One of the first cars I ever fell for was a mid-1960s Austin-Healey 3000. Gorgeous little British runabout, with a smiling face upfront and a light, tossable chassis.
Everything about this car said fun: It was a small 2 seat convertible, which meant it was impractical unless it was a second car. That long hood, that grill, wired-spoke wheels, the lines, all said the car was made for a singular purpose: long drives in the sunshine on back roads, for the sole purpose of bringing a smile to your face.
These were made from 1959 to 1967. They became increasingly competent as they evolved; By 1963 (this car) they had dual or triple-carburetored 2.9-liter inline 6 cylinder engines rated ~130-135 horsepower. Of course these were mated to a 4 speed manual transmission. By 1964 HP was up to 150 horsepower.
In 1963, 91.5 per cent of all Austin-Healey 3000 cars were exported, primarily to North America. It was a successful car, which won its class in many European rallies. It is still raced in classic car competitions by enthusiasts today.
Source: Bring A Trailer
