For 15 years, from the first four-cylinder 100 of 1953 to the final 3000 MkIII of 1968, these wonderful Austin-Healeys were the British sports cars which thousands of red-blooded enthusiasts aspired to. Today, many have been restored and the restoration of others is being undertaken. But how many of these cars boast the completely original and authentic specification which the most discerning enthusiasts now demand? Here are the answers, with the evidence provided by color photography showing every inch of our ten carefully selected cars.

The Austin Healey - or 'Big' Healey - is one of the iconic British sports cars. The first Austin-Healey 100 model was unveiled at the 1952 Earls Court Motor Show, and when the last car rolled off the production line in 1967, over 73,000 examples had been built.

The models created by Donald Healey and son Geoffrey played a key role in establishing Britain as the world’s leading producer of sports cars in the 1950s and 1960s. But the cheeky little Austin-Healey Sprite and the rugged ‘Big Healey’ with its muscular good looks are only part of a fascinating story that stretches back to the glory days of pre-war rallying and ends with the ill-fated Jensen-Healey. All this and more is told in the latest title in Haynes’s acclaimed ‘Classic Makes’ series – along with practical guidance in the form of driving impressions and buying hints, based on the author’s personal experience of most of the cars featured.

The 998 A-Series powers Minis and Metros in particular. The book’s advice can also be used to uprate Midget/Sprite 948cc engines to 998cc. Complete guide to obtaining maximum power with reliability from the popular 998cc engine.

The ideal guide for authentic restorations, covering Sprite and Midget models manufactured from 1958 to 1979. The best source for original specifications and equipment for every Austin-Healey model produced, from the first "Bugeye" Sprites of 1958 and the Mk1 MG Midgets of 1961; to the 1971 Sprite MkV and the 1974 Midget MkIV.

Graham Robson is the doyen of writers on rallying. His new book, Works Healeys in Detail, joins his respected Works Triumphs and Works Escorts in our list. Here he tells of the story of Donald Healey’s introduction of the cars of his own make into the world of rallying and racing, from the Healey Elliott and Westland of the late 1940s through to the last racing Austin-Healey Sprite in 1967. In between he produced competition versions of the Austin-Healey 100 and 100S, the 100-6 and the gloriously successful 3000, a brutal and wayward machine that won countless international rallies in the 1960s in the hands of great drivers like Pat Moss, Timo Makinen, Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk, to name but a few. The book covers the career of each of the works cars individually: entries, drivers and results, with nearly all cars illustrated. In addition there is detailed colour photography of important surviving examples.

When Donald Healey displayed a new sports two-seater on his firms stand at the 1952 motor show he could not possibly have envisioned the extraordinary success that it was to enjoy. There are many who would say that the looks of the early 100 were never matched by the later six-cylinder Healeys. Perhaps it is true that the first of the line is the purest expression of its designers intentions. Includes a detailed technical analysis of the 100, covering all aspects of the chassis, running gear, engine and transmission. This sets the scene for subsequent chapters on the BN2, the 100M and the 100S, each of which receives comprehensive treatment. The author also provides information on the cars participation in racing competition, draws comparisons with rival models and gives advice on the practicalities of owning a 100 today. This book opens with an exposition of the background to Donald Healeys creation of the 100 and with an account of his career to that time. This is followed by a description of the successive stages of design and development and of the eventual manufacturing agreement with Austin. Seven outstanding examples of the four-cylinder 100 - including an unrestored Le Mans car - have been specially photographed for this book and are featured in 90 color images. There are also more than 140 black-and-white illustrations drawn from archives and from sales and publicity material.