Nash Nash-Healey
An unlikely transatlantic sports car — American Nash power, Donald Healey engineering, and Pininfarina styling.
Born from a chance meeting between Nash president George Mason and Donald Healey aboard an ocean liner, the Nash-Healey combined a Nash straight-six or six-cylinder engine with a chassis engineered by Healey — the same Donald Healey behind the Austin-Healey — and, from 1952, bodywork styled by Pininfarina in Italy. It stands as one of the earliest genuine international collaborations in the American sports car market, years before such partnerships became common.
History
The first Nash-Healeys (1951) used aluminum bodywork built in England and Healey's own chassis engineering, paired with a Nash Ambassador-derived six-cylinder engine shipped from the US — a genuinely unusual transatlantic supply chain for the era.
From 1952, Nash moved body production to Pininfarina in Turin, Italy, giving the car a more sophisticated, longer-hood profile and improving build quality over the earlier English-built cars.
The Nash-Healey competed at Le Mans multiple times in the early 1950s, including class finishes that lent the road car genuine competition credibility — a marketing asset Nash used actively in period advertising.
Notable Versions
1951 (English-built)
The original version with English-built aluminum bodywork before production moved to Pininfarina — the rarest Nash-Healey variant.
Pininfarina Roadster (1952–54)
Italian-built steel bodywork with more sophisticated styling — the majority of total production.
Le Mans Hardtop
A closed coupe body style introduced to complement the roadster, offering more weather protection.
What to Look for When Buying
Key inspection points from experienced collectors.
Total production was extremely low — verify authenticity carefully
Fewer than 700 were built across all years; confirm any car's history against known registry records before buying.
Parts require specialist knowledge of both Nash and Healey sourcing
Given the car's hybrid Anglo-American-Italian origins, parts sourcing is more complex than for a single-marque car of the era.
Inspect Pininfarina body panel fit and condition on 1952+ cars
Hand-built Italian coachwork varies car to car — panel gaps and rust in seams are common inspection points.
Confirm engine originality
Nash-sourced sixes were shipped internationally for assembly; verify the engine matches the car's documented history.
Check for genuine Le Mans or period competition history if claimed
Given the model's racing pedigree and rarity, verify any competition history claims against real documentation.
Quick Specs
- Engine
- 234–252 cu in I6
- Horsepower
- 125 hp (1951) – 140 hp (1953–54)
- Wheelbase
- 102 in
- Weight
- approx. 2,650–2,850 lbs
- Transmission
- 3-speed manual with overdrive
- 0–60
- approx. 11 seconds
Market Price Guide
Approximate USA asking prices
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