1960 Austin Healey 3000 MKI 2+2 review

Date: 29.06.2015

1960 Austin Healey 3000 MKI 2 2

1960 Austin Healey 3000 MKI 2 2

1960 Austin Healey 3000 MKI 2 2

1960 Austin Healey 3000 MKI 2 2

1960 Austin Healey 3000 MKI 2 2

1960 Austin Healey 3000 MKI 2 2

1960 Austin Healey 3000 MKI 2 2

1960 Austin Healey 3000 MKI 2 2

Snapshot: Austin Healey's 3000 series is blessed with one of those shapes which people recognise immediately and it, somehow, has survived the test of time

1960 Austin Healey 3000 MKI 2+2

1960 Austin Healey 3000 MKI 2+2

ENGLISH ELEGANCE

Low and elegant, the Austin Healey's 3000 series has one important distinguishing feature; that willing straight-six powerplant up front, which gives it plenty of performance.

Our feature car, a hardtop version of the model with similar mechanical spec, managed a pretty respectable 185km/h top speed run during a contemporary test. It would also scuttle to 60 mph (97 km/h) in a respectable 11.7 seconds. Small wonder they’re still so popular with historic racers. Back in the day, Austin sold nearly 11,000 of these Mk1 2+2s and nearly 3,000 Mk1 two seaters.

The downside is they are not the cheapest thing on the market to restore. Old and worn cars can be a rough ride, however a well set-up resto makes a decent Sunday car.

This example, a 1960 2+2, had a full nut and bolt restoration done by the Healey Factory in Victoria in 2002. It’s since done around 1300 miles. The colour is a factory ice blue metallic.
Like many out there, this one has had some sensible mods, to make it ride better and cope with modern traffic. They include telescopic shock absorbers and front ventilated discs with four-pot Volvo calipers.

Uncle Phil took this one for a brief spin and reckons, "If I had the money I’d look at it. They’re a Cobra at about a tenth of the price. They’ve got loads of appeal.

"They perform beautifully – a lot of torque in these engines, they make heaps of grunt from about 1500, so you don’t have to rev them out. You very rarely see four grand in one of these. Just a lot of fun.

"It’s got sixties handling – let’s not get too excited – and I like the four-speed box with overdrive."

Russell Cox at the Healey Factory suggests that, at $125,000, it represents a big saving when compared to finding another car and starting from scratch.

KNOW YOUR AUSTIN HEALEYS

Austin Healeys were born of a 20-year agreement drawn up between BMC (British Motor Corporation) and the Donald Healey Motor Company, from 1952. The models included the 100, the 100-6, the 3000 series and the Sprite. 3000s were produced from 1959 through to 1967.

SPECIFICATIONS

1960 Austin Healey 3000 MkI 2+2

BODY steel & alloy, chassis two-door convertible
ENGINE 2.9lt straight six, pushrod, 12 valve, twin SU carburettors
POWER 110kW @ 5250rpm
TORQUE 224Nm @ 3500rpm
PERFORMANCE 0-100km/h – 11.7sec, 185km/h top speed
GEARBOX 4-speed manual with overdrive
SUSPENSION Independent front, live axle rear
BRAKES disc front (modified), drum rear
PRICE $125,000
WEB healeyfactory.com.au

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