The child of shopkeepers in Perranporth, Healey showed an early interest in mechanics, studied engineering at Newquay College and then became an apprentice with the Sopwith Aviation Company (1914). In 1916, he joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), conducting night bombing raids and anti-Zeppelin patrols and also acted as a flying instructor.  Invalided out of the RFC after being shot down by British anti-aircraft fire and suffering a number of other crashes, Healey spent the rest of World War I working on aircraft components for the Air Ministry. After the Armistice, Healy returned to Perranporth, studied automotive engineering by a correspondence course and opened the first garage in his home village in which he also used to prepare cars for competitions.  In 1931 he won the Monte Carlo Rally driving a 4½-litre Invicta (pictured middle left).

In 1931, Healey sold his garage and moved to work for the Triumph Motor Company where he became Technical Director, responsible for the design of all Triumph models.  After Triumph’s bankruptcy, Healey moved to work on the design of Humber armoured cars but was more interested in designing sports cars and founded the ‘Donald Healey Motor Company’ in Warwick in 1945.

His first design, the Healey Elliot saloon (bottom left) appeared in 1946 and started winning rallies in 1947.

His greatest successes were the Austin-Healey 100 (below middle) and the Jensen Healey (below right).

In 1961, Healey bought the Trebah Estate, which includes Polgwidden Cove, a departure point for American troops in the D-Day landings.  Trebah Gardens had been developed by Charles Fox (December 22^nd) in earlier times and Healey removed the concrete that had been laid to facilitate the troops boarding the ships and restored the cove to its previous glory.