Vehicle Description
Often considered to be America's first post-World War II sports
car, the Nash-Healey was said to result from a chance meeting
between Donald Healey and Nash-Kelvinator CEO George W. Mason. The
backdrop for this was, poetically, a transatlantic voyage aboard
the RMSQueen Elizabeth. What better place to devise a new
Anglo-American roadster? Debuting in 1951, first-year examples of
the Nash-Healey possessed a charming appearance that belied the
car's actual performance potential. With Donald Healey involved,
the Nash-Healey's status as a proper sports car was never in
doubt.: A prototype Nash-Healey was entered into the 1950 running
of the 24 Hours of LeMans, where it managed an impressive 3rd in
class and 4th overall-trailing a pair of Talbot-Lagos and a
Cadillac-powered Allard J2 and finishing just ahead of the Works
Aston Martins! First-year cars are a rare sight, as the initial run
of 104 1951 Nash-Healeys featured coachwork by Panelcraft in the UK
and bore little resemblance to the Nash range. Nash-Kelvinator then
turned to Pinin Farina in Italy to redesign the sports car and
bring its looks more in line with the rest of the Nash catalogue.
This particular example is even more noteworthy: In the early
1990s, it was acquired by internationally celebrated sculptor and
furniture artist Wendell Castle. His well-trained eye recognized
something special in the Nash-Healey's lines, and he set about a
roughly 25-year process of making it his own. The project became
much more than a straightforward restoration. Castle had a vision
for the car, and he enlisted the help of several specialists to
help him realize his dream. The famous POSIES Rods and Customs of
Hummelstown, Pennsylvania handled much of the electrical and
mechanical restoration, as well as the bodywork-which encompassed
several subtle modifications, including the fitment of an earlier
Nash 'egg-crate' grille. The replacement grille ties the car in
nicely with other Nashes of the time, while the more steeply raked
windscreen, deletion of the bumpers, and fitment of knock-off wire
wheels give it a considerably more purposeful presence. The engine,
a Nash 3.85-liter inline-six equipped with an exceedingly rare
Healey factory racing aluminum head, was rebuilt by Concours
Classics Motor Cars of Macedon, New York, along with the triple SU
carburetors. R.P. Interiors of Horseheads, New York, handled
upholstery work and the creation of the fabric top and tonneau
cover. A wood-rimmed Moto-Lita steering wheel with a prominent Nash
center emblem and a suite of crisp Smiths gauges define the
purposeful interior, the layout of which was tweaked by Castle. The
bucket seats, trimmed in saddle-colored leather with green
piping-which matches the British Racing Green exterior-are borrowed
from a later Austin-Healey, and are complemented by tan square
weave carpets, also finished with green edging. This exceptional
1951 Nash-Healey Roadster is both a rare example of a notable
postwar Anglo-American sports car and the unique vision of a
renowned creative mind. It is accompanied by a large file
containing Nash service literature, restoration invoices,
correspondence, and ownership history dating back to the 1960s.
There's also a height adjustable roll bar, tonneau cover and
partially fabricated side curtains. This one-of-a-kind Nash is
beautifully yet purposefully restored, and is suitable for a
variety of uses including shows, tours, or vintage racing. As a
coveted early model, it is potentially eligible for the Mille
Miglia Retrospective or LeMans classic, among many other
prestigious pre-57 events, and is sure to delight its next
custodian for years to come. Offers welcome and trades considered
For additional details please view this listing directly on our
website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7145-1951-nash-healey-roadster/
