As Jaguar was referred to
as the "Poor Man's Bentley", Austin Healey could be called a
"Poor Man's Jaguar". And while some may make disparging remarks
about the second-class status of Jaguar to the upper crust
Bentley, the gap between Jaguar and Healey is not so great,
just different.
I can't honestly say I
actually remember the first time I saw a 3000. I had to be
small, as they were common sights at my Dad's service station.
My Dad is a very friendly, nice guy, and he'd
often ask his customers if
they wouldn't mind taking "little Wayne" for a ride around the
block, knowing that I loved these little British cars so.
I can't remember the "first" of such rides, but I do
remember getting a ride in a red Healey once (not sure of the
year). It wasn't the last ride I ever took in a Healey.
While in High School I
"bought" a rattle-trap, rusted (but running) 1960 red 3000
for $1,000. The car needed new everything. What
was particularily vexing was that if you removed the floormats,
you could see pavement whirling by!
And so this is how I learned a valuable
lesson about buying used (especially British) cars.
Having the money to
buy a car does not mean that you'll have the money to fix it
up! It's the kind of math problem that only 17 year olds
can not figure out how to do! Well, after a couple of months
of babying this thing around, I sold it for about what I paid
for it. In my mind, it looked as good as the one pictured
here, but most of us have figured out by now that wishing does
not a car make!
Regardless, I don't to this
day regret having that experience,
and the look, smell, and rough and
tumble ride of the racous big Healeys is tough to beat. Plus
they are such gorgeous looking cars. Like Jaguars, they look
fast and sporty, but are made more for the
upcoming college lad than
his more stately professor. I like having a little college boy
left in me. And one day (soon) I am going back to "school"
in a red Austin Healey 3000, naturally.
Favorite
British
Cars
