Lot 222: 1958 Austin Healey 3000

In 1951, when the established range of Healey cars was selling steadily but out of the price range of most enthusiasts, Donald Healey realised there was a market for a relatively low-priced but high performance sports car. A readily available, reliable and tuneable engine was required and BMC agreed to supply the 2,660cc four cylinder unit from its Austin A90 model, together with Austin's three speed with overdrive gearbox. For the chassis of the new car Healey and his son Geoffrey designed a simple but torsionally strong ladder frame using the A90's independent coil spring/wishbone front suspension and a leaf-sprung rear axle located by Panhard rod, with drum brakes all round. Finally, an attractive, open two seater body was penned by Gerry Coker, the final rendition of which incorporated some last minute changes by Donald Healey himself. The result, launched to a surprised public at the 1952 London Motor Show, caused a sensation and met with immediate approval from press and enthusiasts alike. It looked superb with performance to match; producing 94bhp at 4,000rpm, it could achieve 111mph with the windscreen folded flat and 0-60mph acceleration in 10.3 seconds. Called simply the Healey 100, the new car also caught the attention of BMC supremo Leonard Lord who at once struck an agreement with Healey to market the car as the Austin Healey 100. Production began in May 1953 and it wasn't long before the model was selling like hot cakes and featuring strongly in production racing on both sides of the Atlantic. In September 1956 the Austin Healey 100/6 was introduced using the six cylinder, 2,639cc BMC engine from the new Austin Westminster which produced 102bhp at 4,600rpm and was a great deal more flexible and smooth than the 100's four cylinder, whilst the gearbox was now a four speed unit with overdrive. The 100/6 was phenomenally successful on the road and especially in the international rally world, being campaigned by many of the best known drivers of the day. It was with an Austin Healey 100/6 in basic production trim that Tommy Wisdom and Cecil Winby won their class on the 1957 Mille Miglia, while three factory entered 100/6s went on to take the Manufacturers Team Prize at the 1958 Sebring 12 Hour race. The same year saw the first factory rally team of 100/6s show real potential, including Pat Moss, sister of Stirling, taking her first Coupé de Dames for a penalty-free run. Shortly afterwards, the first lady of rallying took a magnificent fourth overall and another Coupé des Dames on the gruelling 84 hour Liege-Rome-Liege Marathon as well as winning both the Unlimited Class GT and Touring Class categories; the Healey team also won the manufacturers Team Prize. The 100/6's final works victory was on the 1959 Tulip Rally - by when the engine had been modified to produce 160bhp - where Jack Sears and Peter Garnier won the GT category beating Aston Martin, Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz. When the Austin Healey 3000 replaced the 100-6 in March 1959, it differed in having front disc brakes, while under the bonnet the 2,639cc engine was enlarged to 2,912cc and, via twin SU carburettors, it produced 124bhp at 4,600rpm with and an impressive 162lb/ft 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, too, 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 countless international successes with great drivers such as the Morley brothers, Pat Moss, Paddy Hopkirk, Peter Riley, Timo Makinen and Rauno Altonen. The cars won numerous class and team awards in that first year and continued to do so for the next few years, heralding the dawning of the golden age that British rallying was to enjoy in the Sixties. For instance, in 1960 a Healey 3000 was first overall in Liege-Rome-Liege Marathon de la Route, second in the Alpine Rally and second and third in the RAC Rally. The results continued on into the following year; the Morley twins won the Alpine outright and were awarded with the only Coupe des Alpes, while other major results included a second in the RAC Rally and in 1962 another outright victory in the Alpine. The trend continued on into 1963 and in 1964 when a Healey won the Marathon for the first time, the last one held as a road event, as well as coming home first on the Tulip Rally. DG 95 was one of several 3000s successfully campaigned by the works team with well known driver Don Grimshaw at the wheel, finishing in 31st place on the 1962 Monte Carlo Rally and in the following year competing and winning on national events such as the Yorkshire Rally. In 1965 DG 95 ran in no less than four major international rallies - the Monte Carlo, the Geneva, the East African Safari and the Spa-Sofia-Liege. Finished in the works colours of red with a white hardtop and the subject of a mechanical overhaul in 2000, DG 95 is offered in very good condition, drives well and is competition ready. Complete with a history file containing its 1970s logbook, V5 registration document, assorted invoices and copies of period newspaper cuttings and photographs relating to the car, this Big Healey, with its confirmed provenance, fine rallying pedigree and interesting, well documented history, is an ideal and competitive sports car eligible for numerous historic race and rally events throughout Europe.