WHAT TO BUY IN 2024
We tasked the CCW team with choosing the cars that they feel will offer buyers the most enjoyment while getting the most from any budget. Here’s what they came up with…
AUSTIN-HEALEY 3000 (1959-1967)
WHY DO YOU WANT TO OWN ONE?
Because it’s so much better than all those ‘hairy-chested sports car’ clichés that some armchair critics would have you believe. A well-sorted 3000 bristles with character – A bit of straight-ahead steering wander that isn’t untypical of Fifties classics, but point it at a corner and it comes alive, thrusting a tidal wave of information at your fingertips and a lovely dollop of low-down torque from the BMC C-Series ‘six’ on the way out.
You’ll never get tired of looking at it, either; perhaps it’s not as eye-searingly svelte as Gerry Coker’s original design for 1952’s 100 but with the runout MkIII in particular you get the sense that the trade-off between aesthetics and usability is played beautifully.
It’s straightforward to own, too. Parts supply is healthy, there are plenty of specialists to look after you and two national owners’ clubs ready to share their top tips, too. It’s a crisply proportioned, capable and charismatic cruiser that’ll take everything from a run to acountry pub to LeJog in its stride – no wonder the historic rallyers loves it.
WHAT MAKES IT SUCH VALUE FOR MONEY?
You can pick up a tired example for less than £20k but you could be in for a few tricky repairs if it needs lots of TLC, particularly if the chassis or inner sills need attention. Opt instead for a 3000 that someone else has already paid out to get all the hard work done on it; we’ve seen plenty changing hands for increasingly reasonable prices.
You’d have been looking at around £50k for really nicely restored examples five or ten years ago but just such a car – a 1967 MkIII – headed home for £43,875 at Classic Car Auctions’ sale last month and another restored 3000 MkIII sold for £39,375 at H&H’s Duxford sale back in September. The 3000’s evergreen popularity with classic fans, including a strong continental market, means that values haven’t softened to the extent of some other Fifties and Sixties sports cars in recent years so don’t expect to come across any huge bargains any time soon but you are likely to get more for your money than when the UK’s classic market rose to its height in the mid- 2010s if you do your homework properly.
Budget around £35-45k for a decent example with the market generally considering the run-out MkIII as being the one to go for, and which therefore fetches the strongest money. You’re unlikely to lose out in the long-term, too.
WHAT SHOULD ILOOK FOR WHEN BUYING?
The floorpans and bulkhead are welded to the chas
