This was my Healey and after Jack filmed it, I put brand new Michelin XAS tyres on it having realised on the drive down how the existing Continental tyres had gone past their sell by date! Jack if you had tested it now , it would have felt like a completely different car !! I think we were both scared to throw it around in the rain. For anyone who is interested the continental tyres were put on the car in 2015 and over time , together with the fact that the car had been sitting in the same place for a few years , meant that they had flat spots and had hardened ! Definitely not good when it’s wet!

One of my favorite cars of all time. You Brits sure can design beautiful roadsters and GT’s.

Always loved the way the Healey 3000 mklll looked and sounded a truly British traditional sports car

One of my all time favourite cars, just love the way they look, don't even need to drive it, just park it in a garage and drool🙂

The A-H kept Jensen going. The body was made by Pressed Steel and delivered to Jensen who mated it with the running gear and trim. They did the same with the Sunbeam Tiger. I have a photograph of the A-H 300 production line and the Tiger line running side by side in the West Brom factory. Sadly for Jensen, both contracts ended at the same time in 1967 and Jensen only just survived to produce the Interceptor.

I have lusted over the 3000 Mk3 for over twenty years now. As a former MG owner it was a natural progression but sadly prices are way out of my league now. And the colours would have to be the classic ‘Ice Blue over Ivory’. Surely one of Britain’s most beautiful sports cars.

Compared to the behemoths treading the roads in the USA during the late 1950's and early 1960's the Austin Healey was quite civilized. Amazing stuff on that car; disc brakes, rack and pinion steering and a low center of gravity, it made me a True Believer. Thanks for the great video.

The Austin Healey 3000 Mk.III is one of my favourite cars. I've done quite a few miles in one over the years. I don't think it's that heavy to drive and really it's just a big, friendly old softie. The Big Healey is definitely a car where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. A point to note is that the overdrive should work on 3rd and 4th, giving six gears. However, overdrive cars have a slightly lower ratio back axle. Apparently a good modification is to swap the back axle from a non-overdrive car to get slightly longer gearing. I'm surprised that you didn't mention the straight-cut first gear, with its distinctive whine. Don't forget to practice your double declutching, if you want to select first on the move. And pop the lever into second, before selecting first, if you have been idling in neutral for any time.

There is nothing like driving a Healey at full chat. The sound and handling is off the charts, the car looks beautiful, and it’s easy to work on.

I always admired the big Healey, but had never had the chance to drive one. Fairly amazing, considering the number of cars I'd owned even at a fairly young age. Then I got a call from an old friend. I'd just gotten back from Vietnam and was footloose and fancy free, and Ronnie needed his '67 Healey transported from San Jose to Key West. He'd finished his tour and had gotten the plumb assignment to Naval Station Key West...about as far as you could get from Vietnam and still be in the USA! I was in Santa Barbara, so I grabbed a girlfriend and we rode the Greyhound to San Jose to be met by Ronnie's Mum. Car cleaned up nicely (it only had 15k miles on it) and we were on our way. Decided to take the scenic route, since we had 10 days to make the drive of roughly 3400 miles in those days with the US Interstate system not quite completed. Then the fun began... We had decided to go to Reno, then drive down to Las Vegas, enjoying the lack of a speed limit in Nevada. Well, we limped into Reno, running on about 31/2 cylinders. I found a nice little garage, and the mechanic took one look under the bonnet and pronounced, "Rats!" Seems the northern California rodents had developed a taste for English wiring. Old Joe Lucas would have been proud. We spent a couple enjoyable days in Reno having everything inspected and put right; it cost just under $100 which, even back then (1970) wasn't too much money. Hit the road to Vegas. Car was comfortable and plenty long-legged with the overdrive, but the exhaust ran right under the LHD drivers feet, and my heels were broiling! The cure was a couple cheap bath towels and a styrofoam cooler filled with ice and water...steam ensued. In Vegas, I found a place that sold sheets of heat insulation and mitigated the problem. For the rest of the highway journey we did just fine, even got about 20mpg at 75mph, which seemed good at the time ($0.35/gallon premium fuel). Our adventure led us to Virgnia and a jaunt down the storied Blue Ridge Parkway. This was not so much fun as I had hoped. Even with newish Pirelli Cinturatos and checked pressures, the car was lumbering and clumsy, nothing like my Alfa Veloce. Then there was the cowl shake. We didn't make the whole length of the Parkway, branching off to the Interstate in North Carolina. Back on the straight and wide, the Healey did just fine and got us into Key West a day early. We'd had fun, but I have never since had any urge to drive a big Healey. Once did the trick. Not really a good sprots car, but a pleasant turnpike cruiser up to 100mph (above that the dreaded cowl shake returned), once you got the insulation fixed. Still among the PRETTIEST of the "sports cars" of the period, though.

