The 3 litre ( 2,912cc ) Austin Healey 3000 was built from 1959-67.

It evolved from the stylish Austin Healey 2.6 litre 100/6 (BN6) two seater which had considerable rallying credentials, not least of which was in the 1959 Tulip Rally, the oldest Dutch rally, held every year since 1949 over a 2500 km route .

The six cylinder 3000 MKI model featured front disc brakes, wire wheels as standard and adjustable seats, not featured on it's predecessor and was initially introduced as an open topped 2 seater which evolved into a convertible.

In the sequential MKII and MKIII versions, the top speed evolved from 113 mph to 116 and 122mph and a 0-60 of 11.4 seconds, 10.5 and 9.8 seconds respectively.

The MKIIA  BJ7 1962 - 63 (pictured above) introduced wind up windows and an easy put up hood and went from a triple to a twin-carb set up which was more fuel-efficient, but with no reduction in power.

The MKIII 1963 - 67  came with door locks, twin indicators, a lavish interior and enhanced suspension.

Austin Healey claimed the MKI could do in excess of 115 mph and the 3000's Austin-Healey Works competition cars successfully raced in their white top / red body factory racing colours very successfully on the European Rally stage.

What the rallies demonstrated, was the sheer ruggedness and durability of the  3000 in a fiercely competitive field on courses that other cars simply failed to finish.

In 1960 for the non stop 4 days/4 nights  Liège - Rome- Liège (Marathon de la Route) Porsche entered 14 cars, Alfa Romeo 10 and Mercedes, Jaguar, Peugeot, Ford, Volvo and Lancia among others, including a Morris Minor, also entered.

The ceremonial start was in The Place Saint-Lambert, in Liege, Belgium, and you can see the start in grainy black and white video here, however racing started from the nearby Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (SPA).

The journey was over 3000 miles passing through Belgium, Germany, Yugoslavia, Italy and France, with the some of the most challenging terrain encountered in Yugoslavia.

The Liège - Rome- Liège annual competition had been running since 1931 to 1939, interrupted by the war and then from 1950 to 1960 on that route, at which point in 1961 the route was changed to Liège–Sofia–Liège (via Sofia in Bulgaria).

Four days and four nights of NON STOP driving 

The  non stop race (You were allowed a one hour stop halfway through the race) varied in distance on open roads from year to year between 3500 - 5000 kms, and in 1960, four out of the eighty-three cars entered were Austin Healey 3000's. 

"Quality" was not a term readily associated with the roads, which varied between mountain tracks, cliff edge's with extreme drops, unsurfaced roads, notwithstanding some of the most challenging passes of the Dolomites and Alps, teams encountered closed roads, poor and inaccurate maps and even encountered the public on the selected routes.  

1960 The Liege - Rome - Liege Rally 

1st: Pat Moss / Ann Wisdom Austin Healey 2,912 cc 
2nd: G and W Sander (Belgian) Porsche 1,582 cc 
3rd: John Sprinkle / John Pattern Austin Healey Sebring Sprite
4th: Poirot / Guillemain (French) Porsche 1,582 cc
5th: David Siegle-Morris / Vic Elford (Austin Healey 2,912 cc
6th: Demortier / Lagae (Belgian) Auto Union 980cc
7th: Verrier / Badoche (French) Citroen ID 1.911 cc
8th: Mmes. Vanson and Wagner (French) Citroen ID 1.911 cc
9th: Bichat / Marbaque (French) Volvo 1,580 cc
10th: John Gott / Rupert Jones (Austin Healey 2,912 cc
11th: Nokin / Di Cocco (Belgian Porsche 1,582 cc
12th: Gentelini / Vanson (French/English Citroen DS 1,911 cc
13th: Neyret / Terramorsi (French Triumph TR3 1,991 cc

Marque Team Prize: Austin Healey
Inter-Club Team Prize: M.G. Car Co., Abingdon
Trophée des Nations: 1st: Great Britain: 2nd: France: 3rd: Belgium.
Coupe des Dames: 1st: Pat Moss /Ann Wisdom (Austin Healey) 2nd: Mmes. Vanson and Wagner (Citroen ID 19)

There is a fascinating account here covering the 1961 Acropolis Rally at the time regarded as the toughest 1,700 miles found in competition featuring  a 1961 Austin-Healey 3000 mk 1 works rally two seater which finished 3rd overall and 1st in the GT class and it's sister 3000 which won the Alpine Rally of 24th - 28th of June the same year.

 6000 km of ruts, broken and twisting roads

In 1964, Rauno Aaltonen, driving an Austin Healey 3000 MKIII participated in and won  the  Liège - Sofia - Liège(Marathon de la Route) in what what has been described as 6.000 km of ruts, broken roads, twisting roads and uncertain descents from which only 21 of 98 participants crossed the line after 4 days and 4 nights grueling driving.