Front view of two 1959, Austin Healey 3000 Race Cars entered into the Gallet Trophy for Classic GT Cars (pre 66') at the Silverstone Classic 2017
The Austin-Healey 3000 is a British sports car 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. 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, 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. The Austin-Healey 3000 was announced on 1 July 1959 with a 3-litre BMC C-Series engine to replace the smaller engine of the 100-6 and disc brakes for its front wheels. The manufacturers claimed it would reach 60 mph in 11 seconds and 100 mph in 31 seconds.[2] Other changes were minor compared to those between the original 100 and the 100-6. The wheelbase and body were unchanged as were the body-styles, a 2+2 or BT7 and a two-seater BN7. Weather protection remained minimal, a folding plastic roof on a light demountable frame and above the doors detachable side screens holding sliding perspex panels. Wire wheels, overdrive gearbox, laminated windscreen, heater, adjustable steering column, detachable hard top for the 2+2, and two-tone paint were available as options. 13,650 Mark Is were built: 2,825 BN7 open two-seaters, and 10,825 BT7 2+2s Austin Healey 3000's have a long competition history, and raced at most major racing circuits around the world, including Sebring (USA), Le Mans (France), and Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst (Australia). The BMC competitions department rallied the 3000 from i
Size: 5314px × 2788px
Location: Silverstone Race Circuit, Northhamptonshire, England
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: -series, 1959, 2017, 2912cc, 3-litre, 3000, 3000cc, austin, automobile, automotive, bmc, bonnett, british, car, cars, classic, competition, denis, engine, front, gallet, garage, gt, headlights, healey, historic, history, international, jack, long, masters, mechanic, motor, motorsport, motosport, paddock, pit, race, racing, red, silverstone, sports, straight-6, team, trophy, tyres, vehicle, view, welch, wheels, white, windscreen
