IT was 1952 and Britain, still recovering from the grim days of the Second World War, was gearing up for a new age and the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was just around the corner.
But in the midst of this euphoria a handshake between two giants of the British motoring industry opened a glittering chapter in performance motoring history.
Austin boss Leonard Lord and sports car expert Donald Healey sealed the deal on the production of something that would rock European sports car thinking to the core – the Austin-Healey 100.
An early version of the car had been shown at the Earls Court Motor Show under the name of Healey 100, but the deal with Austin underpinned a whole new future.
The 100 was built between 1953 and 1956 by what was then known as the British Motor Corporation which owned Austin.
It was built around the mechanicals of the Austin A90 Atlantic and some have unkindly dubbed it a parts bin car but despite such claims it became a landmark in British motoring history.
It was all that a sports car should be – fast, seductive and glitzy with the added benefits of sharp handling and am amazing degree of practicality. And above all it was relatively cheap for what it was.
The 100 was easily capable of 100mph (that's how it got its name) with the early 2660cc four-cylinder engine from the Atlantic and it rapidly became the pride of the Austin Longbridge factory.
From1954 to 1956 more than 14,600 were built and they rapidly proved themselves in motor sport.
A 100 tested by The Motor magazine in 1953 clocked 106 mph and could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 11.2 seconds. A fuel consumption of 22.5mpg was recorded by the test car which cost £1063.
Development proceeded apace with an improved model which led to the more powerful 100/6 six-cylinder model in 1956 and the stunning Austin-Healey 3000 in 1959 – a car that was produced up to 1968 and was only killed off because of stringent US safety laws.
Modern cars are fast, safe and dependable and in most cases are much faster than the little 100.
What they do not have is the gritty almost elemental excitement of the Austin-Healey – a true icon in the world of sports motoring.