash engine. The front suspension was comprised of a Healey trailing link with coil springs and anti-roll bar, attached to a ladder-type steel frame. The rear suspension was a rigid axle with coil springs and track bar. Drum brakes were placed on all four corners.
In 1950 a Nash-Healey was entered into the Mille Miglia where it finished respectively in ninth place. It was then entered in the grueling 24-hour of LeMans race where it achieved an impressive fourth place. There were nearly seventy cars that had been entered but when the checkered flag fell, less than thirty remained. It was re-entered in the 1951 LeMans race wearing a coupe body. It finished third in its class and sixth overall. In 1952, it finished third overall and second in its class.
In 1952 the coachwork was handled by Pininfarina. There were only 62 built guaranteeing its exclusivity. A Nash-Healey was entered in the International Concours d'Elegance where it won first place in the Foreign car custom body class. Under the hood was a 252 cubic inline six-cylinder Nash engine that had modifications courteous of Donald Healey. With aluminum heads and 2 SU carburetors, it was capable of producing 140 horsepower.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2006
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blog comments powered by DisqusIn 1950 a Nash-Healey was entered into the Mille Miglia where it finished respectively in ninth place. It was then entered in the grueling 24-hour of LeMans race where it achieved an impressive fourth place. There were nearly seventy cars that had been entered but when the checkered flag fell, less than thirty remained. It was re-entered in the 1951 LeMans race wearing a coupe body. It finished third in its class and sixth overall. In 1952, it finished third overall and second in its class.
In 1952 the coachwork was handled by Pininfarina. There were only 62 built guaranteeing its exclusivity. A Nash-Healey was entered in the International Concours d'Elegance where it won first place in the Foreign car custom body class. Under the hood was a 252 cubic inline six-cylinder Nash engine that had modifications courteous of Donald Healey. With aluminum heads and 2 SU carburetors, it was capable of producing 140 horsepower.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2006
 1953
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