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Sports car · 3 seats

1953 Nash Healey

Sports car powered by 1953 Nash-Healey 252.6 LeMans Dual Jetfire inline-six.

Front three-quarter view of a stock-presenting 1953 Nash-Healey convertible showing the inboard-headlamp grille, Pinin Farina body, windshield, weather equipment, and 102-inch-wheelbase proportions.
Body styles Pinin Farina convertible and Le Mans hardtop
Engine 252.6-cid LeMans Dual Jetfire six, 140 bhp and 230 lb-ft
Transmission Three-speed manual with automatic overdrive
Production 162 estimated: 100 convertibles and 62 hardtops
Original prices $5,908 convertible; $6,399 Le Mans hardtop

Story

1953 Nash-Healey

The 1953 Nash-Healey became a two-body family. Pinin Farina's 102-inch-wheelbase convertible continued beside the new 108-inch-wheelbase Le Mans hardtop. Nash identified them as models 25362 and 25367. Keeping both configurations on one model-year page makes their shared engineering clear without presenting the hardtop as a duplicate car.

The LeMans Dual Jetfire six

The exact-year factory brochure specifies the 252.6-cubic-inch overhead-valve six at 140 bhp and 230 lb-ft. Healey preparation included an aluminum head, and Nash replaced the earlier SU induction with twin American-made Carter side-draft carburetors. A three-speed transmission with automatic overdrive fed a 4.1:1 hypoid rear axle through the torque tube.

One family, two bodies

Model 25362 was the open sports car on a 102-inch wheelbase. Model 25367 added the all-steel Le Mans hardtop and stretched the wheelbase to 108 inches. NCCA estimates 100 convertibles and 62 hardtops, but its source notes caution that historical serial-derived figures may be maximum possible counts. Those numbers are therefore reported estimates, not audited survivor totals.

Healey chassis and road equipment

Both configurations retained Healey trailing-link independent front suspension and a coil-sprung live rear axle. The factory brochure lists four-wheel 10-inch hydraulic drums. Leather upholstery was standard, while glazing, weather equipment, cabin trim, and body structure differ between convertible and hardtop. Current wire wheels, paint, upholstery, or restoration hardware do not establish original delivery.

Authentication boundaries

The public serial sequence begins at N-2290, but a title alone cannot identify the body or original equipment. A credible car should reconcile model and serial plate, Healey chassis, Pinin Farina body number and structure, 102- or 108-inch wheelbase, Nash engine, Healey head, Carter induction, transmission and overdrive, 4.1:1 axle, brakes, suspension, protected finishes, cabin, and ownership history.

Market context

Two dated roadster sales and one current guide observation provide bounded market context. They do not merge convertible and hardtop values or constitute an appraisal. Body configuration, provenance, component completeness, original materials, and restoration quality can move an individual car far from these observations.

Front three-quarter view of a 1953 Le Mans hardtop showing the Pinin Farina roof, longer 108-inch-wheelbase body, grille, and hardtop glazing.Christopher Ziemnowicz via Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Market Observations

  • Price guide value $85,900

    Aug 13, 2026 · J.D. Power classic-car guide · Current guide point

    Published average-retail guide value for the 1953 two-door sports convertible. · unknown · good Guide observation, not a transaction or appraisal; body configuration and condition must be matched separately.
  • Auction sale $52,250

    Oct 10, 2024 · RM Sotheby's Hershey

    Chassis 2363 with its numbers-matching block and other engine components. · survivor · project Displayed sale result; condition and included components remain subject-specific.
  • Auction sale $82,500

    Nov 25, 2022 · Bring a Trailer

    Chassis 2398, restored 252-cid roadster. · restored · excellent Displayed sale result; restoration and equipment remain subject-specific.

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Engine Details

Engine-bay view of an exact-year convertible showing the restored LeMans Dual Jetfire inline-six and twin Carter side-draft carburetors; finishes and service parts remain car-specific.Christopher Ziemnowicz via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Model-year engine 253 cu in; 8.0:1; 140 bhp at 4,000 rpm · 1953 Nash-Healey · engine assembly / specification
  • Induction Two American-made Carter side-draft carburetors · 1953 Nash-Healey · carburetor / specification

Transmission

  • Factory transmission Borg-Warner three-speed manual
  • Factory transmission Automatic Borg-Warner overdrive

Options

Engine and Induction summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Paint

Rear three-quarter view of the same exact-year convertible showing its deck, lamps, bumpers, wheel openings, and roadster weather equipment.Charles via Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Interior

Driver-cockpit view of the 1953 Le Mans hardtop retained for dashboard, controls, upholstery, glazing, and body-specific interior context.Christopher Ziemnowicz via Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Authenticity

Rear Axle summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration
  • Model and serial identity Nash-Healey serial sequence beginning N-2290; model 25362 identifies the convertible and 25367 the Le Mans hardtop · Serial plate, title, chassis, Pinin Farina body number, and ownership records · fraud detection
  • Pinin Farina body and wheelbase Model 25362 convertible on 102 inches or model 25367 Le Mans hardtop on 108 inches · Body structure, roof or weather equipment, tags, chassis dimensions, glazing, and restoration records · trim correctness
  • LeMans Dual Jetfire drivetrain 252.6-cid Nash six, Healey aluminum head, twin Carter side-draft carburetors, three-speed, automatic overdrive, and 4.1:1 torque-tube axle · Block, head, carburetors, transmission, overdrive, axle, dates, and serial-specific records · numbers matching
  • Chassis, brakes, and suspension Healey chassis with trailing-link front suspension, coil-sprung torque-tube rear axle, and four-wheel 10-inch hydraulic drums · Frame, suspension links, springs, axle, drums, hydraulics, steering, and service history · date correctness
  • Paint and cabin Factory-record-supported finish and body-specific leather cabin, weather equipment or hardtop trim, instruments, and controls · Protected finishes, body number, upholstery, dash, glazing, weather equipment, and restoration records · trim correctness

Still Researching

  • paint colors The reviewed model-year Nash chart does not establish a complete Nash-Healey-only paint and trim matrix for each body model.
  • production NCCA reports 100 convertibles and 62 hardtops as estimates and cautions that historical serial-derived figures may be maximum possible production rather than audited assembly totals.
  • authenticity markers No reviewed public roster ties every serial to its original chassis, body number, drivetrain, finish, trim, and equipment.

Codes & names

Names & Engine Codes

Common names and codes are grouped so LS6 references point to the same engine, not separate pages.

Brakes summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration
1953 Nash-Healey 252.6 LeMans Dual Jetfire inline-six 1953 Nash-Healey 252.6 LeMans Dual Jetfire inline-six
LeMans Dual Jetfire Ambassador Six 1953 Nash-Healey 252.6 LeMans Dual Jetfire inline-six
Nash-Healey 253 six 1953 Nash-Healey 252.6 LeMans Dual Jetfire inline-six

Photo and video gallery

Gallery

4 photos and videos

Sources & Documentation

Reader contributions

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