Austin-Healey Big Healey: Books - History (2/2)

Austin Healey 100-6 & 3000

This is the complete story of the Austin Healey 100-6 and 3000's rallying history, told in all its glory by expert motoring historian Graham Robson, as part of the `Rally Giants' series.
In nine eventful years - 1957 to 1965 - the six-cylinder-engined Austin Healey evolved into a formidable and increasingly specialised rally car. By any standards, it was the first of the `homologation specials' - a type made progressively stronger, faster, more versatile, and more suitable for the world's toughest International rallies.

Though the motorsport foundations had been laid by the Healey Motor Co. Ltd, the work needed to turn these cars into rock-solid 210bhp projectiles was almost all completed by the world-famous `works' BMC Competitions Department at Abingdon. It was because of their vast experience that the `Big Healeys' (as they were affectionately known) became fast and tough, nimble yet durable, so that they were capable of winning major events wherever traction could be assured.

Not only did the works Austin Healeys win some of the world's most famous events - including Liege-Sofia-Liege, Spa-Sofia-Liege and the French and Austrian Alpine rallies - but they were also supremely fast on events like the Tulip, and came so close, so often, to winning their home event, the British RAC Rally, which traditionally ended the season.
This book lists each and every success, each and every notable car, and traces exactly how the machinery developed, and improved, from one season to the next.

The Big Healeys

With their sleek and powerful looks, the big Austin-Healeys have always made an impression. In this revealing book, the author explores the development of the "Big" Healeys, as distinct from the smaller Austin-Healey Sprite, to produce a comprehensive and compelling account of one of the iconic British sports cars.

After Donald Healey's sports car design impressed the managing director of Austin, Leonard Lord, at the 1952 London Motor Show, Healey was given the engineering back-up that he needed to produce the car in quantity.
Teaming up with Jensen Motors to produce the bodywork, Austin provided the mechanical components at their Longbridge factory. The new car was known as the Austin-Healey 100, because it could achieve 100 mph.

This book also follows the development of the Austin-Healey 100-Six and the Austin-Healey 3000, describing both the technical developments and the achievements of the cars in competitions and as record-breakers.
Every enthusiast of the marque should have this comprehensive review of the design and manufacture of the Big Healeys on their bookshelf, which reveals previously untold stories to tell you the real story of these magnificent vehicles and the men that made them possible.

Austin-Healey 100 & 100/6 (1952-1959)

Brooklands Portfolio book about the Austin-Healey 100, 100/4, 100/6, 100/S, 100/M and Mille Miglia models from the years 1952-1959.

• The articles, taken from contemporary British and American car magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

▶  More information on the Brooklands Portfolio books

Austin Healey : The story of DD 300

This first title in a brand-new series of Porter Profiles throws the spotlight on one of the most successful Big Healeys of all time. Registered UJB 143, it was a works entry for the Sebring 12 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours in 1960.

After being sold to the privateer Ecurie Chiltern outfit, it was re-registered DD 300 and returned to the famous French enduro in '61 and '62. It then passed to Healey stalwart John Chatham and would regularly be raced over the next four decades, in everything from Modsports to sprints and finally historic events.

The Healey's long and successful career continues with its current owners and it is all covered in this fascinating new book, complete with a superb selection of period photographs.

Works Healeys In Detail - Healey, Nash-Healey and Austin-Healey works competition entrants, car by car

Donald Healey began rallying in the 1920s and soon won fame for his exploits on European rallies. Already a successful businessman, his dream was to become a car manufacturer himself, particularly a manufacturer of high-performance cars, and in 1946 he launched the first two models, the Westland roadster and the Elliott saloon, from his small factory in Warwick.

The Elliott was the fastest saloon car of its day, proving capable of over 110mph, and by 1947 was enjoying a rallying career. These models were followed by the stark Silverstone and the elegant Tickford saloon, the Nash-Healey and then the famous 100, which was rapidly adopted by Austin to become the first in the Austin-Healey line that developed into the 100/6 and the 3000, with the perky Sprite joining along the way.

This book tells of the story of Donald Healey's cars in the world of rallying, racing and record attempts from the the late 1940s through to the last racing Austin-Healey Sprite in 1967.
In between he produced competiton versions of the Austin-Healey 100 and 100S, the 100/6 and the gloriously successful 3000, a brutal and wayward machine that won countless international rallies in the 1960s in the hands of great drivers like Pat Moss, Timo Makinen, Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk, to name but a few.

The author describes the career of each of the works cars individually - entries, drivers and results, with nearly all cars illustrated. In addition there is detailed colour photography of some important surviving examples.

Austin Healey - La race des bouledogues

Les modèles créés par Donald Healey et son fils Geoffrey ont joué un rôle clé dans la réputation de la Grande-Bretagne comme principal producteur de voitures de sport dans les années cinquante et soixante.

Cet ouvrage met en exergue l'un des plus prestigieux véhicules britanniques, alliant à la fois l'élégance, l'esthétique, ainsi que la puissance. Il s'agit bien évidemment de la prestigieuse marque Austin Healey.
L'auteur nous fait découvrir les modèles les plus notoires et leurs variantes de 1946 à 1972, de l'emblématique Austin Healey 100 à la Jensen-Healey, en passant par la Sprite, ou bien encore la Midget.