Back in the day it was probably on skinny cross plys, wider radials are bound to make the steering heavy, sounded great,

Had a '62 Healy MK 2000, war spoils of Vietnam, in '69. It had side curtains not roll up windows, torquey 6 cylinder engine, same as London taxicabs, 3 SU carbs in parallel, infamous Lucas electrical system that wouldn't start the car on a muggy morning, and a hesitant solenoid operated over-drive appropriate only for high speed cruising. It handled with muscular authority exactly like the one above. Compared to the boats Detroit was selling, it was a whole new thrilling experience. Used to race guys in their Pontiac GTOs down main street Frederick, MD. They'd beat me off the line, but then I'd always out-torque them in 3rd gear. Sold it a year later for what I paid for it, $1200. It rode so low, the muffler, right inside the rocker panel, hit the pavement going onto a driveway, so had to drive up on them at an angle. It was a very sexy car for its day.

The Austin healey is a very nice car. I have a 3000 mk2 ( tri-carb). Think the mk2 looks a bit better than mk3. It is perfect for backroads and up to 60-70 mph. I have been past 100 mph but is is best at lower speeds. Have driven it for length on motorways at 80-90 mph and it is OK and pulls well. It looks very good ( especially with lower suspension in the rear). And it demands little maintenance. I have no problem with steering, clutch, gearchanges, brakes ( they are a bit weak, though) and have been driving the car since the 90`s when I got my driving licence. It`s nimble and a joy to drive. Nice car!

Just like the MGC then! Heavy but adorable in a retrospective way. Many thanks for a great channel - always my 'go-to' for a classic car kick.

I had a Mark 1 (I think it was a 60 maybe a 61) during the summer of 67 when I was in college. it was only my second sports car, I had driven a Corvair Monza spider the last couple years of high school, so I knew about oversteer. The Austin Healy was a dream to drive for that time. Certainly slow by today’s standards, but considerably faster than the many four-cylinder sports cars available. It was not as refined as later models as I got to drive a mark two owned buy a friend. It was definitely fast enough to outrun a cop I saw parked on a side road. Of course those days the cops drove nearly stock big American iron cornered like a bulldozer. I only kept it for the summer, as is typical with British sports cars of that era, parts fell off about as fast as I could glue them back on. I had to sell it when I returned to college, it never would’ve made the trip from Pennsylvania to Colorado. I certainly have great memories of that car. It had a very peculiar exhaust note that sounded like a bird call and I nicknamed it “the gray canary“. It certainly was one of the more fun cars I’ve ever owned.

Great to see these older cars tested and some urban myths busted, thanks Jack!

Great to see you doing some older cars. So much more character than modern cars, and some of them were pretty decent drives too.

As a kid in the 80's I used to read the adventures of Langelot. A young French spy in the the post war era. One of his vehicles of choice was the Austin Healy. Nice memories! Thanks for yet another great installment! Greetings from the Netherlands

Very nice video on my least favorite British sports Car! As a mid-teen, I was totally in love with the Austin Healy 100-4. It looked so much better as a real two-seater, than the later 3000 with room for a back seat - Ha! The 4-speed transmission had one gear locked out because originally it was a truck transmission with wrong ratios for a sports car. And don’t forget the windscreen that could by lowered in a very innovative way. Unfortunately, I never did get an Austin Healy. A good friend was racing XK Jaguars, and I fell under his spell and bought a thoroughly used XK120FHC. That adventure taught me how to repair virtually everything in the car, and eventually to a series of new Corvettes. I still wouldn’t mind having an Austin Healy 100 in the garage.

I hired one for a long weekend a few years ago. It looked beautiful, and sounded great, but it felt like a car from the 50s. I now own a series 2 Alfa Spider, and that feels so much lighter and nicer to drive despite only being about 10 years younger.

