Austin Healey 3000

Introduced in 1959 the Austin Healey 3000, was the first Austin car to receive the "C" type engine which has just been uprated to 2.9 litres, superseding the 100/6 model which used the Austin Westminster engine of 2,639 c.c.

 

The "3000" was to be the last of the big Healeys, the origins of which go back to the early post-war years. In 1946 one Donald Mitchell Healey who was born in the Cornish Village of Perranporth in July 1898 formed "The Donald Healey Motor Company Ltd" in 1946 based in Warwick. The first model used a welded up chassis with trailing arm independent front suspension with power being provided by the well tried and robust Riley 2.4 litre engine, the model also used the Riley gearbox. This engine had performed well when used in the pre-war ERA racing cars. The car did well in competition such as the Alpine Rally.

 

In 1952 Healey sought to reach a wider public and in this context an Austin engined sports 2 seater, (Healey 100) production of which was taken over by the Austin Motor Company, Sir Leonard Lord of that organisation knowing a good car when he saw one, and in 1954 manufacture at Warwick was ended. In 1955 the Nuffield Group joined forces with Austin and thus was formed BMC, the British Motor Corporation, and this brought about further development of the car, a six cylinder engine of 2,639 c.c. which produced 12 bhp more that the 100/4 was used. The six was a very flexible and smooth running unit with excellent low speed torque. A further uprating of the engine engine to 2.9 litres (2,912 c,c,) in 1959 and the "3000" was born.

The Sales Brochure of the day boasted of "New Power Plus Performance….Sleek Aerodynamic Lines….a Two-Fold Triumph for Austin-Healey. Vivid acceleration and sustained high speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, syncromesh gearbox or overdrive gearbox". With an engine of just under the 3,000 c.c. this being the limit for International competition it was hoped the car would do well within its class and the models debut was the Alpine Rally in 1959, the Gott/Tooley car finished fifth in category and second in its class. The works cars has a triple carburettor layout and that was carried on to production cars in 1961. These increased the performance and the engine and in this guise produced some 132 bhp. Three carburettors however did mean more tuning so in March 1962 a return to the two carb. engine came about in a newly styled convertible with the home comfort of wind down side windows and quarter lights combined with a wrap around windshield.

The Austin-Healey could be had with either single or dual tone paint finishes, in the former you could have Healey Blue with blue trim and blue hood, Black with red trim and blach hood, Florida Green with grey trim and grey hood, Colorado Red with red trim and black hood or grey trim and grey hood, Ivory White with black or red trim and black hood, Primrose with black trim and hood or finally Pacific Green with grey trim and grey hood. Duotone Colours:- Healey Blue and Ivory White, Black & Colorado Red, Florida Green and Ivory White, Colorado Red and Black, Ivory White and Black, Primrose and Black, Pacific Green and Florida Green and finally Pacific Green and Ivory White.

These big Healeys were in the writers opinion lovely cars to drive, a large flexible engine in a vehicle with a weight of 2,381 lbs, in 2 seater format, they would just eat up the road - an absolute pleasure with the hood down on a Summers day.

In 1967 the financial situation of BMC was getting worse, the Company having made a loss of around £4,000,000 after tax. The "3000" would need a new power plant and body modifications to make it able to comply with stringent US regulations. This could not be afforded and thus 1967 was the end of the line but the Healey marque was not to die as 1968 saw the introduction of 948 c.c. ohv engined Sprite.

In June 1959 the Purchase Price (including purchase tax) was £1,168 - optional extras were Overdrive £66; Heater £22; Hardtop £85; Radio £34 and Wire Wheels £35.