Austin Healey 3000 MK1

About this Collectable

1959 Austin Healey 3000 MK1 - Estimate: € 55.000 tot € 70.000,-

The Austin Healey was a British sports car produced between 1952 and 1972. The marque was founded by Donald Healey, a well-known British racing driver and engineer, in partnership with the British Motor Corporation (BMC). The first Austin Healey, the Austin Healey 100, was introduced in 1952. This sports car had a powerful 2.6-litre four-cylinder engine and a striking design with round headlights and a long bonnet. The car quickly became popular for its performance and sporty looks.

In the years that followed, Austin Healey released several models, including the Austin Healey 3000, the Sprite and the 100-6. These models were praised for their speed, agility and reliability, and they were often used in races and rallies around the world. One of the most iconic moments in the history of the Austin Healey was its participation in the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans. An Austin Healey 100S finished in an impressive 12th place overall, reinforcing the marque's reputation as a sports car.
The first version of the Austin Healey 3000, known as the Mark I, was introduced in 1959. This version had a 2.9-litre six-cylinder engine producing 124 hp.

The Mark II was introduced in 1961, and the Mark III in 1963. Despite the end of production, the Austin Healey remains a beloved classic among car enthusiasts around the world. Its unique combination of elegance, performance and British craftsmanship makes the Austin Healey a timeless icon in automotive history.

The Austin Healey Mk1 Le Mans Special at auction, chassis no. HBT72611

The Austin Healey Mk1. offered here was sold new in the UK. In the late 1980s, the car was converted to Le Mans special specifications by renowned specialist Marksdanes Classic Cars in Somerset.

This professional conversion meant, first of all, a complete restoration of chassis and bodywork. In addition, a complete technical restoration and overhaul. This included bluing and balancing the crankshaft, reworking the cylinder head, fitting a faster AH2 camshaft in combination with 3 DCOE 45 Weber carburettors and a special exhaust manifold and lateral sports exhaust. This resulted in 190 HP.

A special steering box was also fitted, combined with adjustable suspension and reinforced mounting points. The bodywork was built in Le Mans style, with a driver's headrest, and an aluminium-clad lightweight competition interior. Gearbox and overdrive were overhauled, as well as the instrumentation. A modified and improved braking system was fitted. The car comes with a 7-page specification of all work and parts. This restoration and conversion cost about dfl. 150,000 (€ 75,000) at the time.

In 1994, the car came to the Netherlands and was sold to its current owner in 2003. It became one of his favourite cars for historical rallies. Since then, the car has been carefully and professionally maintained and is still in excellent condition. The pictures speak for themselves! With NL registration and FIVA passport.

Our opinion

A Healey 3000 in top condition! In our opinion a gem, especially with the LeMans style bodywork and fast engine. The total package with the modified suspension and braking system make it complete and ready for beautiful rides and or rallies. The experience of the impressive gas plant with 3 double Webers is enormous and makes the car a historic racer with license plate. The estimate is a fraction of the amount of money put into this bolide, so an excellent opportunity to buy this Healey.

Equipment

This Austin Healey is equipped with:

• 3 twin Weber carburettors (45 DCOE)
• Marksdanes LeMans conversion
• Competition interior
• Various rally accessories

Modifications

See description and equipment

Remarks

This Healey 3000 is in very good condition. The car has some minor signs of use, as can be seen in the pictures. The car has been stationary for an extended period of time. Is driveable, but we recommend some maintenance and tuning work before commissioning

Recent maintenance history

The Healey has been serviced throughout and received a comprehensive inspection and service before every drive.

Included in the sale

Included in the sale of this Healey 3000 is:

• Dutch number plate
• FIVA passport

About the seller

The Healey is being sold on behalf of a Belgian collector who entrusted us with several cars. The collection includes many Italian and German thoroughbreds and is being sold partly due to fleet revision

Summary

Seller type - Private
Location - Belgium
Chassis number - HBT72611
Year of construction/date - 1970
Mileage - 3,719 kilometres (read)
Demonstrable - No
Warranty - No
Margin/VAT - Margin car
Bodywork - Convertible
Engine - 3 litre six-cylinder inline engine with 190 hp
Drive system - Rear-wheel drive
Transmission - Manual
Exterior - Green
Interior - Black
Upholstery - Leather
Smoking car - No
Owners - unknown, last owner owned for 20 years
Tyres - Goodyear 205-60-15

The description of this Collectable was created with utmost care, based on the information provided by and validated by the seller. The Collectables performs a (pre)selection based on the information provided and consults public sources for any irregularities. However, bidders should ascertain for themselves the accuracy of the description and can, if they wish, conduct (or have conducted) personal research. All Collectables on our platform can be subjected to any possible inspection, examination or valuation in advance by buyers, of course in consultation with the seller. Consult our General Terms and Conditions for more details.

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