“The most sumptuously luxurious sports car ever made” to be unveiled at the Grand Opening celebration of the Texas Museum of Automotive History

A unique works-built 1958 Austin-Healey 100-Six Roadster, star of the 1958 London Motor Show, is set to dazzle the crowds again on the other side of the Atlantic when it is unveiled at the Texas Museum of Automotive History’s Inaugural Art Deco Gala on November 20^th in Dallas.

Visitors to The London Motor Show in 1958 were stunned by the vision of “Goldie”, the golden Austin- Healey on display as centerpiece of the British manufacturer’s stand. Lauded by Donald Healey himself as “the most sumptuously luxurious sports car ever made”, the car was specially built by the factory as a one-off promotional vehicle, designed to elicit maximum publicity for the Austin-Healey brand. Goldie boasted seats upholstered in rare Champagne Diadem mink, door panels and dash of Chinese kid and a steering wheel of solid ivory. All of the metalwork on the exterior was gold plated, from bumpers to grille, to headlight rings to gold-plated wire wheels. As was everything else that would normally be chromed, right down to the trimming washers and screws. Even the keying was solid gold. British newspaper The Daily Express liked it so much they bought it. “The world’s most flirtatious car” was heavily promoted as a reader competition prize throughout the duration of the London Motor Show in 1958. Today restored to all her former glory, Goldie will feature as one of the guests of honor at the much anticipated grand opening celebration of The Texas Museum of Automotive History in Fair Park, Dallas.

Automobile racing started in Dallas’s Fair Park in 1901, culminating in the staging of the United States Formula One Grand Prix in 1984. The Museum’s founders are working with the City of Dallas to establish the venue as one of the top ten automotive museums in the world, eventually staging an additional vintage race and Concours d’ Elegance. The Museum will provide attendees with an overview of the history of the automobile from 1901 to 1984, showcasing the interaction of racing and commercial car development over the period and also featuring an open restoration facility. The Restoration Factory will employ “at risk” youths and seek to both educate and provide career paths for selected individuals, assisting with college funding and local automotive business placement. The Texas Museum of Automotive History’s Grand Opening party is scheduled for the evening of Saturday November 20^th at Fair Park, Dallas. The Art Deco themed inaugural gala will feature a world class dinner at assigned tables, guest speakers including celebrated racing driver Johnny Rutherford and Emmy Award winning sportscaster Scott Murray as Emcee. Tickets for the Grand Opening and further information on the Museum itself are available by visiting www.tmah.org or by calling Wilbert Grinsven, General Manager, at 214.543.7047

Goldie is currently offered for sale by renowned auction house Worldwide Auctioneers’ Private Treaty Division. “This is one of the most important Austin-Healeys ever made by the factory and without doubt the most luxurious”, said Worldwide Auctioneers Managing Partner & Chief Auctioneer, Rod Egan. ” It certainly drew the crowds back in 1958 and we are delighted that this special automobile with its fascinating history will do so again here in Texas today. We very much look forward to a long association with the Texas Museum of Automotive History and wish it a long and successful future”.

Interested parties may contact Managing Partner John Kruse at Worldwide Auctioneers at 260.925.6789 or visit www.wwgauctions.com for further information. Press enquiries should be directed to Jo Snyder at 512.507.7867 or jo@wwgauctions.com