Some guys have all the luck 😏 I turn shades of green watching you drive one gorgeous machine after another. Just a point - my first car was a C reg and was 1965. Keep them coming.

Lovely old cars the Austin Healey 3000, ' the big Healey;. I agree it looks good from any angle and the interior in this one is well kept. Interesting review Jack thank you. 👍👍

Had a 1966 Healey back when it was new. Best built car I ever owned.

Hi Jack, Good to see you with a really great car. I have the same model you are driving and a 1962 triple carb model. I did thousands of miles in european rallies in one of these and they definitely are long distance cars. Mods to the front suspension can improve the general steering and handling. I once drove back from lake garda at 80mph through italy and france no problem, however. being behind the wheel for eight hours per day certainly gives you a good nights sleep.

I had a '63 MKII back in the 70s. One of my all time favorite cars, and I've had Porsches, Jaguars, hot Mustangs and Trans Ams etc. Someone once said that the way they made made those cars handle was by not allowing the suspension to work. When I took my Dad for a ride he swore he could tell if it was heads or tails when we drove over a dime. I didn't care. It looked and sounded sublime, it had great torque, could cruise at 80mph, and you could power slide and 4 wheel drift it if you knew what you were doing. Still beautiful today.

This YT post caught my eye, as a neighbor of mine back in the mid-1960s had the left-hand drive US model of this same car, where sadly, he lost his life when the car lost control on a mountain road. It was mystery back then how the crash happened, but from my observations with how he drove it back then at elevated speeds in the neighborhood; combined with, years later, having an awareness of the car's handling, the guy probably pushed the handling envelope a bit too far on that mountain road.

Very nice car. I love the derpy adorable face these cars have with the hood scoop it looks like it has a mowhawk. Thank you for showcasing these older cars. Keep up the good work.

The first sports car I fell in love with in 1953 was the Austin Healey 100-4. It had the perfect lines and the perfect sound. More modern than the MGs, more light a sporty than the Jags, and in black with a red interior it was everything my eleven year old heart could dream of. Thanks for getting me back in touch those cars and days.

My BJ8 with decent all season radials was predictable on the limit. I feel many folks these days just don't have the seat of the pants feel to be comfortable pushing this era of sports car. I grew up driving Triumphs, Jags, MGs and Austin Healeys, as well as racing and autocrossing them. Not only do you need to have/develop that feel, the requisite skill for that style of driving isn't always easily acquired. But attain that skill and every drive becomes a rewarding adventure. Love the 3000, this video reminds me I need another one.

I was lucky enough to own a red Mark 3, phase 2 was about 7 years and only sold due lack of garage space and changed circumstances. To think Jack summed it up nicely it is a lovely place to be sat in and yes there are faults but this is the character of the car and I never tired at just looking at it, as well cruising around countryside roads.

I love the frontal treatment - there's a definite face there and it's smiling at you, saying, "Be careful, chum, or I'll bite you!"

As classic cars go, they dont get much more "classic" than this ❤

My 1967 3000 MK III drove and handled wonderfully! My wife and I traveled in it on long tours from our home in the mid Atlantic USA to and through the Rocky Mountains. It’s electric overdrive made the Great Plains of the USA fly past. I should never have sold it! 😢

All those companies , Austin Healey, MG, Triumph, Jaguar , Jensen, Lotus, Morgan, .......so few left

Fifty odd years ago when I bought my first 911 I looked at one of these. A neighbor who was versed in British cars warned I wouldn't enjoy it as it was "truck-ish" compared to the Porsche. I still love the look of the A-H but I don't regret passing on one.

You impress me with your passion and wisdom and all round love of reviewing all sorts of cars from different eras! Don’t change a thing! I would open arms let you take my cars but there’s a catch.. I’m in Australia! Keep up the great work!

Nothing better after a stressful day at work to see an upload from Jack @ Number 27...... just what I needed to unwind 👍

I think you should try a 1955 Austin-Healey 100M, as it is lighter and more fun. I had one in the 1970’s when they cost £150! It had a 3-speed gearbox but overdrive gave it an extra gear. There were factory produced ones or a kit of parts could upgrade a basic car to 100M specification. My car was an original factory one. It succumbed to rust and I sold it to a restoration company as a MoT failure. It was black with brown leather seats. Another car I should have kept!! The 3000 was more of a GT car for long-distance family touring.

