We think the metallic-blue-over-cream colour scheme suits the Sebring’s Healey-inspired lines rather better than the plain white it left the factory with.
Still, regardless of individual preferences, there’s no arguing with its condition because it’s still got a very good shine to it with nothing more than the usual stonechips and minor marks every car collects over the years.
The alignment of the GRP panels is also impressive, with good shutlines and clean demarcation between the two body colours. There are no dents, dinks, or scrapes here either.
The extensive chromework has also weathered the passage of more than three decades with impressive ease. Still shiny and bright, it includes a rather nice badge bar that plays host to a pair of Lucas driving lamps and a couple of badges, one of which is for the Austin-Healey 100/3000 Register, something that adds reassurance because being a member of the owners’ group is never a bad thing.
Triple chrome wipers clear the chrome-rimmed windscreen, and we’ve spotted a sticker for the Sebring Owners’ Club there too, so ditto.
A chrome luggage rack at the back provides useful extra storage space, and the shiny stuff also includes chrome-plated wire wheels that are not only free of rust, pitting, and damage but are also fitted with a matching set of 185/65R15 Firestone Multihawk tyres.
We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.
The black folding roof rises and falls easily, and its shape gives a good amount of headroom inside. It fits very well too, the rear screen is clear and undamaged, and it tucks away neatly under a black cover to give a clean profile. In fact, the worst we can say of it is that there is the odd loose thread.
The Sebring also comes with a useful tonneau cover, which looks like it’s seen even less use than the roof. Mind you, it is a bit of a niche fitting but it will come in very handy if you’re the sort of hardy soul who drives their convertible in all seasons and wouldn’t consider raising the roof in anything less than a Force 10 gale. The bodywork looks like it’s still got its full complement of press studs to hold it in place too, which is another good sign.
The badges and lamp lenses are good too, and while the black and silver numberplates might not be legal, they look great. Best save ‘em for car shows and the like though, eh?
But, fitting the road-legal plates that come with it should see the outside fettled in a matter of minutes, and given that this is the only job we can see for the car’s new owner to do we’ll turn our attention to the cabin.
