Donald Healey was already interested in technology as a young man. After a career as a war pilot, he started a garage company. Healey was successful in rallying; among other things, he won the Rally de Monte Carlo in 1931. In 1946, he started his own automobile factory and mainly produced very luxurious cars. However, the change came in 1952. At the 1952 Earls Court Motor Show, Healey presented a light sports car. The attention paid to the car was overwhelming and that didn't miss Leonard Lord, CEO of Austin Motor Company. Even during the show, the two men made a deal and the name of the sports car was changed to Austin-Healey. The Austin Healey was assembled in the Austin factories and a total of over 74,000 of this British icon were produced.

The use of a 3-speed gearbox was characteristic of this 1955 Austin Healey BN1. The 2,660 cc four-cylinder engine block and associated four-speed gearbox were 'borrowed' from the heavy Austin London Cab. However, the first gear proved far too short for the lightweight Healey and securing the 'one' was the cheapest and most obvious solution. A good example of Healey's technical insight was the fold-down windshield. As a result, the sports car ran more than 10 kilometers faster, but glasses for the driver and passenger were necessary.