Nash-Healey 252/140 Roadster
An American engine, British chassis and Italian body crossed the Atlantic in stages to become one rare two-seat sports car.
1952 Nash Healey.JPG · Christian Marechal / Writegeist · CC BY-SA 4.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Nash president George Mason and British sports-car builder Donald Healey met aboard the Queen Elizabeth and formed a partnership. For 1952 Pinin Farina reshaped the roadster with inboard headlights and a one-piece windscreen, then built the body in Turin. Nash sent mechanical parts to England, Healey prepared the chassis, Italy added the body, and finished cars traveled to the United States. This late-1952 specification also has the enlarged Le Mans six.
Look a little closer.
The parts and car crossed the Atlantic so many times that transportation helped push the price into Cadillac territory.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Built in three countries
Nash supplied the engine and drivetrain from the United States. Donald Healey's company installed them in a widened, reinforced chassis in Warwick, England. The rolling chassis then went to Pinin Farina in Turin for predominantly steel bodywork before returning to England for checks and finally crossing to American dealers.
Source: RM Sotheby's · 1952 Nash-Healey Roadster by Pinin Farina ↗A mid-year engine change needs a precise label
Not every 1952 Pinin Farina roadster carried the enlarged engine. Contemporary model-year evidence places the 252.6-cu-in upgrade during production, with 140 bhp after Healey tuning. This profile therefore identifies the later 252/140 version rather than using its figures for all 150 roadsters built that year.
Source: Old Cars Weekly · Nash-Healey love affair ↗Where these facts come from
- Nash Car Club of America · 1952 model list
- RM Sotheby's · 1952 Nash-Healey Roadster by Pinin Farina
- Old Cars Weekly · Nash-Healey love affair
- Ultimatecarpage · Nash-Healey Pinin Farina Roadster specifications
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.