Coachwork by Pininfarina

During a chance meeting crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth, Englishman Donald Healey and Nash-Kelvinator Chief George Mason discussed the prospect of collaborating on a sports car. The duo came to an agreement and batches of Nash Ambassador six-cylinder engines and three-speed gearboxes with overdrive were shipped to Warwickshire, England. There they were mated with the Healey Silverstone chassis and a Panelcraft body of Healey design. Production began for the 1951 model year in December 1950.

Nash-Healeys were quickly found on race tracks around the world. By the end of the car’s four-year production run, Nash-Healey convertibles and coupes had amassed an assortment of successful results in important motor sports events, including 9th at the 1950 Mille Miglia and 4th at LeMans the same year.

Pininfarina restyled the roadster body in 1952, with a lower, one piece windshield and rear fender bulges. Steel replaced aluminum bodywork, and a larger engine with dual carburetors and 15 more horsepower rounded out the Nash-Healey LeMans Roadster package.

George Reeves, as Clark Kent aka Superman, drove a similar car during four episodes of the Adventures of Superman television series.

The attractive example offered here is one of the few roadsters built in 1952. It is beautifully finished in the sporty combination of red over black leather. The car appears to have the correct Nash LeMans drive train fitted with twin SU carburetors and factory overdrive. Additionally, it is supplied with wide white sidewall tires mounted on the rare chrome wire wheels. This delightful Nash-Healey roadster presents very well and is an exceptional example of Italian design coupled with British ingenuity.