Page 3 - The Origin of the Species

THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES 3
Lord also promised that the Donald Healey Motor Company would retain
responsibility for all future development work on the model, receiving a
handsome consulting fee in return, and that Warwick could manage and run the
inevitable competition program that would be needed to help promote the car
around the world.1
Austin announced the nascent partnership the morning after the meeting at
The Dorcester, issuing a terse statement to the press: “Following negotiations
between Mr L.P. Lord and Mr Donald Healey, the Austin Motor Co. are to assist the
Donald Healey Motor Co. with the manufacture of this sensational new sports car.
It will be sold overseas through the distributors and dealers of the Austin overseas
organisation.” Almost immediately, the nation’s motoring press wrote about
the new model’s auspicious debut, describing the amazing scene of beleaguered
salesmen taking orders as fast as they could be written while enthusiastic
onlookers jostled for a better look at the car that would enter series production
as the Austin-Healey 100.2
Taking Care of Business
The first 19 examples of the 100 were hand-assembled at Warwick in early
1953, wearing bodies that Jensen had assembled using aluminum exterior panels
Donald Healey and Sir
Leonard Lord seated in the
Healey Hundred prototype
at Earls Court. This image
was taken the morning after
their deal was reached, as
seen in the hastily prepared
display card announcing the
new venture. (The Donald Healey
Collection)