Lot details
Registration No: PJB 828
Chassis No: BN6532
Mot Expiry: None

Enjoying an embarrassment of historical riches since its manufacture during the latter part of April 1958, this particular 'Big Healey' began life as a company demonstrator / press car. Road tested by The Motor magazine for an April 8th 1959 article entitled 'The Austin-Healey 100-Six Two-seater', PJB 828 made the jump from news print to silver screen the following year. Appearing alongside a heavily disguised 4.5 litre W.O. Bentley and a rebadged Aston Martin DB3S in the hit comedy 'School for Scoundrels', its acquisition by Ian Carmichael's hero character marked his transition from 'chump to champ' and helped him thwart the plans of arch-cad Terry Thomas.
However, the car's next 'starring role' did not come until 1963 when it was acquired by the famous Big Healey exponent Edward 'Ted' Worswick. As he recalls in a letter on file:

"I bought PJB in late 1963 with a view to uprating it to Race / Rally spec. As no ex-Works cars were available - most had been written off, Abingdon competition department was kind enough to sponsor me with the necessary parts to bring the car close to Works spec. These included engine, gearbox and modified hardtop.
PJB was stripped and reassembled incorporating the Works competition parts ready for the 1964 season. The car in fact won first time out at Oulton Park in the Spring of 1964 and was raced and occasionally hillclimbed continuously throughout 1964 mostly at northern venues with very satisfactory results usually in the Marque or GT races and other suitable classes. PJB was of course driven to and from the circuits, as was commonplace at that time.
I had never been to Goodwood but it always appealed to me as a 'proper' circuit so in April 1965 I entered the car in a Marque race learning the circuit and finishing 10th. It was indeed a proper circuit and I returned in July entering three races. The results were a little better finishing 16th in the GT race, 3rd in the Marque race and 2nd in the Handicap race. A thoroughly enjoyable day I remember . . .
Returning to PJB, in May 1965 the car was entered in the 'Guards 1000' at Brands Hatch (500 miles on Saturday followed by 500 miles on the Sunday). My co-driver was my friend Alan Minshaw. I believe we finished 9th (actually 10th - ed).
PJB 828 was a very good car but was finally replaced by an ex-works Austin-Healey Sebring 3000 (767 KNX) which we drove to Sicily in 1966, 1967 and 1968 to race in the very demanding but magnificent 'Targa Florio'. Our best result was in 1967 finishing 9th overall and 2nd in class (behind a GT40 but ahead of all the Ferraris!)"

Drifting into obscurity thereafter, this historic Healey was reportedly rescued from an Ellesmere Port garage by its previous keeper in the mid 1970s. Minus the Works supplied hard-top but otherwise surprisingly original, it was subsequently treated to a lengthy and extensive refurbishment. Known to the vendor for many years (he helped supply various replacement parts including the hardtop), PJB 828 is variously rated by him as being in original (interior trim), rebuilt (3000cc engine, electrical equipment) or restored (four-speed 'Sebring' straight-cut gearbox, chassis, bodywork, paintwork) condition.
Said to retain such desirable Works features as triple Weber carburettors, radius arm rear suspension and later type front disc brakes, its competition career has been extended during the current ownership via various historic events such as the 2004 Tour de Espana. Finished in red with red leather upholstery and contrasting white roof, this much modified BN6 two-seater (essentially upgraded to 3000 MKII specification with the Works' assistance) merits the below mention in Chris Harvey's authoritative tome 'Healey The Handsome Brute':

"Meanwhile, Chatham was burning up the club tracks, but not without opposition for the drivers of other Big Healeys. One of the fastest was an old 100-Six, PJB 828, driven by a young Lancastrian called Ted Worswick. PJB 828 was a former works Press car fitted with a decent engine and ancillaries. Worswick and Chatham went on to win numerous British races between them with SAL 75 and PJB 828".

A rare opportunity to acquire a 'works sponsored' Big Healey with press car, film and Goodwood race history to its credit, PJB 828 is offered for sale with substantial history file (Heritage Certificate, green log book, Ted Worswick correspondence etc) and current FIA papers which identify it as a 'Period F' car (1962-1965) for competition purposes.