Austin Healey 3000 - The Big Healeys

The Healey 100 started in 1952 and a few years later morphed into the 100/6 when it got the 2.6-litre Austin six-cylinder engine (in an apt 1956) fitted before that engine was increased in capacity in 1959 to give the 3-litre with 124 bhp on tap.

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 usual improvements and tweaks came with age and 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 Austin Healey 3000 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.

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.

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.