1961 Austin-Healey 3000
- Engine
- 2.9L OHV inline-six with triple SU carburettors, 180 bhp
A 1961 Austin-Healey 3000 works rally car, registered XJB 871, prepared by BMC's competition department for the 1961 European road-rally season. It achieved 3rd overall and 1st in GT class at the Acropolis Rally, driven by Peter Riley and Tony Ambrose. Subsequently acquired by Finnish rally legend Rauno Aaltonen, it spent nearly five decades with a single private owner in Finland, retaining its original engine and 1961 specification throughout.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €403,200 (≈ $444K)
- 1961 → 1964Factory deliveryBMC Works Competition Departmentfull documentation
Car prepared by the factory competition team and registered as XJB 871 for the 1961 works rally season. Returned to BMC after retirement at the Alpine Rally before being sold on.
- 1964 → 1965Private saleRauno Aaltonenpartial documentation
Finnish rally driver acquired the car to familiarise himself with the 3000 platform ahead of competition in a separate works entry; the car was kept in Finland during his ownership.
- 1965 → 2013Private saleCaj Hasselgrenpartial documentation
Originally a student when he purchased the car, he drove it regularly for roughly a decade then placed it in storage. He later commissioned a full restoration completed in 1995 and used it briefly in historic events before his passing in 2013.
- 2013 →InheritanceHasselgren familypartial documentation
Car passed to the family following Caj Hasselgren's death and remained in their ownership up to the time of cataloguing.
Competition
- 19611961 Acropolis RallyDriver: Peter Riley3rd overall, 1st in GT class
Co-driven by Tony Ambrose; the car also took honours as the top-finishing British entry in the event.
- 19611961 Alpine RallyDriver: Peter RileyDNF
Co-driven by Tony Ambrose; the crew was obliged to withdraw and the car was returned to BMC.
- —1996–1997 historic racingDriver: Caj Hasselgren
Following the 1995 restoration, the car participated in a short period of historic motorsport events between 1996 and 1997 before being laid up again.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1995Restoration
A comprehensive restoration was carried out by Hasselgren, returning the car to roadworthy condition after an extended period in storage. The original engine was retained and the car was brought back to its 1961 works specification.
Work was initiated some years after the car had been placed in storage by Hasselgren, who had driven it for roughly a decade prior.
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