Lot details Registration No: TGC449E Chassis No: HBJ8U/42976G Mot Expiry: Nov 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. Dubbed the `Healey Hundred', the Ice Blue prototype not only more than impressed 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 four-cylinder cars giving way to the 100-Six of 1956, which was replaced by the first of the 3000s in 1959. The final iteration was the 3000 MKIII, which was launched in October 1963 and mildly upgraded (Phase 2) in May the following year. The most powerful and luxurious of all the derivatives, it had lively performance courtesy of its 150bhp straight-six engine and featured such niceties as wind-up windows and a walnut-veneer facia. 3000 production closed at the end of 1967 after 42,926 had been made, 17,712 of which were MKIIIs.
This striking-looking MKIII 3000 Phase 2 is a left-hand drive 1967 American export model that originally wore North Carolina registration plates. Prior to repatriation the `Big' Healey is said to have undergone an extensive and well documented restoration. The vendor acquired the car from Classic Automobiles, London in 2004 and has just treated it to a bare metal respray in the original eye-catching colours of Red over White. The carpets have also been renewed and the engine "tuned to perfection" by Hanwell Motors, London. The vendor now regards `TGC 449E' as having "excellent" bodywork, paintwork, interior trim, engine and gearbox and is selling it complete with Kenlowe fan and MOT into November.
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