1951 Nash-Healey Roadster

Lot details
Registration No: Un-Reg
Chassis No: N2017
Mot Expiry: Exempt

- 1 of only 104 Nash-Healey Roadsters bodied in alloy by Panelcraft (of which just 20 survivors are known to the Nash Healey Register)

- Arguably, America's first post-WW2 sportscar pre-dating the Ford Thunderbird and Chevrolet Corvette

- Potentially eligible for the Mille Miglia Storica and Le Mans Classic

- An exciting restoration project and offered for sale with a brand new alloy cylinder head

- European import duty paid

- Estimate: £25,000 - £35,000 (Without Reserve)

'I want to go on record right now to say that I have never driven a sportscar that handled better or gave the driver so much control in a power slide or spin' (Tom McCahill of Mechanix Illustrated on the Nash-Healey)

Inspired by an impromptu meeting between Donald Healey and Nash Kelvinator CEO George W. Mason whilst they were crossing the Atlantic aboard the Queen Elizabeth in December 1949, the resultant Nash-Healey was hailed as 'the first American sportscar to be introduced by a major manufacturer since the 1920s'. Derived from the Healey Silverstone, its box-section, ladder-frame chassis featured independent trailing link front suspension, a Panhard rod-located rear axle and Bendix 'Duo Servo' four-wheel drum brakes. Powered by a Nash Ambassador 3848cc OHV 'Dual Jet Fire' straight-six engine allied to three-speed manual plus Borg Warner overdrive transmission, the newcomer utilised a bespoke light alloy, higher compression cylinder head and twin SU carburettors to develop a quoted 125bhp and 210lbft. Bodied in aluminium by Panelcraft of Birmingham, the prototype Nash-Healey contested the 1950 Le Mans 24-hours. Finishing an amazing fourth overall in the hands of Tony Rolt and Duncan Hamilton, its success not only prompted George W. Mason to greenlight a limited production run but also presaged returns to the famous La Sarthe circuit in 1951, 1952 and 1953 which netted 6th, 3rd and 11th places overall respectively. Amazingly, the Nash-Healey that took the bottom step of the podium at the 1952 Le Mans 24-hours also claimed 7th place overall on that year's Mille Miglia! Assembled in Healey's Warwick factory, the first 104 Nash-Healey Roadsters sported Panelcraft aluminium bodywork. Tasked with restyling the entire Nash range for 1952, Pininfarina also took over responsibility for Nash-Healey construction endowing the two-seater with more flamboyant but heavier steel coachwork. The shipping costs associated with the Panelcraft cars had been high but those for the Pininfarina ones were even more costly. The impact on the Nash Healey's retail price was considerable and a mere 507 Roadsters and Coupes had been made by the time production ceased in 1954.

The seventeenth car completed and one of just twenty Panelcraft-bodied survivors known to the Nash-Healey Registry, chassis N2017 is thought to have been supplied new in America. Resident there some fifty-seven years later, the Roadster was sold by renowned vintage and classic car dealer Hyman Ltd to Robasto Giuseppe of Turin for $70,000 on February 20th 2008. Imported into Italy with relevant duties paid by ABS Air Brokers Service SRL some four months later, the two-seater was untouched during Mr Giuseppe's custodianship. Still in need of restoration when it entered the current ownership on 28th May 2015 for _60,000, the vendor got as far as purchasing a brand new alloy cylinder head from Warren Kennedy of Healey specialist Classic Restorations and securing a certificate for obtaining a 'Vehicule de Collection' carte grise from the Federation Francaise des Vehicules d'Epoque before a change of plans intervened. Seemingly complete, chassis N2017 has the makings of a very rewarding project. Several Panelcraft-bodied Nash-Healey Roadsters have been accepted for the highly prestigious Mille Miglia Storica and, if suitably prepared, a Le Mans Classic entry might also be forthcoming. Offered for sale with State of Missouri Certificate of Title, Comunita Europea duties paid printout, FFVE Certificate and Republique Francaise Certificat D'Acquisition d'Un Vehicule Terrestre a Moteur, Peter Anderson of www.importedvehicleregistration.co.uk is happy to help a purchaser UK register the car.