Austin Healey returns
One of the most famous British sports cars is ready to be revived and it
could be brought back to life in Warwick.
A prototype model of the new version of the classic Austin Healey 3000, which
was last made in 1968, has been designed and built and larger scale production
could start next year. It could also happen at the car manufacturer's
"spiritual home" and create up hundreds of jobs.
A deal was finalised on January 25 between Healey Automobile Consultants, the
company founded by rally driver Donald Healey in 1955, and Anglo-American
consortium HFI.
Consortium leader Tim Fenna, who owns Frontline Spridget, a Bath-based spares
and modification firm for original Austin Healeys, has tried for two years to
secure a deal.
He said: "If there is a possibility of doing anything in Warwick we would like
to.
"Being the spiritual home of the original car will obviously affect our
decision and we would like to have something in the area. A site will be found
in the coming months."
The HFI deal was part of a seven-figure takeover.
Mr Fenna added: "It is a very exciting development in the motor world. At
this point we have no desire to use the name but are looking forward to
building the cars again."
The new two-seat model will have a front three-litre engine and is described as
a modern interpretation of the classic Austin Healey 3000.
Where the new cars will be built remains undecided but 400 jobs could be
created on the back of the deal.
The Cape area of the town is the spiritual home of Healey but Warwick faces
competition for the honour of producing the cars from a site in south Wales.
Daughter Cecilia Healey, a former pupil at King's High School and now
shareholder in HFI, added: "We have tried to do something like this for twelve
years since my father died and met HFI about two years ago and liked its ideas.
"We have been committed to protecting the brand and are very pleased to have
reached an agreement which will result in the manufacture of a new Healey in
the UK. It is very exciting and something I look forward to seeing.
"We are not involved in the decision of where the cars will be built but if
it was possible for that to happen in Warwick, especially because of the
historic links and the fact the family is from around there, we would like to
see that happen."
02 February 2006
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