Donald Healey Motor Company, founded in 1945, was a result of the coming-together of three men who had met while working for Humber during the Second World War. Donald Healey, who himself was an accomplished rally driver and all-round car fanatic, brought in Achille Sampietro, a fine chassis specialist for racing cars, and Ben Bowden, a body engineer who knew his tools better than his own two feet. The result was a company surrounded by true passion, high ambition, but ultimately, not a huge amount of success in their early years. However, all of that changed with the Austin Healey. 

In a last-ditch bid to remain in business, the trio felt a sports car to rival MG and Jaguar had to be made, after all, the ever-growing US market seemed to be smitten with the sporty offerings from Great Britain. Incredibly, the Healey we all know and love today was designed by Donald Healey and his eldest son using cheap parts from various Austin models. In fact, their home grown sports car impressed Austin’s chiefs so much upon first viewing that, in 1953, a joint venture was struck up with Donald Healey Motor Company and Austin to make the Healey a mass-produced car. 

Before it became the Austin Healey 3000, the 100 and 100 S were busy making a name for themselves on racetracks all over Europe and the US. It seemed the venture was to be a good one, and the 100 S was the most accessible and successful club racing car available to any aspiring racing driver. This fine example is the 18th of just 50 planned 100 S examples produced, and has spent its life mostly in the US, where it was first purchased in San Francisco in 1955. Despite being a thoroughbred machine for the everyday racer, this example was initially used as road car, before moving to a new owner where it raced at many US circuits. 

From competition to concours, this Healey 100 S then enjoyed its fair share of success along the many shows across the US during the 1980s, and has remained a firm favourite in the country for many decades. This fine example is now ready for its next adventure, and is being offered at Classic Auction’s upcoming sale in Safenwil on August 24th, with a estimate of 706,895 to 768,364 Euros. 

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