General description :
The Austin-Healey 3000 was built from 1959 to 1967. It is the best known of the "Big Healey" models. The car's bodywork was made by Jensen Motors and the vehicles were assembled at BMC's MG works in Abingdon, alongside the corporation's MG models. As to the Mk III, it was launched in 1963 and was the last evolution until the end of the production. During its production life, the car transitioned from an open sports car, albeit with a child-transporting 2+2 option, to a sports convertible. In 1963, 91.5 per cent of all Austin-Healey 3000 cars were exported; mostly to North America. The 3-litre 3000 was a highly successful car, which won its class in many European rallies in its heyday and is still raced in classic car competitions by enthusiasts today. British Motor Corporation ended manufacture in 1967, intending its place to be filled by a car with a new, though similar, engine in a more recently designed monocoque MGB variant named MGC. Specifications Bodywork Length: cm (in): 401 (157.6) Width: cm (in): 154 (60.5) Height: cm (in): 125 (49.2) Wheelbase: cm (in): 234 (92) Weight: kg (lb): 1150 (2538) Mechanics. Displacement: straight-six 2912 cc (178 ci), front-mounted Valve gear: 12 Fuel system: 2 SU HS4 carbs Gearbox: 4-speed manual Driven wheels: rear-wheel drive Maximum power: 148 bhp at 4750 rpm Maximum torque: 226 Nm at 3500 rpm Maximum speed: 195 km/h (121 mph)
Austin-Healey was a British sports car make created as a joint-venture between the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and the Donald Healey Motor Company.
First Healey model, Healey 100, was based on Austin A90 Atlantic mechanicals and developed by Donald Healey to be build in-house. They finished a single Healey Hundred for the 1952 London Motor Show. Leonard Lord, managing director of Austin was so impressed by the design that a deal was duly struck with Healey and the car was renamed the Austin-Healey 100 overnight. Austin Healey was born. 100 derived into 100-six, and different 3000 versions before they quit the production in 1968 as the basic design had finally become obsolete.