The year is 1958, and Donald Healey, founder of Austin-Healey, needs a “gimmick” to help attract customers to his company’s stand at the renowned Earls Court car show in London. Healey’s PR man, Ken Gregory, came to him with an idea. What if they took the Healey 100-6, otherwise known as the “Big Healey”, and adorned it with luxurious materials to create the most lavishly appointed car in the world? Healey had his hang-ups, mainly over how wildly expensive the show car would be for his little sports car company. He told a fuming Gregory that if he wanted to build a gold-encrusted 100-6, he’d have to guarantee that he could sell the car. Gregory found a buyer in the way of auto writer Basil Cardew, who wanted it as the grand prize in a contest his publication was holding at the time. With the deal done (it was discussed over a pint, as all good British agreements are) Healey and his team set to work on ‘Goldie’.
The resulting vehicle was certainly a show stopper. Every piece of exterior trim was covered in 24-karat gold plating – from the wheel wires to the wiper fluid nozzles and even the wipers themselves. The key was also plated in gold and came with a solid 24k gold keychain replica of the car. The steering wheel and all of the interior knobs were made from ivory, while the seat inserts, back squibs and floor mats were all made from Mink. Chinese kidskin leather covered everything else that wasn’t mink or gold.
SEE ALSO: Steve Jobs’ BMW Z8 is Crossing the Auction Block
The car was given away in the contest before the winner sold it. It then traded hands a number of times before ending up in an English barn, where it was later found and restored. Now, it’s set to head to auction at RM Sotheby’s upcoming New York Icons sale. The auction house thinks it will sell for anywhere between $350,000 and $550,000 – a huge sum for a Healey. We imagine the buyer will stick it in a collection or a museum somewhere as you can’t really drive it anywhere – unless you want to risk having your ivory shift knob and gold wiper fluid nozzles stolen. The auction will be held on December 6th, so be sure to check back to see what this lavishly appointed British two-seater sold for. We’re curious as to its current value.
[Source: RM Sotheby’s, Hemmings]
Leave a Reply