1964 Austin-Healey 3000 MK III Sport Convertible

This car is one of only five Works-prepared 3000s prepared for pure circuit racing. As it rolled off the Works at Warwick, it was meticulously prepared to contest the rigors of endurance racing and help build the reputation of the company in the United States, where Donald and Geoffrey found so much success selling their six-cylinder motorcars. Sebring was chosen as the stage to showcase their motorcar. Prior outings in 1957, 1958, and 1960 had been met with mixed results. A pair of 3000 BJ7s, 55 FAC and 54 FAC, had both finished a respectable 12th and 26th, respectively.

The light and quick homologation hard-top Healey bore similarity to a standard BJ7 only in that it carried the same basic profile. The cars were clothed in aluminum body panels and given a highly tuned triple Weber carburetion setup, hotter cams in 6-port aluminum heads, ZF limited-slip differential, and a special racing gearbox made this Big Six a rocket ship.

For the big race on March 21st, 1964 the lone Works Austin-Healey entry was entrusted to Paddy Hopkirk. Two months prior, Hopkirk had enjoyed a victory at the Monte Carlo Rally, teamed with Canadian Grant Clark.

The car, driven by Paddy Hopkirk and Grant Clark, competed against a class of Ferraris. (In fact, it was the only non-Ferrari in its class). At the start of the race, Hopkirk was at the wheel. A puncture nearly ended the race for him, but he miraculously managed to maintain control of the car. Following a pit stop for fresh tires, Hopkirk played catch-u until handing the wheel to Clark. Just a few minutes after taking control of the car, Clark lost control of the car and ended the team's race, with 767 KNX on its roof after 49 laps.

The car was only lightly damaged and was sent back to the Works for repairs.

As was customary at the time, Healey sold the old racecar to a privateer for no more than the cost of a new road car. The car was purchased by Yorkshire woolens magnate Henry R. Crowther for the sum of £1,080 on August 7th, 1964. Crowther used it for hill climbs and sprints. He retained 767 KNX only briefly before selling it to his friend Ted Worswick. 767 KNX would be retained by Worswick for the subsequent 26 years, during which time the car was kept in remarkably original condition. In his care, 767 KNX ran the Targa Florio twice - in 1966 and again in 1968 - finishing 29th in its latter outing. A 3rd in class would be achieved at the prestigious Oulton Park GT support race while a handful of other outings were recorded.


It is also acknowledged to be the Works car which returned to Sebring in 1965. This time it was to be driven by Paul Hawkins and Warwick Banks, who took an incredible victory in torrential conditions.

In 1970, 767 KNX was laid up for a dozen years until the 50th Anniversary of the RAC Rally, placing 5th overall (behind a quartet of Minis) as well as taking home the prize for the GT Class and the Team Prize. A 1984 outing at Oulton Park was followed by a trip to Italy for the 3rd Coppa d'Italia in 1987. In 1990, 767 KNX returned to the US for the first time since 1964 to participate in the Anglo American Challenge. Upon its return from the US, the motor was rebuilt by marque specialist John Chatham.

In 1992, 767 KNX moved to its third private owner, vintage racer Norman Grimshaw. Continuing the car's successful racing career, Grimshaw and Barrie 'Whizzo' Williams campaigned 767 KNX at the 1995 and 1996 Silverstone Festivals. The car then returned to Chatham in 1996 for a rear axle and limited-slip differential rebuild. 2004 saw the historic racer change hands once more to collector Jonathan Procter. Shortly after acquisition, 767 KNX was sent to noted marque specialists Denis Welch Motorsports for a complete mechanical overhaul. Completed in 2005, and with invoices totaling over £19,000, the freshly refurbished racer was acquired by the American vendor in 2006.


Back in the US, 767 KNX has enjoyed a few races since acquisition, but has been used only sparingly and meticulously maintained. In 2012, 767 KNX returned to Florida for the Amelia Island Concours.

It has had just 5 private owners from new and is regarded as the most original Works Healey to survive, retaining its original body and engine.