The Big Healey – Austin Healey 3000

The big Austin Healeys were in the tradition of the big hairy-chested sports cars mould. Nose heavy and slow steering plus limited rear suspension movement (a similar problem to the Triumph TR sports cars) means they are best avoided by the faint hearted, especially in the wet. For those willing to work at their driving and to get the best out of themselves and their vehicles they can be a delight.

Starting out in 1952 with the Healey 100 which morphed into the 100/6 in an apt 1956 when it got the 2.6-litre Austin six-cylinder engine fitted before that engine was increased in capacity in 1959 to give the 3-litre with 124 bhp on tap.

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In 1960 Pat Moss, Stirling Moss’s sister, won the Liege-Rome-Liege Rally in a Big Healey to start a successful rally career for the car.

The Austin Healey 3000 MkII got a power hike up to 132 bhp in 1961 and in 1964 the definitive Big Healey, the MkIII, appeared with 148 bhp. It also got an improved interior and a modified chassis which improved the rear suspension.

The rally cars were putting out around 210 bhp on triple Webbers and just before the car was dropped as a competition model a version with an all aluminium engine was built to compete in the British RAC Rally. Unfortunately the event was cancelled due to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in cattle so the car never got used in anger. There were rumours of 240 bhp from it but we’ll never know. It also saved a significant amount of weight, improving handling and steering, over the cast-iron blocked models.

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The car’s poor ground clearance was always a source of trouble on rough rallies and it was only due to the fact the car was built like a tank that it often made it to the finish.

Although there were some experimental closed versions of the Big Healeys no coupes ever made it in to production, just convertibles were built. And the vast majority of those were exported.

The specs for the Austin Healey 3000 MkIII are below but I would only use them as a ballpark figure. You can find many variations of them online and in different books so these are given in good faith rather than set in stone.

Engine

Type: In-line six-cylinder

Construction: Cast-iron block and head (rally cars eventually got an aluminium head)

Valve gear: Two valves per cylinder, OHV,

Bore and stroke: 3.26 in x 3.50 in 

Displacement: 2,912cc

Compression ratio: 9.0:1

Induction system: Two SU carburetors

Maximum power: 148 bhp at 5,250 rpm

Maximum torque: 165 lb-ft at 3,500 rpm

Top speed: 121 mph

0-60 mph: 10.1 sec

Transmission

Four-speed manual with overdrive on third and fourth

Dimensions

Length: 157.5 in

Width: 60.5 in

Height: 50 in

Wheelbase: 92 in

Track: 48.8 in (front) 50 in (rear)

Weight: 2,549 lbs