Signed Austin Healey 3000 - 1st Austrian Alpine Rally 1964 - #2 P. Hopkirk 1:18

Regular customers and readers will know that Kyosho is one of our favourite model-makers. At the collector end of the 1:18 market, we reckon nobody comes close in terms of value for money. But, just as importantly, Kyosho seems to have a bit of a thing for classic British subjects, like the Austin Healey 3000 shown here. We don’t intend going over the whole Austin Healey story here. Suffice it to say that, in its day, it delivered phenomenal performance for not a great deal of money. When the 3000 was introduced in 1959, it cost just £1326 including taxes. It was available in either a two or four seat configuration and delivered a not to be sneered at top speed of 115 mph. Kyosho have reproduced the Healey that took victory at the 1964 Austrian Alpine Rally. Paddy Hopkirk was the wheel-man and to make the car even more collectible, Paddy has agreed to sign a couple of hundred pieces for us. Paddy was personally asked by Geoff Healey to drive the 3000 in the Alpine Rally, with Henry Liddon as his co-driver. The car was the new BJ8, Mk III; in fact, the revised version with twin radius arms to improve ground clearance. With all its power, the Healey was particularly suited to the steep, hilly roads, recalled Paddy. But the rally almost ended in tears. ‘Ein bus kommt’, a German official told them at the beginning of a stage. With no idea what that meant, Paddy put the pedal to the metal. Exiting a particularly tight and fast bend, the Healey came face to face with an enormous coach! A head-on collision was narrowly avoided. Even today, the only three words of German that Paddy knows are: ‘Ein bus kommt!’.

Product code: KY8145AS