[Healeys] Last Big Healey?

[Jean Caron]

"Fresh from a restoration done a year ago". I guess that the term " restoration" is used pretty loosely here. Perhaps saying that it has been resprayed would have been more accurate but it would not get bidders as enthusiastic to bring it up even to the lowest estimate. I can see keeping the original seats to show that "patina" makes sense but the very least they could have done is install the piping on the aluminum door trim, the rubber bumpers on the front shroud for the bonnet and the rubber seal for the trunk actually installed on the trunk lid. At the same time they could have secured the spare tire at its proper location with the metal bar and leather belt holding it in place. I am quite amazed that they di install the fender flash the correct way.


Jean


________________________________
From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of HealeyRick <healeyrik at gmail.com>
Sent: March 21, 2017 2:47 PM
To: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: [Healeys] Last Big Healey?

When talking British classics, it’s impossible to ignore the likes of the Jaguar E-Type and Aston Martin DB5. But while those are pop icons in their own right, the Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III<https://www.autoevolution.com/news/oh-jerry-ricky-gervais-rides-in-austin-healey-video-48045.html> is a bit of a specialty.
As compared to Jaguar and Aston Martin, which are still with us, the venture created by Austin and Donald Healey Motor in 1952 came to a conclusion in 1972. The cutesy Sprite<https://www.autoevolution.com/news/baby-buys-austin-healey-sprite-on-ebay-video-62937.html> is a quintessential product of this legendary link-up, albeit the 3000 Mk III is the car Austin-Healey enthusiasts consider to be the British outfit’s crowning achievement.

17,712 examples of the Mark III were produced from ’64 to ’67, and this here is the last one ever made. Chassis HBJ843025 was manufactured on the 21st of December, 1967, and the current owner bought it 45 years ago. Yup, this is one cherished example of the 3000 Mk III, a back-to-basics sports car<https://www.autoevolution.com/news/alpine-s-reborn-a110-fully-revealed-it-s-the-french-answer-to-the-718-and-4c-115966.html> to die for. Better still, it has covered only 57,389 miles (92,358 kilometers) over the course of half a century.

“This is the first time the car has been offered for sale in over 40 years and as such an important and iconic British sports car we expect a significant amount of interest,” said Richard Greenhalgh, specialist at Classic Car Auctions<http://www.classiccarauctions.co.uk/austin-healey-3000-mk-3>. So what’s the estimate on this example of the Big Healey? £75,000 and £90,000 is CCA’s pre-auction estimate, but only time will tell if bidding will get rowdy.

Benefitting from a fresh restoration that finished just a year ago, Healey’s last-ever Mk III is joined by a large history file, lots of documents, and a heritage certificate. Of course, the inline-six powerplant benefits from a high-lift camshaft and SU HS6 carbs, additions that saw power go up from 136 to 150 bhp. And compared to the previous iteration, the Mk III boasts power-assisted brakes as standard.

Last, but not least, it’s noteworthy to point out that this is no garage queen<https://www.autoevolution.com/news/laferrari-shows-up-for-sale-with-393-miles-on-the-odometer-costs-4-million-116287.html>. And even restored, the final Big Healey doesn’t fail to show its patina.

Source: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/t...on-116318.html<https://www.autoevolution.com/news/the-last-austin-healey-3000-mk-iii-ever-produced-heads-to-auction-116318.html>
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