Lot details
Registration No: 382 AOR
Chassis No: HBT711813
Mot Expiry: April 2012

Donald Healey's eponymous company built a prototype two-seater sports car for display at the 1952 London Motor Show. It was based on Austin A90 Atlantic mechanicals and sported a sleek body designed by Gerry Coker and built by Tickford. It was dubbed the 'Healey Hundred' (a moniker chosen to reflect the car's ability to reach 100mph), and, subject to a suitably encouraging response, Healey planned to build production versions in-house at his factory in Warwick. As things transpired, not only did the Ice Blue prototype impress the public, but also so excited Austin's Managing Director, Leonard Lord, that he struck a deal to build the car in volume at Longbridge. The newcomer was renamed the Austin Healey 100. The rest, as they say, is history. The 'Big' Healey enjoyed steady development, with the early four-cylinder cars giving way to the 100-Six in 1956, which in turn was replaced by the first of the 3000s in 1959. By now the engine capacity had risen to 2912cc and the power output to 124bhp - sufficient to grace the standard car with a 0-60mph time of 11.4 seconds and a top speed of 114mph. There was the option of Laycock de Normanville overdrive for the four-speed gearbox and braking had been improved by the adoption of discs at the front. There were two body options - a two-seater (BN7) or occasional four-seater (BT7). By the time the MKI 3000 was superseded by the MKII in 1961, a total of 2,825 BN7s and 10,825 BT7s had been produced.

The right-hand drive BT7 on offer sports Colorado Red coachwork and a Black piped Red interior. It is equipped with the optional overdrive gearbox and chromed wire wheels. We understand it left the factory in August 1960, whereupon it was delivered to Austin main agents Carey & Lambert Ltd of Southampton. The Healey was registered as '382 AOR' in Hampshire in October 1960 and, though the number was apparently transferred to a Mercedes-Benz for a period, car and registration were subsequently reunited. There is currently no further knowledge of the Healey until 1975, when it was in the care of a W A Gumbrill of Bramhall, who is understood to have sold it to Wallmoat Ltd based in London W14. It then passed to D E Thatchers of London W6 who commenced a restoration but progressed no further than a rolling chassis before selling the project on to Tony Shaw and brothers of Granville Engineering in Barking, who evidently completed the task. The next keeper was a B Fitzmaurice of New Malden, who acquired the Healey in 1997, covering some 4,100 miles in it before selling it to the current owner in 2002, following a successful inspection by Steve Jowett of UK Healey.

The vendor informs us that throughout his tenure '382 AOR' has been kept in a heated, de-humidified garage and treated to regular maintenance. This work has apparently included the refurbishment of the gearbox, overdrive unit, propshaft and steering system, plus the renewal of the fuel pump, and been carried out by a mixture of specialist concerns including UK Healey, Merlin and Myddlewood Garage. The vendor currently considers the bodywork, interior and engine to be "excellent" and the paintwork and gearbox to be "very good". This nicely presented 'Big Healey' comes complete with original workshop manual, service parts list and handbook, plus a number of spares including a pair of painted wire wheels. Taxed until the end of May 2012 and MOT'd into April, '382 AOR' is all set to hopefully give a summer of fun to its next keeper.

PLEASE NOTE: The inteior for this vehicle is not leather as stated in the catalogue.