Classic Cars (UK)

Barn finds

This rare G-type has A-lister provenance – and a million-dollar lawsuit in its history file

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A rare Healey G-type with a Hollywood connection surfaces in Australia

This rare bird has emerged from its roost in Australia, where it will go to auction at Mossgreen’s Sydney sale on 28 May. It was bought new in 1953 by American socialite Leverett Saltonstal­l Miller, who married Ava Norring, a Hungarian starlet hired to become 20th Century Fox’s answer to Zsa Zsa Gabor. Miller crashed the Healey while giving a lift to another actress – Norring’s best friend – who sued him for $1million in damages. The car has been in Australia since 1988, off the road since then and probably long before. The interior has suffered worst but most of the dashboard and other parts come with it, along with the original engine, keys and bill of sale. The estimate is Au$35k-40k (£20k-£23k).

The G-type has a confused identity – Donald Healey made a deal with Nashkelvin­ator to build sports cars for the US market with a British-built chassis and body, and Nash Ambassador mechanical­s. At the same time, he decided to offer a Uk-market version with an Alvis 3.0-litre engine and a different grille. Then, while the Nash-healey got a Pininfarin­a restyle, the G-type/alvis-healey stayed the same.

At £1000 more than Jaguar’s XK120, the Healey G-type was always too expensive to sell well. However, it was sleeker than previous Healeys thanks to styling by Gerry Coker, designer of the Austin-healey 100. Only 25 are thought to have been made from 1951, and this is number 16.

 ??  ?? This 1953 G-type has been off the road for at least 30 years
This 1953 G-type has been off the road for at least 30 years

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