The Nash-Healey was the result of a fortunate meeting between Donald Healey and George Mason, head of Nash-Kelvinator, while each was traveling to America on the steamship Queen Elizabeth. It was 1949, and economies were soaring in the wake of WWII. Healey was seeking Cadillac engines from GM to build his next sports car, and Mason was traveling home from a stint attending European car shows. Mason suggested that if the deal Healey sought with GM didn’t work out, he would supply Healey the engines he needed – and that’s exactly what happened. But the Nash-Healey wasn’t just a British-American venture: after 104 units were made from alloy by Panelcraft in Britain, Italian coachworker Pininfarina was hired to revise its styling – but in steel. Here on facebook Marketplace is one of the 506 Nash-Healeys made, priced at $53,900 and needing a bit of work. This car is located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Zappenduster is on a roll, sending over several great tips lately – thanks!
Ah, yes, the Big Empty. The 1952 Nash-Healey was fitted with Nash’s 235 cu. in. OHV six, but Healey revised the cylinder head, casting it from aluminum. Dual SU carbs helped boost output to 125 hp, a 10% increment over the stock Nash engine. The three-speed manual overdrive transmission came from Borg-Warner. The seller notes that the aluminum head either needs a rebuild or the new owner will need to procure a replacement. Ouch. Still, there’s an opportunity here: A very few Nash-Healeys left the factory equipped with a Rambler Rebel V8. Perhaps the new owner can consider a swap for now.
The interior was aimed at the luxury buyer, with pleated leather upholstery and, in this model, two prominent round multi-function gauges. To the right of the driver would be vent controls, a radio, and a locking glove box. Other photos show that this dash has been customized away from its factory presentation.
Other than the engine issue and the challenges of recommissioning the car, this example looks like a decent prospect, with good paint and panels. I’m not a fan of the wide white walls on this particular car, but each to his own. The top appears faded, too, but the chrome is excellent – and that’s where the money is. Values vary widely depending on whether you’re looking at an early Panelcraft alloy-bodied car ($$$$), a coupe ($$), or a roadster like this one ($$$). Of course, rare variants like the very few Rebel-engined examples will be at the very top of the stack, and then in 2024, the first Nash-Healey, owned by Donald Healey himself, sold for $500k. Given recent sales data and the overall upward drift in prices for this make, I’d call the seller’s price fair.
Your secret is safe with me, Superman,,,Clark Kent may have been an “L7”, ( square), but he knew what to drive. The original Superman was a bit before my time, but I believe it was Americas first glimpse of the Nash-Healey. It had a shot while the upcoming rival Corvette also had a 6, a V8 would have made the difference. I think a Caddy engine was too much, the Rambler engine would have been perfect, but was not out yet. I suppose for originality, one should install the original motor. It should go down through the ages with one. Even the almighty Donald Healey didn’t know which way to go, and a classic swing and a miss. And of course, the price. These were almost $6grand new, and a ’53 Corvette was about half that for essentially the same car. What were they thinking? Trying to mimic the British roadsters of the time, and failed miserably. Americans wanted V8 power, not some Rambler motor,,and a lesson learned.
No Nash Healeys left Kenosha with a Rebel V8 because in 1953 that engine didn’t exist @Jesse
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1953-nash-healey-lemans-coupe-4/
There is this one, and at least one other, despite the claim in this ad that it’s the only example
I am thinking that this was done by AMC after the car was produced in 1953 – it wasn’t uncommon that an auto exec may have had the car in 1953 and went back to AMC after that build date and had the car retrofitted to the Rambler V8 – just a thought.
The latest edition of Collectible Automobile backs up @rustylink. Handful of retrofits done at dealerships.
I reckon a couple of Healeys may have stayed around the factory because of “Six grand for a Nash?” It sounds similar to Dutch Darrin buying a bunch of damaged Kaiser Darrins from the factory and putting Cadillac engines in them, and we know that happened.
Well, if not a Rebel V8 then, (all together now) an SBC! But then originality flies out the window and thus some of its value. This is a car that needs to be kept as God intended. If someone has the scratch to buy this car then they must have enough left over to source the right drive train. If I owned this car it would be “damn the torpedoes”, I’d put in the SBC and keep the car until I’m pushing up daisies.
Well for early V8’s you had Cad , Olds, Studebaker, Chrys(hemi) which would have been waaay to heavy for that car,rumor was ,Studes were heavy but only by about 40-50 # and aluminum heads and a battery in the trunk would have fixed that, in fact the Stude engine was almost an exat copy of the Cad engine, so size wise either would have fit.
Drop a Nailhead in this Healey and have a ball
Nail head would be neat but they came out in 53 so I was just trying to keep yrs compared to car the same
A face only a mother could love…this thing is butt-ugly
I’m no expert, but a quick web search turned up parts for 235 ci Chevy six cylinder engine, the Stovebolt. Apparently it got modded with headers and dual carburators too.
I think it’s beautiful. Just as I love the design of the original ‘vette, I feel the same about these.