Works Rally Car XJB 871

[dougie]

Ok, now it's your change to own a real piece of Austin Healey race history. One you can take out and use in anger.
https://petrolicious.com/if-you-re-going-to-buy-a-big-healey-make-it-a-works-rally-car

 

[vette]

Re: Works Ralley Car XJB 871

Coincidentally, I have just been reading the book 'Big Healeys in Competition' by John Baggott where some history of the car is noted. It said that as a works rally car, XJB 871 was crashed by Peter Riley in the 1961 Alpine rally. Either before Aaltonen took possession or just after, the factory converted it to left hand drive. Cal Hasselgren having owned it for a greater period, then decided to restore the car, it showing signs of rust. Now here it is offered at auction as a right hand drive car. But truely a 2 owner car.

 

[HealeyRick]

Re: Works Ralley Car XJB 871

Quite the weapon. The picture of the dash shows all the bright work blacked out along with the wheel spokes. Wonder if that was done in period as I can't recall any photos of other rally cars being done like that.

 

[vette]

Re: Works Ralley Car XJB 871

Here's a picture of XJB 871 from Baggott's book. I would guess this is after Hasselgren had it restored as it looks pretty good. Looks shiney to me.

 

[Editor_Reid]

I recently authored the auction catalog description of this car. The story is also in the upcoming May issue of HEALEY MARQUE magazine.

The car has been restored to its appearance at the beginning of the 1961 Acropolis Rally, in which it won its class. As noted it was crashed in its following event, the Alpine Rally. Therefore its career as a works car was short, and with mixed results.

I still would not be ashamed to own it.

 

[dougie]

It took big money to own this car....It would be nice to see it get back on the track, so many of this cars only see the garages in big collections.
https://rmsothebys.com/mc16/monaco/lots/1961-austin-healey-3000-mk-i-works/1078505

 

[catfood]

Seems cheap to me for a works car (but still way out of my league) when compared to the prices the 100S's fetch (and the works cars are rarer too).

 

[gothatway]

The car was prepared for the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique last week, and it did start the event but had to retire when the driver was too ill to continue.