This channel gets better and better, really informative and well presented with really interesting cars. Thanks

I can remember a motoring journalist from one of the popular mags back in the mid-70's once writing about the Healey 3000 in slightly disparaging terms and summed it up along the lines of:- Well, when you take a former 4 cylinder 50's designed sports car and throw a hepped-up lorry motor at it weighing over half a ton you can't wonder that it does not endure fools well and gets a little twitchy when pushed and is likely to be across the road and through the hedge backwards when going too hard into a bend. Love them, though, one of the last of the proper British sports cars.

How much might the better impression over the original might be due to tyres? The first reviews might have been on cross-plies, while it's almost certainly on radials now. With a few exceptions, changing to modern tyres dramatically improves most vehicles.

Thank you watch that landau cover flap around brought back memories.I had A red 65' mark III black top with glass rear window and Black seats /interior. My back seat was one piece two bucket shapes. My dog Sam(a black puli) loved it but he perfered shotgun gave the girls a huff or two as he resigned to the spacious rear seat . loved those back roads.

OMG..my car in mid 60s on Capetown. Had a Cobra exhaust system and when driving along the seaside in Seapoint it got more attention than the fancy Italians.. Unbelievable easy to drive and easy to repair.. Driving from Capetown to Johannesburg absolutely a dream because the roads in yhose days in excellent condition and almost empty.. Unbelievable fantastic experience

Thanks. Great vid. That exact make and model (Austin Healey MK3 3000) has been my dream car since the sixties. Still love it.

That's a really nice example you got to drive Jack. I must admit to never having much time for the big Healeys and looked at them as being a rather crude lash up of bits from the BMC bin thrown, along with a ship anchor of an engine, into a pretty body. But I get that many can fall in love with them for a certain charm they have and they did of course have a decent competition record too.

A very pretty car and ideal for a Sunday morning jaunt. Timo Makinen took a MK3 to a class win at the Monte Carlo Rally so it isn’t all bad. I’d love one.

We worked on one. We installed an electronic Ignition system, Iridium Spark Plugs, Opened up the exhaust system more and better shocks. The performance was impressive.

Owned an ex-SCCA C Production 100-6 back in the Sixties. Besides the car's very late breakaway there was also the tendency of the exhaust system to be torn off at the slightest provocation.

With the top up, even down for that matter, the sound of the carburettors just dominates. You can hear them breathing, I can still hear this sound some 50 years later- even with my eyes open! And the steering wheel in your chest. Don't recall the steering being heavy though ... Yes, the mufflers WILL drag over speed bumps. So British, such a beautiful car, mine had the driving lights and luggage rack too. I've had my Midgets, MGB's, TR3's, but the Big Healey was a rank above for sure. Just be wary of the tail wanting to come around under spirited driving- see my other post up. Back when I had that car I had a few dates with a secretary at work who had a 64 XKE. Life was good now that I think about it. Thanks for bringing this all back to me! Cheers!

Great video, never actually seen a real driving perspective review of these before and always been fascinated with them. I also remember the auto knowledge section at the bag of the mag in the late 80's saying that you had to be hairy of chest to drive these...Lol.

I bought a 3000 mk 3 back in 1967 while in the navy. I kept it several years until I traded it for a larger vehicle after I got married. Loved it. Wish I still had it. Great lines. Wire wheels. Everything just WOW!!!!😊

Love seeing you do these older cars that lay the foundation for the 60s. It would be fun to hear your take on an MGA twin cam or an old MG T that was used for racing.

Very interesting. I enjoyed the potted history especially. My late uncle had one of these back in the late 60's / early 70's and left a lasting impression on me as a young boy of of around 10 years old. I have always wanted one. Maybe I will after I have finished my current project.

Being a 50s kid i do remember these cars, ABSO BRILLIANT !!

I owned one of these back in the late 60's, with brand new Michelin's under it I just had to see if it would do the 'advertised' 120mph. So yeh....and being just 3.5" off the ground, it seemed WAY faster. First and last time I ever risked it....but I loved that car. -Veteran '66-68

My dad bought a metallic blue Austin Healey, 3000 Mark III in 1968. It was a US version. It was a beautiful car, and I was lucky enough to get to drive it after I got my drivers license. It required quite a bit of regular maintenance. But I have such fond memories of this car.

