Austin Healey 3000

donald healey

donald healey has played an important role in the development of English sports cars. Besides Austin Healey, the name is found again in Nash-Healey and Jensen-Healey. The Donald Healey Motor Company was founded shortly after the war and made exclusive sports cars - cars that are probably worth a fortune today. It was from this company that the collaboration between the Austin division of BMC and Healey started. Austin-Healey was founded in 1952 to produce sports cars. Two model series were made, one called Big Healey based on 3 models, Austin-Healey 100, 100-6 and 3000. The little Healey was Sprite which also went by the nickname Frogeye.

Big Healey

The development of the new sports car was based on Austin's prestige model A90 Atlantic. This resulted in the Austin-Healey 100 from 1953. From 1956, the model had an increased wheelbase, 6-cylinder engine and air intake on the bonnet. The engine was taken from the big car Austin Westminster – an engine that was actually developed by Morris. From 1959 came the model that has garnered the most recognition – the Austin-Healey 3000. It was produced in three series – all with the same engine, a 3-liter straight-six based on the 2.6-liter engine in the 100-6. The model also got disc brakes at the front. In appearance, it was similar to its predecessor. The Mk2, which came in 1961, had the rib pattern in the grille changed to vertical ribs. It also got an upgrade in performance to 132 HP through new carburetors. From 1964, the Mk3 had increased performance to 150 HP through new carburetors and a sharper camshaft. The last year of production was 1967.

Mark I

Visual characteristics

One of the surest characteristics is the ribs in the grille. The MkI had horizontal ribs, while subsequent series got vertical ones. Until the autumn of 1962, all the cars had been fairly simple roadsters. From the 1963 model year, cars with a proper hood and side windows were available. In addition to the hood, the Sports Cabriolet is visible by its slightly curved windshield framed by chrome - also on the upper side. Another characteristic is that cars from 1965 got turn signals at the front separated from the parking/marker lights. All models could be delivered either as 2 seats or 2+2 seats.

Mark ii

Austin Healey 3000 MkII – on the left Roadster, on the right Sports Cabriolet.

1962 Austin-Healey 3000 Series II with hardtop.

Mark III

1966 Austin-Healey MkIII Sports Convertible.

1964 Austin-Healey MkIII Sports Convertible.

electrified

This Austin-Healey MkIII Sports Cabriolet has been converted to electric power by London Electric Cars. The car was displayed outside London Olympia Hall in 2023.

About the pictures

The solid red car with air vents on the sides is a 1962 Mk1 Austin Healey 3000. The photo was taken while the car was in the area. Cadillac Diner at Tretten in Gudbrandsdalen. Several of the cars were photographed during a drive-out to Hadeland Glassverk. This applies to the red car in the main photo (front photo), the two red-over-white MkII cars and the black-over-white car. The red Series II car with hardtop participated in the Norwegian Sports Car Club's spring parade at Øvrevoll gallop 2026. The car in blue-over-white paint is pictured at Oksenøya in Fornebu. The car with British electric car registration number "ETL 209C" is pictured outside the London Olympia Hall in 2023.

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