This 1953 Nash-Healey Roadster is one of approximately 500 examples produced between 1951 and 1954. The car is finished in green over brown leather upholstery, and power comes from a 252ci inline-six paired with a three-speed manual gearbox with overdrive. Features include a brown soft top, a six-volt electrical system, an auxiliary electric fuel pump, a heater, lap belts, and an AM radio.
The 252ci Nash inline-six features twin Carter carburetors and was factory rated at 140 horsepower. A replacement timing chain and cam sprocket were installed in June 2007, and the carburetors were rebuilt in January 2021. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission with Borg-Warner overdrive. The transmission was rebuilt in March 2003, and a replacement exhaust system was fitted in 2001. An auxiliary 6-volt electric fuel pump was fitted, and the fuel tank was cleaned in January 2021.
A set of side curtains is included in the sale along with a collection of tools, factory literature, and service records.
The Nash-Healey was born from a chance meeting between British automaker Donald Healey and Nash-Kelvinator CEO George W. Mason aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth ocean liner in 1949, with a prototype first appearing at the 1950 Paris Motor Show. The car was redesigned by Pinin Farina for 1952 and featured steel bodywork with an aluminum hood, trunk lid, and dashboard as well as a chrome grille with inset headlights. Nash-built drivetrains were sent from Kenosha, Wisconsin, to England for installation in the Healey-assembled chassis, which were then shipped to Turin, Italy, for fitting of bodywork before they were returned to the US.
This example was repainted in its current green and features chrome bumpers and trim, a retractable antenna, a driver-side mirror, Pinin Farina fender badges, and a hood scoop. The replacement brown soft top features a clouded plastic rear window.
The 15″ body-color steel wheels are mounted with chrome wire covers and Toyo Extensa A/S whitewall tires. The Nash-Healey was built on a modified Healey Silverstone ladder-frame chassis that featured an independent front suspension and a live rear axle with coil springs and a Panhard rod. Replacement rear shock absorbers were installed. Stopping power is provided by drums at all four corners. The cockpit features a bench seat with a folding center armrest that was retrimmed in brown leather in October 2013. Brown Wilton wool carpets were fitted in August 2003. The car retains a six-volt electrical system, and additional features include door storage pockets, lap belts, an AM radio, and a heater that have been rebuilt.
The three-spoke banjo-style steering wheel was refurbished in July 2004, and it frames a 140-mph speedometer with inset readouts for oil pressure, fuel level, and water temperature, while the 4,500-rpm tachometer features an inset vacuum gauge. The gauges were overhauled by Bob’s Speedometer of Howell, Michigan, in 2014. The five-digit odometer shows 85k miles, total mileage is unknown.