Oh wow. My favorite car. I finally just got back into restoring my Austin healey sprite on my channel. It’s a mk2 63. Thanks for doing this car.

A good pal of my father purchased a big Healey from a scrapyard together with the engine and transmission of a equally scrapped 220 Mercedes. He slapped the drivetrain into the Healey, considerably widened the track (and the wheel arches) and converted the Merc column shift into a makeshift floor shifter. He wanted to achieve something of a cheap AC Cobra for himself. Crazy, never happened you say? This was in the late 1960s and he did this in his spare time between graduating and army duty. He had an awful lot of fun with it (tearing up Ford Mustangs on mountain roads and scaring girlfriends on the Italian autostrada) but had to let it go once he entered university. Now the unbelievable part of the story: 30 years later he tried to trace the whereabouts of his old car… and succeeded. The car basically retained his modifications and was now in the possession of an equally minded new owner. They both(!) gave it much needed repairs and brought it back on the road in its modded state. It received a german historic registration because all its modifications could be considered period correct tuning.

The source of this car is of course the Austin Atlantic. And this is great because my recently restored Atlantic has all new engine parts for the nearly 2.7 litre engine from the Healey specialists. This engine has lots of torque and for 1948 it is very impressive. Not many cars in 1948 could be tuned to100mph. The front and rear suspension and drive train and many other parts clearly share Atlantic heritage. However Healey 100/4 has a complex very strong and very light body that really sets the Healey apart. Healey also modified the engine with double valve springs and a different cam. Many Healeys were kept on the road from cannibalised Atlantic's. I like fact that today the Healeys incredible success has helped me keep our Atlantic's alive.

Beautiful car, British design at its best. John

To judge the car against the old road tests you’d have to try it on Dunlop cross-plies. You don’t say what this one had but the original tyres would have made the ride harder and the steering lighter than on modern radials.

I had a 100-6 Healey and loved it. I later owned two different versions of the AC Cobra which I think were inspired by the the Healey. Mine was a silver-blue body with an off-white side insert. Flipping the little switch to go into overdrive was always a great feeling. The engine roar would drop immediately and the car would almost sigh at the rpm loss. A great car to drive.

I remember the Austin Healy quite well. A neighbor had one. They were a cut above my pay grade and range as a teenager. I was originally a Sunbeam Alpine guy. Then a Triumph TR4A IRS, then a TR4, then an MGBGT, then finally a Triumph Spitfire. Loved the TRs and the Spitfire felt like a poor man's XKE. They were underpowered and antiquated, but eccentric and just had that class and joy to drive about them. Unique. Would loved to have had a Healey.

I owned a 1960 3000 when I was 20.. talk about suffocatingly sexy and super cool. The car wasn't bad either. 😄

A pal of mine owned one of these in the late 1970s, and though he never invited me to drive it, I did get out for some time in the passenger seat, which I remember fondly as a very solid, tasteful early mid-century sports car experience, unsophisticated, not terribly fast, but so, so enjoyable, everything tactile, and audible in a wonderful way. Hilariously, my own daily driver, then, was a 1952 Chevrolet pick up truck, also powered by a big, lumbering straight six engine! I miss them both.

Thanks for doing this review. Back in the late 1970s a good friend of my brother's (and mine) had one of these. My brother had a 1968 Triumph GT6, and I had a 1969 Austin Healey Sprite Mark IV. I remember one night we were over the friend's house playing cards. There were five of us. The three cars I mentioned were there as well as a Triumph Bonneville motorcycle (which I later bought and my now ex-wife made me get rid of) and another motorcycle (don't remember which type). At about 2AM we all left. All these vehicles were highly modified, and frankly loud. I wonder what the neighbors thought. My brother and his friend tore down and rebuilt the engine of the 3000 at one point. Of course, they put a hot cam in it and made other modifications. A boyhood friend who went to the US Naval Academy had an Austin Healey 100. Notice a pattern here. Actually, the guy who sold me the Bonneville also had an Alfa Romeo Giulietta, a 1964. He messed it up and my brother bought it from him. He totally restored it and still has it. He also recently tore apart the GT6 and put it back together. You should do a review of that car.

