• Healey tribute

 • Mazda MX-5 engine and transmission

 • Registered and SVA’d as a Healey

 • Hardtop included

In the village of Godmanchester near Huntingdon, Cambs, a legend has been undergoing a somewhat stuttering rebirth since 2004. 

The legend is the Austin-Healey 3000 and the vision to bring it back to life is that of Martin Williamson and Mick Snell, who between them formed Healy Designs Ltd, the missing ‘e’ in the name to avoid any kind of copyright contravention with the family of Donald Healey and BMW Group, which owns the Austin brand. 

Although ostensibly a kit car, the Healey Enigma is sufficiently removed from the car on which it is based to make it a brand and model in its own right. This one is made from its own chassis and has a Mazda engine, but others are even brawnier, with a Lexus V8 shoehorned under the nose. 

A legend reborn or a likeable pastiche? You decide, but this is a well-finished and entertaining car to drive, with a dose of genuine classic appeal.

 • Built in 2018

 • Running gear from 2006 MX-5 Sport

 • UK registration and V5C

 • MOT April 2023

The vendor acquired the Healey 3 years ago and has thoroughly enjoyed it, adding a few touches of his own. But with a GTM kit car to finish off and a new motorbike to play with, the Healey neither has the use nor the garage space that it used to so is now up for sale. 

It was professionally built, trimmed & SVA'd 2018 plus to warrant the new registration the engine had to be classed as remanufactured in 2018, SVA’d and registered as a new car by its previous owner. The vendor has since had it MOT’d earlier this year. It has a full UK V5C and an MOT valid until April 2023.

 

 • Bespoke blue/alcantara leather trim

 • Diamond weave carpets

 • Double-DIN Bluetooth smartphone-pairing sat nav stereo (Pioneer)

While much of the dashboard and controls are Mazda MX-5 sourced, the bright blue leather seats are bespoke and are complemented by a matching blue retrimmed steering wheel.

Diamond-weave leather-faced carpets complete the look, with a matching load bay mat. The vendor has also fitted a double-DIN stereo with integrated smartphone apps, Bluetooth and sat nav, along with uprated speakers behind the seats.

 • Complete and in good order

 • Chassis with steel backbone , fire walls and floors 

 • Genuine MX5 Hard and soft tops

The fit and finish of the Healy is excellent, way beyond that you’d expect of a kit car. The fibreglass panels are smart have a good fit, the blue paint is excellent and the 18-inch alloys look terrific. The car is also supplied with a silver hardtop. Under the body is a bespoke chassis(long wheel base than MX5) , with standard MX5 suspension. It’s a well-engineered piece of kit!

 • 2.0-litre DOHC four

 • Six-speed manual (longer gearing than MX5 making for a more relaxed drive)

 • Mapped to circa 170bhp

 • Runs and drives perfectly

Power comes courtesy of a Mazda 2.0-litre DOHC unit taken from a 2006 MX-5 Sport, but mild remapped to deliver in excess of 170bhp. 

It has a stainless steel manifold and the pre-cat has been removed for extra power. It runs perfectly and the vendor reports that it drives superbly, with sharp and agile handling and extremely lively performance.

There’s something really quite charming about the Healey Enigma – it’s a smart and characterful reimagination of an all-time British classic and while some might find it kitsch, others will admire the detailed engineering behind it, as well as the fact it’s a genuinely engaging car to drive, based on one of the best sports cars of the 2000s but with its own truly unique touches.