Austin Healey sports cars could soon be back in production after the Healey family sold the rights to build its cars.

A British-American company, HFI Automotive, paid around £1 million to the family, who will become shareholders in the new company as part of the deal.

A working prototype of a new Austin Healey, the Austin 3000, is already up and running, and will e shown to the public next year, reports the FT.

However, GB Sports Car has also been linked with reviving the Austin Healey name. GB Sports, run by former Powertrain head Fraser Welford-Winton, was believed to be close to securing a deal with Nanjing Automotive towards the end of last year.