1959 Austin-Healey 3000
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Year of manufacture1959
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Chassis numberHBT7L6121
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Lot number308
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Reference number27523_308
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ConditionUsed
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Location
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Exterior colourOther
Description
1959 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark I Jamaican
Coachwork by Fiberfab
Registration no. 236 YUW
Chassis no. HBT7L6121
The rare car we offer was exported new to the USA in 1960 as an Ivory White Austin-Healey 3000 BT7 four-seater. As with many old sports cars, it fell into disrepair and was turned into a Fiberfab Jamaican in the late 1960. These stylish sports coupé bodies, designed by Chris Beeb, were available for installation onto Healey, Triumph TR and MGA chassis. Fiberfab were based in California and were renowned for their range of stylish car bodies. Named after the company owner's wife. the Jamaican was the best looking of the bunch. Notoriously difficult to build to a high standard, many remained unfinished making driving examples very rare. This is possibly one of only four or five Healey-based examples in driving condition.
The vendor purchased the Jamaican as a project some years ago and originally rebuilt it as a competition car, undertaking a full, frame-off, 'last nut and bolt' rebuild. Since then the Jamaican has done very well in numerous races over the last five years with a few wins and an 82mph lap average at Mallory Park. AMOC, HRDC and the BDC all welcomed entries.
More recently, the vendor has returned the car to road specification to make it a pleasure to drive, and back converted it back to left-hand drive with European road trips in mind. The rebuilt drive train and running gear is now to Healey 3000 Mark I specification (130bhp, stainless exhaust, etc). It still has the roll cage (with scrutineering stickers still intact) and race harnesses. The custom bucket seats have been trimmed in leather and had cushions made for more cabin comfort. Matching leather door cards were custom made also. A professional repaint has also just been completed at substantial cost and the car looks stunning in all lights and from every angle. There is also a new tinted front screen, glazed rear window, and chrome trim. New headlight covers were shipped from the USA to finish it off.
No expense has been spared on this unique car, which has been the owner's pride and joy for the time he has owned it. There is plentiful paperwork on file concerning Fiberfab and the Jamaican project, together with a Heritage Certificate and current V5C document. It should be noted that the car is ideally suited to drivers under 5' 10" as headroom is limited.