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Healey's to appear again!

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John Morralee

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From the Daily Telegraph (A UK national newapaper) web page.27 Jan 06.'A UK/USA consortuim ,named HFI, has an agreement with Donald Healey's daughter and grandaughters to put the Healey marque back on the road'. Other than a photo of his daughter at the wheel of a Healey and the expression of the girls determination to ensure a quality product there were no further details were given. Anyone else aware of this?
 
John - that news can also be found at www.octane-magazine.com
that should read Donald's daughter-in-law and grandaughters.
Very interesting as to who the possible US investors maybe -
perhaps another Healey mystery?
Jim /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
maybe all those owners who can afford to have a factory 100-M banded together and formed a silent financial partnership.... any insight Reid? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
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maybe all those owners who can afford to have a factory 100-M banded together and formed a silent financial partnership.... any insight Reid?

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Well, I emailed Bic about it to see what he knows, but I can tell you that there have been plenty of rumors and proposals and previously promises of the re-appearance of the Austin-Healey (at least the name), and I'll believe it when I see it. Until then, it's just another Elvis sighting.
 
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maybe all those owners who can afford to have a factory 100-M banded together and formed a silent financial partnership.... any insight Reid?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I emailed Bic about it to see what he knows, but I can tell you that there have been plenty of rumors and proposals and previously promises of the re-appearance of the Austin-Healey (at least the name), and I'll believe it when I see it. Until then, it's just another Elvis sighting.

[/ QUOTE ]
BMW tried to revive the Healey name a few years back (around 1996 or 98, IIRC) but the Healey family blocked their use of the family name; something to do with DMH being shot down in WWI by a BMW engined plane. Talk about holding a grudge /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Anyway, that car went on to become the Z8, but not without its own set of (recently discovered) problems... https://www.bmwz8.us/vbb/showthread.php?t=400

s_newhea.jpg
 
BMW still owns the Healey name (along with Triumph and many other left-overs from the British Leyland disaster.) The rumor that Healey family would sue over use of the name was just that -- a rumor. The Z8 was always intended to be built as a BMW.

There was a plan (loose conceptual plan) to revive a Healey Sprite. The plan surfaced just to get "reaction" to the possibility of a sub Z3/Z4-priced roadster.

This plan has resurfaced as a rumor regarding a new Triumph that would be sold in Mini dealers (which are dying for more products to sell, given the fact they are stand alone dealerships.) There is no factual evidence that anyone at BMW is considering reviving the Triumph name, but it might be an opening for a Healey.

The liklihood that the Healey family could create a car with the Healey name is very low without paying large royalties.
 
As Thomas Wolfe said in the title of his book "You Can't Go Home Again". They could put a body with a few vestage Healey styling features on a BMW, Toyota, Honda, or Nisson carcus but that won't make it a Healey. I'm sure most of the members of this forum can remember the first time they saw and heard a Big Healey, I can and its been nearly 50 years. Why screw around with a ledgend?
 
I don't necessarily have a problem with creating a mid-range roadster, be it a small Miata-fighter or a 2+2 to beat the few four seat drop tops (Chrysler, Mustang, Volvo, Audi S4/A4) and call it a Healey.

The Healey was a derivative car, so there's nothing really bad about basing a Healey on BMW (or any high-quality Japanese or German) platforms. The key would be to create a fun, well positioned car.

And as I've harped-on time and time again on the BCF, it's a mistake for companies to simply try to copy a legend, or a classic car, because it only appeals to those that wanted one back in the day. The key to good auto business product management is to increase the market, and that is done by creating a great modern product in a good segment. A modern 2+2 sports convertible that is less expensive than a 3-series Bimmer, but more european than a Mustang or Sebring would sell very well, and be very true to the Healey 3000 name. (Plus it could use a 3-liter BMW engine to stay true to the 3000 model!)
 
This thread seems to be getting a bit tangled between 2 stories and 2 marques!
There has been one story around, that a company (British Sportscars?) will be making MG TF and Rover ZT (with some association with the Chinese Co that have bought Rover) and are proposing to make an Austin-Healey. This tale was also around in BMW days.
The other story is that Frontline have bought Healey Automobile Consultants (HAC) and plan, with the agreement of the Healey family, to make a new Healey (NOT Austin-Healey).
I believe that the name Austin-Healey was owned by Rover/BMW/Nanjing/whoever owns it all this week, and the Healey name by HAC. From the point of view of registered trade names I believe H and A-H are independent of each other.
All this means that (in theory at least) we could see a new Austin-Healey AND a new Healey, but as others have said, I'll believe it when I see one!
As far as will they be real H or A-Hs, will we let them in, remember that when the TR6 came out owners were only allowed to join the TR Register as associate members as the 6 was not considered to be a 'real' TR!!


Finally, just remember that real Healeys have 2 cam shafts, Riley engines and coil springs all round, only the 'modern' ones have Austin engines and cart springs ;-)

John (Tickford owner!)
 
My understanding is that BMW owns the names "Austin", "3000", and "Sprite". HAC retains the rights to "Healey".

Neither Austin, BMC, BL, BLMH, BMW nor anyone else ever OWNED the rights to "Healey". The name was licensed to them and when the license expired, so did the rights to use the name. That's how we ended up with the "Austin Sprite" for one year.

So dont hold your breath waiting for a new "Austin-Healey" of any kind.
Mike
 
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My understanding is that BMW owns the names "Austin", "3000", and "Sprite". HAC retains the rights to "Healey".

So dont hold your breath waiting for a new "Austin-Healey" of any kind.

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I believe that that's correct. What they are talking about in this latest round of Healey-comeback rumors is a "Healey 3000" (not sure you can own the rights to a number).

I'm in contact with the Managaing Director of HFI. Take a look at my blog entry for today:

Marque Matters Blog
 
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