• The first Austin-Healey 3000 off the production line • In-period competition history • Known ownership history • Present ownership since 1983 • Displayed at many important motoring museums in recent years "A classic competition car among the all-time greats in motoring history," was how The Autocar magazine summed up the works Austin-Healey 3000 in 1963.

Yet at the time of its arrival in 1959, few would have guessed that the low-slung 'Big Healey' would triumph over its apparent shortcomings so effectively that it now rates as one of the most successful rally cars of the 1960s.

BMC's development of the Big Healey for rallying started in 1958 with the 2.6-litre 100/6 model, which debuted in that year's Monte Carlo Rally driven by Tommy Wisdom.

By the time the new 2.9-litre 3000 model took over mid way through 1959, the 100/6 had demonstrated considerable promise, achieving a number of leader-board finishes.

Development had been facilitated by the transfer of Austin-Healey producti...