I had two Mk 3's over the years. Lived in Brixton & no one ever bothered trying to steal them! Used to roar up the M40 at 80mph regularly on the way to work. Favourite car of the era. Passed up an Aston to purchase the second. Brilliant fun, fond memories.

Lovely. The colour really suits it. Such a pretty machine.

I luv the British roadster sport cars, from MGB to Triumph to Austin-Healy, Austin-Martin, they are beautiful in design and make, with excellent powered engines like this BMC In-Line 6, although the handling, steering have their issues, they're just great fun to drive in a roadster package.

Fred’s big brother 😂😂😂

My uncle used to garage his car at a small BMC dealership on the south side of Glasgow in the 60s.the owner had a Healy 3000 in red and black,and I recall as a small boy being given a couple of short runs in it,he changed it eventually for a wolseley 6/110....

It's bloody beautiful. As a kid I always loved these and the Humber Super Snipe.

Wonderful review and a real beauty, looks to be quite roomy in the cabin especially the rear more than I remembered.

Excellent video. Years since I have seen one on the road but I always thought they were one of the prettiest cars around- even look good in two tone paint! But that cream looks lovely. You didn't really talk about the overdrive; when I had an overdrive MGB I found it handy to use 3rd and overdrive 3rd when driving briskly on those sort of roads; perhaps the same would suit the AH to reduce the number of heavy gear changes!

Thanks for the review.

Friend of mine had a 3000 back in the day, it was a beast. It had a LOUD Canadian Stebro exhaust that would hit the pavement on hard right turns. There are a few around here in New Hampshire now, I think they are among the most beautiful British cars made, second only to the E-Type. I rebuilt a 100M body, they have a very simple chassis. This car does seem to sit high on its suspension, maybe if it were more settled it would corner better.

Sounds awesome!

There is one of these where I live (Whangarei, New Zealand) with a Chrysler 265 (4 litre) engine, 5 speed gearbox and a different diff fitted, the engine reportedly makes around 300 HP and 350 lb/ft torque, so I imagine it's a bit of a handful!

One car for my dream car garage. The only 3000 I drove was a red and white ex rally which had the triple carb and side exit exhaust. That was great fun to drive.

I have driven a very nice 1959 Austin Healey this year. It’s all about the nostalgia and the ambiance. Jack is quite right it’s a refined car for its day and would have seemed relatively quick in period but in modern terms it’s quite lethargic. Very direct offset clunky but pleasing gear shift and super heavy and quite dead feeling steering. No door or wing mirrors just a tiny dash mounted rear view. I liked it but far too valauable to try throwing it about. Nevertheless a charming time piece for the well heeled and hairy of chest!

My mum still goes shopping to Sainsburys in hers every Thursday.

Thanks Jack, seems all your gym work has had an effect if it didn't seem that heavy to you?! An AH 3000 will always have the classic appeal, looked a really good example! 🙏🙏

C'est la voiture de sport britannique par excellence.

I've had two Healeys, a '59 100-6 and a '62 3000 w/3 SU carbs. Both of them shod with Michelin X. On a smooth surface each would absolutely go around a 90 degreee corner at speed and no problem. Bumpy roads were occasionally dicely but not consistently. Just keep in mind that the rear end was a solid axel on leafs and be prepared for a twitchy rear end, but nowhere near life threatening. Heavy steering? I never noticed. Both trannys were solid and slick. I never bothered with first gear as it was only good to maybe 35 mph and both cars pulled effortlessy from dead stop in 2nd anyway. My '62 had a factory hardtop for winter driving and the heater worked great. The stock twin tailpipes sounded freaking awesome. And, wow, they were beautiful.

Absaloutly brilliant video jack❤👍why did we loose our way with making cars like that absaloutly beautiful car waw brilliant

My father had a high end panel shop here in Sydney, our family car was a A95, it had a chip on first gear, so when I learnt to drive in 1969 we used a restoration of a Mk3 instead, including doing my driving test, the old school official was drooling over the car, I passed first attempt. My father was always British cars, I developed an expensive taste in Italian and Germany cars. My father helped me restore many Alfas, including a Duetta, 2000 Spyder, 2 x 105; 1750 and 2000GTV, I bought a new Alfetta GT, # 2 into the country. Alfasud Ti another 105. German 2002, 2002ti, 3 litre CSI, 528 Motorsport, another 3litre CSI & 3litre 911SC.......I miss my dad and all of his help !

