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Lot #130 - 1959 Austin Healey 3000 ("Liege-Rome-Liege" 1960 Replica)

  • Auction House:
    Theodore Bruce
  • Sale Name:
    Classic Cars Auction
  • Sale Date:
    26 Oct 2013 ~ 6.30pm
  • Lot #:
    130
  • Lot Description:
    1959 Austin Healey 3000 ("Liege-Rome-Liege" 1960 Replica)
    Chassis: H-BT7-L/5186
  • Notes:
    The last Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III came off the production line just before Christmas 1967, specially assembled for a fanatical American customer. Ordinary production had ceased three weeks earlier. With this last car ended more than 20 years of big Healey history - the last 15 with basically the same car. Its enthusiasts remember the milestones in Healey history: the first Healey Westland roadster in 1946; the Healey 100 which became the Austin Healey BN1 in 1952 and the 100-Six range which began in 1956. Yet ironically, while the big Healey has always been traditionally British its greatest following came from trans-Atlantic enthusiasts. Americans willingly took between 84 and 90 per cent of all Mk II and III models built. They saw in it a typically British image - a muscled fun car, capable of about 120 mph in 150 bhp form - and well able to meet every abuse in best V8 tradition. In 1960, the Austin-Healey Motor Company, completely face-lifted the model. Away went the four-cylinder power unit and in its place came a similarly powerful but torquier six. In initial form, with four-port head, twin SUs and pushrod operated overhead valves, it churned out 102 bhp at 4600 rpm from its 2639cc. By 1959 it had acquired a six port head, 15 more bhp and about 15,000 of the series had been produced. Then in June, the 3000 Mk I, with a 2912 cc engine producing 124 bhp at 4600 rpm, took its place. Two years and one extra carburettor later it became the Mk II, with 132 bhp. In March 1962, trans-Atlantic tastes had a victory. Wind-up windows, and the option of a convertible top and a drop to two, 1.75 inch SUs again, made up the Mk III with 130 bhp. Twin two-inch SUs and a re-styled interior brought 20 bhp more and Mk III and final form in February 1964. Meanwhile, the 3000 models were collecting innumerable trophies in international rallies. 1960 saw an outright win in the Liege Rally, Coupe des Dames and Team Prize; in 1961 and 62 the team took outright first in the Alpine Rally; 1964 saw another outright in the Australian Alpine Rally. Meanwhile the big unbreakable cars were notching up class and GT wins in practically everything they entered. The last major success on the books is a second overall in the 1965 RAC Rally. 74,000 of these ferocious sports cars were made, with more than 80 per cent being exported, mostly to America. They were all open cars in the grand manner, although detachable hard-tops were marketed. They were all capable of more than 100 mph with fantastic torque and 0-60 mph times between 10-11 sec, with the Mark III as the fastest at 122.5 mph as tested by "Motor" in 1964. This car, H-BT7-L/5186, was an Austin-Healey Mark 1 Four-seater built between the 6th and 11th November 1959, and despatched by the factory on 23rd November 1959. It was consigned to Minneapolis Hambro Trading Inc. Hambro was the main importer of British cars in the North American market at this time. The car left the factory with wire wheels, heater, adjustable steering column, an ivory white hard top, laminated windscreen, Roadspeed tyres and overdrive. It was painted black with a red interior and a black hood. The car was owned by the late Peter Cottrell in Minneapolis and it was modified to resemble the rally cars from the famous Liege Rally. Specifications duplicated the factory rally car and include: Factory oil cooler with panel cutout; Lucas driving lights; Alloy valve cover and quick fill cap; Lowered hood; Works hardtop with ventilator flap; Side exhaust and straight exhaust; 25 gallon competition fuel tank; 60 spoke wheels; Enamel "Liege" winners plaque on boot lid; Four wheel disc brakes. According to a good friend of Peter Cottrell's, J. Paul Nesse, (himself an accomplished sculptor) it was raced at a track day at the Brainerd International Racetrack in Minnesota. It was owned by its U.S.A. owner for over ten years and acquired for display by the York Motor Museum in November 1980 from Coys of Kensington. The vehicle took part in the Austin Healey Club National Rally in Perth during 1984, and competed in the Flying Fifty "Around the Houses" event at York the same year, and in subsequent years. In 1988 the vehicle took part in the inaugural "Narrogin Speed Classic", a recreation of the famous around-the-houses events which took place in many country towns in Western Australia.
  • Estimate:
    A$60,000 - 70,000
  • Realised Price:
    *****

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  • Category:
    Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.



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