1951 Nash Healey LeMans news, pictures, and information

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Roadster
Chassis Num: N2041
Engine Num: NHA1044

The prototype for the newest creation of Nash's George Mason and sports car builder Donald Healey was shown at the London and Paris Auto Salons in 1950. These new roadsters wore aluminum-alloy bodies and rode on a chassis based on the Healey Silverstone. The powertrain and driveline were borrowed from the Nash Airflyte. The powerplant was a modified Nash six-cylinder unit with a hotter camshaft, dual SU carburetors, higher compression, and an aluminum cylinder head.

After the car made its United States debut at the 1951 Chicago Auto Show, the roadster became available for sale. To stimulate sales, Nash entered several specially-bodied Nash-Healeys in the 1951 Mille Miglia, where one example finished in ninth in this grueling event. At the 24 Hours of LeMans, a Nash-Healey finished fourth overall. In 1952, an open bodied Nash-Healey finished third overall, and second in the Index of Performance.

There were a mere 104 examples of the first series created. This first series Nash-Healey LeMans Roadsters were clothed in alloy and only a few have survived. This example has been given a professional restoration and is finished in Mint Green with a tan cloth top and a gray interior with blue piping. There are Cibie headlights, Nash-Healey wheel covers, blackwall tires and pull-up side windows. It has a factory-fitted three-speed manual transmission with overdrive and there is a spare tire and jack, and a heater.

In 2009, this Alloy-Body Roadster was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Amelia Island auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $100,000 - $125,000. The lot was sold for $67,100, including buyer's premium.

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.

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