2015 Healy Enigma 2.0

Manufactured in August/September 2015, Healy Designs used this vehicle, which came with a healthy factory power and torque upgrade (good for a 20% increase over a standard example) as the company’s show car. 

“It was first registered to company director Mike Snell and I believe it may have been the second example manufactured, and possibly the first Mk3, as denoted by the very early chassis number,” says vendor, Peter. 

“The company kept it in its possession until February 2022, when it was sold to a gentleman in Kent; he purchased it for his wife but offered it for sale again soon after, for health reasons”.

Having seen, and admired, this particular Enigma at a number of events in East Anglia, Peter learned that the company part manufactured its vehicles in a factory in Latvia, with final assembly and finishing in Norfolk. “By coincidence, my wife originates from the same town in Latvia. I was later able to visit and see the manufacture of the vehicle chassis, and remember being impressed by the quality”. 

With the opportunity arising in 2022 to treat himself to a ‘classic’ car, he initially considered one from the Sixties before being persuaded by his wife to consider a modern car with classic lines. “I immediately thought of the Healy Enigma and by chance, saw this car advertised. The design of the Enigma had always appealed to me and upon realising this had been the very vehicle I had much admired, I purchased it”. 

In 2022 he travelled circa 2000 miles in the Enigma, primarily to events, as well as on a pleasurable road trip holiday to Cornwall. However, the following year work commitments saw limited opportunities to use it with just 668 miles covered.

“With pressure on space in my garage, and due its relative lack of use, I have reluctantly come to the decision to sell. It’s a shame, as it’s in excellent condition and is an absolute delight to drive”.

Okay, let’s choose a word to describe the Enigma’s shape… we’ll go for enigmatic. Apt, as it’s a retro-classic stunner. Cues include the modern Mini and Morgan Aero 8, with perhaps a touch of Wiesmann Roadster to that pert derriere. 

The Pearlescent Red is a Renault colour and suits the Enigma’s lines to a T. In fact, it’s the first thing that caught Peter’s eye when he first saw the car at a show. “It’s a particularly attractive paintwork colour,” he says.

“However, soon after purchase, and much to my annoyance, I chipped the rear offside corner whilst it was parked in my garage; whilst minor (only 1cm in size) annoyed me and as a result I sent the car to Hylton Gott Volvo of Downham Market for paint repairs. I chose them, as being local Healy Design, they had undertaken the original painting of the vehicle. I wanted to be certain that the repair would perfectly match and, at a cost of around £600 (receipt available) they completed in my view a perfect repair”.

We can confirm that the repair has been completed to a high standard and isn’t perceptible. The paintwork remains glorious, with a scintillating level of depth. It’s worth noting that it does have one or two stone chips to the front and a smaller one to the top edge of the driver’s door (near the mirror), but then the car has been used and enjoyed.

The polished alloy wheels are in good condition although Peter says that some very light marks are evident on close scrutiny. Up top, the ‘Superior Mohair Manual Hood’ remains in very smart condition, with no tears, abrasions or loose stitching. 

Lovely.

The interior is typically Mazda and, as you would expect of the company’s show car, came with a high level of specification. This includes black leather interior with custom racing flag emblems, a 6.2-inch Kenwood media system fitted by Healy, which hosts Apple Car Play (connection is via a lead accessed in the glove-box), a leather steering wheel, heated seats, electrics windows and door mirrors, a Piano Black & leather dashboard, and a rear parking camera. 

It remains in excellent health, with just some light creasing to the leather on the seats evident. 

The car is fitted with a dashcam, which Peter will leave installed for the benefit of the new owner. 

The Enigma also comes with a fitted car cover.

There’s no one better served to describe how the Healy drives than its current owner. Over to Peter:

“It handles superbly, no doubt in large part due to its exceptional Mazda MX-5 underpinnings and 18-inch road wheels. Having previously owned a Mazda, this car seems more secure and less prone to rear wheel slip – particularly in wet conditions. 

“The engine is smooth and pulls consistently, as you’d expect. Whilst subject to a power upgrade over the normal 2.0-litre Mazda unit, in truth it is not especially fast but geared more for leisurely cruising. That makes it very enjoyable to drive. 

“If I am to be a little critical, the Healy can be a little noisy when the roof is up, as tyre noise can become evident at higher speeds, but the car is in its element on A and B roads with it down!”

During his ownership the vehicle has always been garaged and has not required any significant mechanical repairs – simply routine servicing. 

The engine bay is a little dusty in places with some components showing a touch of discolouration and ageing, but Peter says he’s been reluctant to correct this. To our eyes it’s perfectly serviceable, as is. The next owner could use a touch elbow grease and some ‘back to black’ type plastic products to sharpen it up, if they so wish.

As our photographs demonstrate, the Enigma’s undercarriage looks to be in robust health. While our Video Review (also below) show the Mazda engine firing into life first time and the car’s twin exhaust pipes providing a nice peppy note. 

The Enigma’s included V5c document confirms just three owners from new and the car’s first date of UK registration as 01/10/2015. You will also find a current MOT test certificate in the history file, which runs until 31/01/2025. 

A handbook is included in which you will find a typed and comprehensive history of the vehicle contained within. This includes specification, photos of the build, registration dates and details of owners, as well as cherished number transfers. Service and maintenance work carried out on the car is also noted and includes the following:

• 02/04/2019, 5325 miles, Annual Inspection/MOT
• 02/06/2020, 6400 miles, Engine Oil/Filter change & replacement battery
• 28/08/2020, 6500 miles, Annual Inspection/MOT
• 01/06/2021, n/a, Full Factory Service (Healy Designs Ltd)
• 30/09/2021, 7489 miles, Annual Inspection/MOT
• 01/02/2022, 7807 miles, Annual Inspection/MOT
• 19/02/2023, 10,445 miles, Annual Inspection/MOT/Interim Service including oil/filter change
• 23/01/2024, 11,108 miles, Annual Inspection/MOT/Interim Service including oil/filter change

A handful of invoices indicate the above battery replacement, as well as the bodywork chip repair described by Peter. As histories go, it doesn’t get better than this.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos to support our claim that this car is the ex-company show vehicle and has been maintained to the highest of standards from new. 

If you want to stand out in a sea of modern identikit machinery then you can’t go far wrong with a retro-classic such as this Healy Enigma. That it’s presented in one of Renault’s best exterior colours only adds to the visual pizzazz. 

Of course, allied to that is the fact that the car’s bulletproof Mazda MX-5 underpinnings mean that reliability is all but guaranteed. A Sixties classic car is all well and good, but they tend to come with some compromises in terms of reliability. 

No such worries here and as the company’s ex-show car it’s one of the best examples of the breed. Added to that is an exemplary history and a vendor that’s gone to extreme lengths to ensure that it has remained in superlative condition. 

We think this Enigma (by name, and by nature!) will realise somewhere between £14,000 and £18,000. Anywhere within that range is surely a bargain for compromise-free motoring, in a bespoke retro-modern roadster package. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.