Like many of our favorite British creations, the 1958 Austin-Healey 100-Six “Goldie” came about as the result of a conversation that took place in a pub over a couple of pints.
The participants in the chat, Healey PR officer Ken Gregory and Daily Express auto writer Basil Cardew, were discussing a contest the paper was planning for the 1958 London Motor Show. Spoiler alert: the Goldie was the prize.
Built in secret after Cardew’s bosses at the Express agreed to purchase it and give it away, the one-off Healey was painted in a custom shade of ivory and every single piece of exterior metal on the car (rims, bumpers, dash trim, screws, wiper arms, etc.) was plated in 24-karat gold.
On the interior of the car, all of the instruments were given the same treatment but Healey also outfitted the steering wheel, knobs and switches in elephant ivory then trimmed out the seats, dashboard, doors and side panels in leather and added mink to the seat backs and floor mats. As a kicker, the one-of-a-kind creation blasted bubbly from its washer fluid nozzles.
Goldie (5 images)
Valued at approximately ₤4,000 when it was given away, the car slipped off the radar until it was found in the ‘80s by a Healey enthusiast and restored (it took 27 goats to re-do the leather).
”In my opinion, it’s one of the most significant and expensive Healeys ever built, and I wanted it to match the stories I’d heard about it,” said then-owner Dennis Collins following the restoration. ”It did a lot for me, being a Healey fan. It was worth it. It is stunning.”
It’s also for sale and will be offered without reserve at a Sotheby’s auction on December 6th.
Bring at least $550,000 if you’d like to bid on the golden oldie.
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