Donald Mitchell Healey, noted British
rally driver, automobile engineer,
and speed record holder, was born on
July 3, 1898 in Perranporth, North
Cornwall, England.
Following an apprenticeship
at Sopwith Aviation, he volunteered
for the Royal Flying Corps and earned
his "wings" in 1916. After WWI, he
returned home to study motorcars and
engineering.
He opened a garage, where his interest
grew in rally competition.
From the
mid-'20s through the early '50s, Healey
was a European rally driver of great
distinction, his best finish being
first in 1931, in the Monte Carlo Rally.
Immediately after WWII, Healey began
to build his own cars; in 1946, his
Elliot was the first production saloon
to cover 100 miles an hour.
Other cars were the Silverstone and
the Nash-Healey, which finished third
overall at Le Mans in 1952. Best-known
were the Austin-Healeys, sports cars
introduced in October 1952.
Various
models, including Sprites, were produced
until 1971 with a total run of nearly
200,000 of which most were exported
to America. In 1953 and 1954, Healey
set American and international records
with his cars at the Bonneville Salt
Flats; and he recorded 203.11 in an
Austin-Healey 100-6 Streamliner to
join the exclusive 200 MPH Club in
1956.
In 1972, with Healey as chairman of
Jensen Motors, the Jensen-Healey was
introduced.
For his"' services to export," Healey
was made a Commander of the Order of
the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth
II in 1973. Donald M. Healey died in
Perranporth on January 15, 1988, but
his automobiles are still being raced,
driven, collected , and enjoyed today.
Also see:
Honour Roll - Founding Fathers Of The Automotive Industry