Vehicle Description
In 1951, America's first post-war sports car came from the most
unlikely source - Nash. Better known for sensible, well-built
mid-priced cars, Nash was eager to cash in on the burgeoning sports
car market in America. The car came about almost by chance, during
an unlikely meeting of two men at the polar opposite ends of the
automotive industry. While aboard the England-bound Queen
Elizabeth, the Nash-Kelvinator's conservative president, George W.
Mason shared a meal with British racer, sports car builder, and
tireless self-promoter Donald Healey. It was a spontaneous
encounter, and despite their vastly different positions in the
automotive world, they found they got along quite well. Healey was
fresh from a meeting with GM where he was unsuccessful in his
attempt to procure a series of Cadillac V8 engines to drop into the
Healey Silverstone sports car. Cadillac wanted none of it. George
Mason wanted a halo car to lift the rather stodgy Nash lineup, so a
handshake deal was made to supply modified Nash Ambassador
six-cylinder engines, transmissions, and axles to the Donald Healey
Motor Company in England and the Nash-Healey was born. The first
series cars wore an alloy body designed by Healey and built by
Panel Craft in England. Healey assembled the cars and shipped them
back to the US. While the first Nash Healey was a relatively
attractive car with brisk performance, it was unrecognizable as a
Nash. For 1952, Nash contracted with Pininfarina to design and
build the bodies with a new, yet cohesive look that better aligned
with the Nash range. A performance boost came in the form of twin
Carter carburetors on a larger Nash six, making 135 horsepower. The
manufacturing process was complicated, as engines left Kenosha,
Wisconsin, bound for England to be fitted to Healey-built ladder
chassis. Then it was off to Italy for body fitment and final
assembly before being sent back across the pond to their home
market. As one would expect, this was a costly endeavor, and the
1953 Nash Healey cost $5,908 compared to the Corvette's $3,513.
Sales were undoubtedly sluggish. In the end, just over 500
Nash-Healeys found buyers, as Donald Healey focused his efforts on
the homegrown Austin-Healey, and news of the upcoming Ford
Thunderbird dampened Nash's sports car ambitions. Despite the
addition of an attractive coupe to the lineup, the Nash-Healey did
not survive past 1955 when the last few leftover '54 models were
finally sold off. Beautifully restored and detailed, this 1954
Nash-Healey Roadster is one of only 314 examples of the lovely
Pininfarina-built roadster. In our 25 years of experience with
these cars, we are confident that this is one of the finest
examples we have ever had the pleasure to offer. It is highly
correct and features desirable options including, most notably, the
only factory removable hardtop known to exist. This marvelous
Nash-Healey was owned for many years by the noted enthusiast
Jacques Harguindeguy. "Frenchy," as he was best known, famously won
Best in Show at the 2000 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance with a
spectacular Delahaye he restored. When we first encountered this
car during Frenchy's ownership, it was one of the best original,
honest, unrestored Nash-Healeys we had ever seen. Following
Frenchy's passing in 2007, the Nash went to his friend Brian Hoyt.
Mr. Hoyt is the proprietor of Perfect Reflections - the
world-renowned, Pebble Beach-winning restoration shop and Ferrari
specialist. In honor of his friend, Brian restored the Nash-Healey
to an incredibly high standard. The level of attention lavished
upon this car can be seen in the precise fit of the doors and
panels, the superbly straight black paint, and the exquisitely
finished interior. In spite of the time and careful mileage accrued
since its restoration, the fact remains that this is one of the
finest Nash-Healeys in existence. According to sources in the Nash
Healey club, the removable hardtop fitted to this car is the only
known survivor of three prototypes produced in steel by a small
California coachbuilding shop, under contract with Nash Motors. The
top never made it to production, despite it looking undeniably
smart on this roadster, and requiring no modifications to fit. With
its striking black livery, matching restored hard top, black wall
Firestone tires, red-painted wheels, and optional wire wheel
covers, this car looks as though it was teleported from a 1950s
Detroit Auto Show. Beautiful red leather contrasts with the paint
with striking effect. Finely trimmed leather door panels, quality
red carpets, and a red headliner in the hardtop present in
excellent condition. The leather upholstery shows some slight
creasing and character from use. Original switches and controls are
in place in the body-color dash, which also houses the original
factory radio. In addition to the steel top, a restored canvas soft
top stows behind the seats in its original location. Additional
features include side curtains for both tops, original jack,
quilted spare wheel cover, and factory heater. High on style and
with respectable performance, the Nash-Healey beat Ford to the
punch in the creation of the Personal Sports Car. This example
retains its original, numbers-matching inline-six cylinder engine,
complete with all of its essential original components, backed by a
3-speed manual with overdrive. With all of its Healey-specific
performance parts, the six produced 135 horsepower. Over time, many
of these cars had the cheaper cast-iron cylinder head from the
Ambassador swapped in place of the original aluminum head, making
original specification engines such as this quite a rare sight. In
addition to the original alloy head, this car has the correct
dual-Carter YH carburetor setup on the original manifold and the
engine compartment is highly detailed with correct labels and
markings. The Nash Healey was a truly international effort, with
input from some of the greatest names in motoring history. Few
Nash-Healeys survived so complete and correct, and fewer still have
been restored to such a high standard with little regard to cost.
Beautiful in every respect, and with the added cachet of wearing
the only known factory hard top, this marvelous example will surely
be welcome in any collection and will reward its next owner with
many miles of motoring in impeccable style. Offers welcome and
trades considered For additional details please view this listing
directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6834-1953-nash-healey-roadster/