North Devon Metalcraft
SHEET METAL & MOTOR BODY ENGINEERS
History of the Austin Healey 3000
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The first Austin Healey was announced in 1952. The 'Healey 100' began as a private venture by Donald Healey's small company designed to use Austin/BMC running gear. On seeing the car, Len Lord, company chairman of BMC, agreed a deal with Donald Healey that BMC would manufacture the Healey at Longbridge, the name of the car would be changed to Austin Healey 100 and that the Donald Healey company would be retained as sports car design consultants thereafter. The first Austin Healey 100s were then available in 1953.
In 1956 after several years of good sales, particularly in the USA, the car was re-engineered with a new six-cylinder BMC engine and was renamed the '100 Six'. Three years later, the same cars, with an enlarged engine, were renamed '3000'.
From 1957, when final assembly moved to the Abington MG factory, new options were made available: two-seater or 2+2 seater, optional hard-tops, optional overdrive gearboxes, single or duo-tone colour schemes along with many accessories.
Production finally ceased in 1968, there having been more than 73,000 Healeys manufactured in total.
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