Healey 'with history' tops $1.28M at Bonhams' UK December Sale
Those that know their motorsport history will know that the 1955 Le Mans 24 Hour race was one of the most deadly and controversial in the sport's history. If you're not familiar with it, the '55 Le Mans race became infamous for a racing incident involving a works Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR and a works Austin-Healey 100 Special.
Three hours into the race, the SLR driven by Pierre Levegh rammed into the back of the Healey, driven by Lance Macklin on the main start-finish straight. The impact sent Levegh's car somersaulting down the trackside barrier, throwing parts of the car and burning fuel into the crowd. The accident killed 84 people, including Levegh, and led to a review of spectator safety measures at major motorsport events. In the aftermath of the accident, the Austin-Healey was impounded by the French police for 18 months.
Upon its release, the mildly damaged car was returned to Donald Healey, who restored and sold it to a UK-based privateer racer soon after. Being an official works racer, the car was competitive throughout the 1950s and 1960s, but it disappeared off the scene soon after. This was explained by the fact that the vendor who purchased the car in 1969 stored it unrestored and untouched for 42 years before it was consigned for the auction.
Consigned and auctioned in unrestored 'barn find' condition, the ex-Works '100' Special Test Car sold for £843,000 (AU$1.28 million approx.). This represents the highest price an Austin-Healey has ever fetched at auction. Unsurprisingly, the vendor said he was "delighted" with the result. Bonhams were similarly impressed with the price achieved by this significant vehicle.
"As an unashamed Austin-Healey fan - and owner of a '100' myself - I'm thrilled with today's result," said James Knight, Group head of Bonhams Motoring Department.
"The '100S' is, to me, the most desirable Healey of all and to have sold an ex-Works example with Special Test Car lineage and such significant racing history for such a magnificent price is a dream come true."
Other highlights from Bonhams December 1 sale include a 1964 Aston Martin DB5, which made £271,000 (AU$412,000 approx.), a 1937 Bentley 4 ¼-litre All Weather Tourer, which sold for £137,500 (AU$209,000 approx.) and £84,000 (AU$127,600 approx.) for a 1912 Lanchester State Limousine originally made for the Maharajah of Rewa.
Images: courtesy of Bonhams
