06 Mar 06 17:05
HFI Automotive, the new owner of the Healey brand name, is now taking orders for its upcoming high-performance sports coupe, said to be the spiritual successor to the Austin-Healey 3000 of the 60s.
HFI is asking for deposits of £1,000 and buyers can choose their chassis number and manufacturing slot from the first production run of 203 vehicles. Why 203 cars? HFI is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Donald Healey's class record of 203mph, set at the Bonneville salt flats.
HFA has released drawings of the coupe, the first model to be introduced; development work is said to be well under way, and the first prototypes should appear by the end of the year. A convertible version is to follow and the company says it will then offer 'a modern affordable replacement for the much-loved Healey Sprite'.
The new Healey
It also said: 'Further down the line, the range will include several other niche-market performance vehicles... The production locations and key manufacturing partners will be the subject of a further announcement.'
More details will be announced shortly at www.hfiautomotive.com .
