Yahoo Autos Buy This 1961 Austin-Healey 3000 Rally Car and Go Straight to a Gravel Road
The Austin-Healey 3000 is a pretty cool car as is, but this, one of just five rally cars prepared by the factory for 1961, is something truly special. RM Sotheby's will sell this car at its Monaco auction next month, and it looks like it's itching to get all kinds of sideways on a loose surface. The question that remains is: Would you be brave enough to rally a car that's worth around $300,000?
Yes, RM Sotheby's expects this big Healey to sell for $280,000-$300,000, which is a lot for a 3000, but probably fair given that this 3000 stands head and shoulders above all the others. It has its original, triple-carburetted 3.0-liter straight six, which makes around 180 horsepower. Based on the pictures in the listing, condition looks to be superb.
This car came third overall and first in class at the 1961 Acropolis Rally, and was subsequently sold to brilliant rally driver Rauno Aaltonen. RM Sotheby's reunited Aaltonen and the old Healey for an excellent video featuring a lot of excellent snow drifting.
"This Healey will love being driven fast," said Aaltonen. Let's hope its next owner gives it the treatment it deserves.
