Lot 116: 1959 Austin Healey 3000 MK I

The Austin Healey 3000 has endeared itself to enthusiasts the world over, not least for those who remember the sight and sound of this muscular British sports car roaring to spectacular success in international rallying. A development of the Austin Healey 100-6, itself born of the four cylinder 100, the 3000 was launched in March 1959. Like the 100-6 , in either two seat BN7 or 2+2 BT7 guise, it used a simple but torsionally strong ladder frame chassis with Austin A90 independent coil spring/wishbone front suspension and a live leafsprung rear axle located by Panhard rod. Front disc brakes were fitted for the first time. Under the bonnet the 100-6's 2,639cc engine was enlarged to 2,912cc and, via twin SU carburettors, it produced 124bhp at 4,600rpm with an impressive 162lb.ft torque at 2,700rpm. Mated to a four-speed gearbox and capable of 110mph (116mph with overdrive) and 0-60mph in 11.4 seconds, the 3000 received much praise for effortless performance and fine handling. It wasn't long before the 3000 proved highly competitive in international rallying, displaying both pace and great strength on its 1959 Alpine Rally debut. It was a sign of things to come, Big Healeys scoring numerous successes with great drivers such as the Morley brothers, Pat Moss, Paddy Hopkirk, Peter Riley, Timo Makinen and Rauno Altonen. This striking left hand drive example was comprehensively restored in 1997 and fully converted for racing use. Its high specification includes aluminium body panels, a hardtop, sports seats, alloy safety bag fuel tank and plumbed in fire extinguisher system, while mechanical modifications include an engine with alloy cylinder head producing some 200bhp via triple Weber 45DCOE carburettors and an exhaust with side-mounted silencers and exit pipes, a straight cut, close ratio 'Tulip' gearbox, a limited slip differential, competition suspension and rear disc brakes. Finished in British Racing Green with black interior, this highly desirable Big Healey is an ideal machine for entry in numerous historic race and rally events. It comes with a photographic record of its restoration and FIA and German registration papers.Dieser linksgelenkte Healey wurde im Jahre 1997 umfassend restauriert und fr den Renneinsatz umgebaut. Zur beeindruckenden Spezifikation gehrt unter anderem eine Aluminiumkarrosserie, Hardtop, Sportsitze, Sicherheitstank und eine Feuerlschanlage. Der Motor wurde mit Hilfe von drei 45 DCOE Weber Doppelvergasern und einem Zylinderkopf aus Aluminium auf ca. 200 PS gebracht, die Kraft wird durch ein geradeverzahntes "Tulip"-Getriebe auf die Hinterachse bertragen. Zustzlich gehren eine Hinterachsdifferzialsperre, ein Rennfahrwerk und Scheibenbremsen auch hinten zur imposanten technischen Ausstattung des Autos. In klassischem "British Racing Green" mit schwarzer Innenausstattung ist dieser Healey perfekt geeignet fr zahlreiche historische Renneinstze. Mit deutsche Zulassung, FIA-Papieren und einer Dokumentation der Restaurierung.