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Healey exhumed to take on Boxster

Back from the graveyard of famous British sports car names is Healey. A modern interpretation of the iconic Sixties rear-drive roadster is expected to make its debut before the end of the year.

27th February 2006

The 21st century Healey 3000 is to be produced by
a company founded by Tim Fenna, who already runs an
outfit making replacement and performance parts for
Austin Healey Sprites. The new 'big Healey' is said to
share the original's rugged good looks, but will use
modern mechanicals.

Fenna spent more than two years striking a deal with the Healey family for use of the name and with an investment company to bankroll the project. But while the original 3000 was called the Austin Healey, BMW retains the rights to
the Austin name.

Prototypes of the new car are already running, powered - appropriately - by a 3-litre straight-six. Further details have yet to be made public but it's rumoured to be pitched against the likes of the Porsche Boxster and
Mercedes SLK.

Another company had been hoping to use the Healey name: the GB Sports Car Company has already shown
Healey-esque concepts and has been in negotiation
with MG Rover's buyer, the Chinese group Nanjing
Automotive, to revive the Austin Healey brand.