My original love. I dreamed about that car until I realized at 16 I could only afford one car that had to work in New England weather. But I stared at pictures of that car as much as a playboy center fold. A brand new Pontiac firebird convertible with a V8 and four or five on the floor was my consolation prize.

That looks like a beautifully restored Big Healey.

In 1973 a 1954 100-4 was my first car here in Southern California. I was sixteen and life was just that simple.

Drop dead gorgeous! Maybe only bested in looks by the E-Type. Thanks for this.

Boy, did this bring back memories. I didn't buy my first car until I was out of the US Army for half a year. which means I bought it in December of 1962. It was a white 1957 Austin Healey 100-6 (which was the first year they offered it w/a six cylinder engine), red leather interior, Laycock-DeNormanville (if memory serves) electric overdrive that worked in both third and fourth, electric fuel pump (mounted outside of the tank) and wire wheels with "Do" and "Undo" directional knockoffs. I paid $1,800.00 for it off the lot and they even offered me a 1960 Triumph TR-3 for the same price, but my heart was set on the Healey. I think I put Pirelli's on it. T'was a great car as long as I had it. I even, at one point, had an Austin Mini - not the 1100 cc Mini Cooper, but the 850 cc version of the same body style. I'll never forget the first time I drove it I was on the freeway (Southern California) and, when I thought about changing lanes it suddenly was there - in the new lane. That was an attention getter and, once learned, the maneuverability was quite enjoyable - and handy. Anyway, as many of the entertainers of my parents era would say: "Thanks for the memories".

Again, despite Three Marks, BMC never developed anything because they were too worried about costs. The ill fated Mark IV was to use a RR Princess 4 litre in lone six. BMC had been inspired by ARX 91B’s Targa Florio performance..almost with winning that race in Cerda should have inspired its owners. Instead of making it pass US and emerging Common Market crash legislation, the company killed it. The 5 speed IRS Datsun 240Z showed up the Big Healy as a crude anachronism.

I had a 3000 MK 3 for a while when I was young. Boy, do I miss it!

My dad owned a '55 Austin-Healey 100 when he worked for Ford of Canada around '57. It was the car he had when he met my mom and eventually sold to be able to afford to get married. He holed a piston while doing some sports car racing and, thanks to an article in Hot Rod magazine, replaced that original 4-cyl. with a Chevy 265 cu. in V8 and a 3 speed manual with electric overdrive.

I still remember the VIN of my silver blue 66 3000 some 50 years later, I don't know why. Bought it used, was 3-4 years old. Picked it up on what seemed to be the coldest Pennsylvania winter day ever. Gear oil was HEAVY, so hard to get the next gear! I can attest to the "sketchy handling" as I had a first hand experiences with the tail stepping out more than just once. No incidents though except ... Was out with a friend one night top down on a "back country", but nicely paved, road. It was dark so I could see headlights warning me of something coming the other way. So I was showing off. Remember the old white wooden guard rails they used to use with big bolts sticking thru holding the cables? Well on a right hander the tail came out, I corrected, but still ended up on the other side of the road tearing up the whole length of the driver's side of the car on those darn bolts. Stupid as it may sound I still had control of the car as sparks were flying so I just kept going without stopping to see the damage. Neither of us said a word to each other as it was happening. Finally about a mile up the road, my friend looked over at me and said, and I quote exactly- "Boy, doesn't that piss you off every time that happens". After I dropped off my friend and got home I couldn't open the driver's door. It was bad, such a beautiful car and look what I did to it! Got it fixed, but sold it and bought a used 64 1/2 271 horse 289 Mustang. Two of SO many cars I wish I had back.

Cuzz had REG no, NLM 190E , Healey 3000. Mk3 , in 67 , Red & beautiful , loved it !! :-)

Love the look of this classic beautiful design. a real car,

Ahhh, I love these so much, on my (long) list of next car to purchase, really.

Back in the mid seventies I had a MKI/2-seat 3000, I feel it was more of a sports car, as opposed to the example here. Also, the MKI was a true roadster where as The MKIII is a cabriolet/ touring car.

I live just outside the Yorkshire Dales and drove it quickly around the Dales and Scottish Highlands. In those days the late 70s, 90% of the roads were single track