1959 Austin Healey 3000 MK I
Austin Motor Company discovered the Healey day before the opening of the “Earls Court Motor show” in the year 1952 at the show-booth of the Healey Motor Corporation.
Leonard Lord, Austin Motor Corporation chief contacted Donald Healey immediately and bought the car’s production-rights before the show was opened.
Donald Healey built the Healey with Austin parts which was ideal for the step Austin took. Austin Motor Co. saw the Healey as the perfect answer on Triumphs successful TR sports car which sold very well in the United States.
That change announced the switch from Austin Atlantic four-pot power to Austin Westminster six-cylinder smoothness. The 100/6’s 2.6-litre version was enlarged in 1959 to 3 litres, and the big Healey hit its stride as the 3000 was born. It became the car everyone had always thought it should be: faster, smoother and more civilised than the old 100, but still a proper hairy-chested sports machine.
Austin Healey 3000 MK I had a leatherette finish on the main dash panel and this should really be re-done in a colour to match the rest of the interior though if we hadn’t told you, would you have noticed? The current bare-metal look may be something the next owner prefers to live with.
The piped trim is smart if not perfect, with the odd extra ruche or crease here and there, such as on the door cards, but overall it’s just reaching the pleasant post-restoration state of mellow appeal.
These days the Austin Healey is one of the most popular classic cars. The excellent looks, the character, the sound and the impressive cast iron engines make the hearts of many enthusiast beat louder and faster.
