Description
By: Jon Pressnell .
Few British cars are more loved both sides of the Atlantic than the legendary big Austin-Healeys, the 100 and the charismatic six-cylinder 3000. Their little sister, the Sprite, reinvented the affordable small sports car and led to a whole series of Spites and MG-badged Midgets that lasted until 1979. Not only that, but Austin-Healeys of all shapes and sizes did much to uphold national prestige with their strong performances in motor sport — from the toughest car-breaking rallies to the demanding Le Mans 24-hour race.
In this lively book, written by an acknowledged expert, all variants of the cars are treated in full detail — including those that never made it to production. As well as the mainstream models, chapters are devoted to the special-bodied racing Sprites and to the Italian-made Innocenti spider and coupe. Alongside the fascinating story behind the cars there is detailed buying advice, and informative driving impressions, drawing on the authors personal experience of the cars featured.
Basedon extensive interviews with many key figures, Austin-Healey — The Bulldog Breed is also the first full and independent history of the Healey marque. It covers all models, from the original Riley-engined Elliotts and Westlands of 1946 right through to the Jensen-Healey of the 1970s — whose story is told in depth for the first time. Other cars featured include the Nash-Healey, the rare Alvis-powered 3-litre, and the SR racer that was the Healey company's last Le Mans contender.
Jon Pressnell is a Senior Contributor to Classic & Sports Car magazine and a well-known writer on the British motor industry: recent titles include Mon-is Minor — The Official Photo Album, Classic British Sports Cars and Mini — The Definitive History. He lives in France, and amongst his cars is a tuned MG Midget.
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