EX 179 was built for Captain George Eyston and used a spare chassis from an MGA. The body was based on EX135. Driven by Eyston and Ken Miles at Utah in 1954, it took the 12-hour record up to 121mph, and the 10-mile sprint to 153.69mph.

Fitted with a 1489cc prototype MGA Twin-Cam engine in 1956, previous records were substantially improved; the 12-hour record to 141.86mph, and the flying 10-mile record to 170.15mph.

The car continued to take records with different engines until 1959, when it was re-badged as the Austin-Healey EX 219. Fitted with a supercharged 948 cc engine, various long-distance Class G records were taken at speeds up to 147 mph.