Austin Healey involved in racing's deadliest crash sells

[TruckDriver]

Austin Healey involved in racing's deadliest crash sells for more than $1 million      Not sure I would want it even IF I liked these cars.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111202/CARNEWS/111209961

The Austin Healey 100 that was involved in motorsport's deadliest crash during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans sold for more than $1 million during Bonham's December Sale at Mercedes-Benz World in England on Dec. 1.

On lap 35 of the race, the Austin Healey, driven by Lance Macklin, made a sudden move to pass the hard-braking No. 6 Jaguar of Mike Hawthorne entering its pit box. Macklin swerved into the path of the faster No. 20 Mercedes driven by Pierre Levegh.

Levegh was driving close to 150 mph when he ran into the left rear of the Austin Healey. The impact sent the Mercedes into the air as pieces flew off the car. Macklin was sent spinning down the front stretch in the Healey. The engine from Levegh's car flew through the crowd, along with other bits and pieces, while Levegh and the chassis came down on top of the trackside barrier and burst into flames. Levegh and 83 spectators died in the crash, while another 120 were injured.

[greenpigs]

Even the heartless goons on Yellow Bullet didn't want anything to do with this car or have much to say negative.

I think it is way to much & the current owner paid like $234 or something like that for it. Blood money & way bad Karma Man!!

[Aero426]

Forget about the crash hype for a minute.     The car as a factory mule by itself is valuable.    Then you figure in that it is a two time Lemans competitor, 3rd overall at the Sebring 12 Hours, and it competed in the Carrera Pan Americana in Mexico.     It has most of its original panels, except for the left side parts replaced after the Lemans crash.   As to the crash itself, the back of the Healey acted as a ramp for the faster Mercedes.  It remained on the track.  Although it was damaged on the left side, it was later repaired and raced again.     The Healey has generally been thought of as being innocent in the whole deal. 

Yes, the value is inflated a lot by playing a part in the crash, and you might say it is stupid money.   But it's a tangible link to an often told story in motorsport - even though it is a bad one.    Oh yeah, same owner for the last 42 years too.    Unlike many race cars, it has not been rebuilt using the contents found in the ashtray.     I don't think it's worth a million, but at least two other guys did.