Austin Healey Auction Watch: Two Big Healeys Listed at Mathewsons

Introduction

When a Healey appears at auction, the headline estimate is usually the first thing people notice. Useful, yes, but rarely the whole story.

Specification, restoration history, paperwork, upgrades, body condition and presentation all affect how a car is understood by potential buyers. Two cars in a similar estimate range can tell very different stories once you look beyond the photographs and lot number.

The details below are summarised from the original Mathewsons listings and should be treated as a starting point only. Estimates do not include any buyer’s premium or additional costs, and both listings refer viewers to the video for the mileage showing. Anyone considering bidding should review the auction listing directly, watch the relevant video, inspect the car where possible, check the paperwork and satisfy themselves before making a decision.

Lot 112: 1965 Austin Healey 3000 Mk3

Lot 112 is listed as a 1965 Austin Healey 3000 Mk3 with an auction estimate of £31,000 to £32,000. The listing records the car as a 2912cc Austin Healey with registration ABH 272C, manufactured in 1965 and first registered on 12 November 1998. A current V5 is noted as present.

The Mathewsons listing describes the car as a Big Healey 3000 Mk3 finished in Old English White with a black mohair hood, chrome wire wheels and black leather interior. Paperwork is said to include MOT certificates, old tax discs, valuation certificates, previous insurance certificates, printed information about the make and model, printed photographs and invoices.

Why this 3000 Mk3 is interesting

The 3000 Mk3 is one of the most familiar later Big Healeys, combining the six-cylinder character of the earlier cars with the more developed feel of the final production years. Auction listings like this are useful because they show how much buyers may value presentation, history, paperwork and specification alongside the base model itself.

For restorers and owners, the useful points to note are not just the paint colour or trim. The paperwork, hood condition, interior condition, chrome wire wheels and general presentation all affect how a car is understood by potential buyers.

A smart-looking Healey still deserves careful inspection, especially around body structure, chassis condition, braking system, cooling system, electrical equipment and signs of older restoration work.

View Lot 112 on Mathewsons Watch Lot 112 Video

Lot 294: 1958 Austin Healey BN6 100/6

Lot 294 is listed as a 1958 Austin Healey BN6 100/6 with an auction estimate of £32,500 to £35,000. The listing records the car as a 2912cc Austin Healey with registration DSL 438, manufactured in 1958 and first registered on 24 May 1999. A current V5 is noted as present.

Paperwork is said to include a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate, owner’s handbook, service manual, photo album containing restoration photographs, horn fitting instructions and invoices.

The vendor notes describe the car as a two-seater originally from California, repatriated to the UK in 1999 and converted from left-hand drive to right-hand drive.

They also describe a chassis-up restoration including the engine, gearbox and overdrive. The listing states that the engine has been upgraded to 2912cc and mentions a Lucas dynamo-alternator, electronic ignition, larger-capacity radiator, powder-coated wire wheels with recently fitted period tyres, retrimmed interior, new exhaust and cerakoted manifold.

Why this BN6 100/6 is interesting

The BN6 is a particularly interesting Big Healey because it gives the earlier 100/6 shape in a two-seater layout. This listing also raises several useful restoration talking points: repatriated cars, left-hand-drive to right-hand-drive conversion, chassis-up work, engine upgrades and usability changes.

Those details can make a car very appealing, but they also deserve careful checking. Conversion quality, restoration documentation, cooling performance, charging system changes, ignition changes, gearbox and overdrive condition, body alignment and chassis condition should all be reviewed carefully.

With any modified or restored Healey, the story is only as strong as the workmanship and evidence behind it.

View Lot 294 on Mathewsons Watch Lot 294 Video

Useful Checks When Viewing an Austin Healey at Auction

Even if you are not looking to buy, auction listings are a useful reminder of what owners, restorers and sellers often focus on. Documentation, restoration photographs, invoices, hood and trim condition, electrical upgrades, cooling improvements and wheel choices can all shape how a Healey is presented.

They also show why each car needs to be judged on its own evidence. A repatriated car, an older restoration, a right-hand-drive conversion, a modified charging system or a larger radiator may all be perfectly sensible, but the quality of the work and the paperwork behind it still matter.

These checks are a practical starting point only. A professional inspection is recommended before bidding on or buying any classic car.

Looking for an Austin Healey for Sale?

Auction cars can be exciting, but they are only one route into Austin Healey ownership. If you are actively looking for a car, it is also worth keeping an eye on enthusiast-owned Healeys, private sales and specialist listings where you can take more time to ask questions, review history and compare the car against your plans.

Our Healeys For Sale page helps owners and enthusiasts browse Austin Healey cars currently being advertised. Whether you are comparing Big Healeys, looking for a Sprite, or simply keeping an eye on what is out there, it is a useful place to continue your search.

If you are thinking of selling your Austin Healey, you can also list it on our Healeys For Sale page with no listing fee.