Yours for £400k...a Goldie oldie once owned by the Daily Express
AN ICONIC gold-plated AustinHealey once dubbed the “world’s most flirtatious car” could fetch more than £400,000 at auction next month.
The Daily Express bought the 100-Six roadster after designer Donald Healey and his chief publicist Ken Gregory vowed to take centre stage at the 1958 London Motor Show.
This paper then gave away the purpose-built sports car – complete with an ivory steering wheel, mink upholstery and 24-carat gold plates – in a competition.
It will go under the hammer in New York on December 9.
Augustin Sabatie-Garat, car specialist at RM Sotheby’s, said: “The post-war Austin-Healeys are truly iconic British sports cars with their purposeful design and strong performance.
“The one-off ‘Goldie’ car is a unique factory-created example, designed to draw the crowds and to create publicity.
“With its outrageous gold trim and luxurious interior, it achieved everything Healey set out to achieve at the 1958 London Motor Show, and we fully expect it to have a similar effect with enthusiasts and collectors at our New York sale.”
Lorna Doone Snow, who was given the job of decorating the interior, said: “I went to endless trouble to get it right. Everything
had to blend perfectly to make it truly elegant. And to complete the picture I am topping up the tank of the windscreen washers not with common water but vintage champagne.”
The Daily Express competition winner, a wealthy businessman, had it flown to St Moritz to use during skiing holidays. He sold it and eventually it was bought by a US couple who had it restored.