1986 HMC Mk4

There are two main reasons why we’re proud to offer this HMC for auction – aside from the timeless shape and stonking performance inherent in the design. The first is its maintenance history. The second is its particular rarity, this being only the second example built, and the very first ‘production’ model.

While later HMCs received a fuel-injected 3.9-litre Rover V8, this very early example has a 3.5-litre version from a Rover SD1, with twin-SU carbs. Thanks to its Kent 214 camshaft and gas-flowed heads, this lovely motor developed over 200bhp and launched the car to 60mph in under six seconds. Think Morgan Plus 8 and you’ll get the idea…

Later models had a spaceframe chassis, but this car is believed to have received a pre-existing chassis from an MGB. The car’s documents include quite a detailed spec list itemising which components are on the car, including their part numbers, which will cut down on head-scratching for anyone tasked with its maintenance.

We also learn from the paperwork that at some point the original MGB rear axle has been replaced with one from an MGB V8. The only other non-factory fitment – as far as the vendor is aware – is the addition of an electric fan, which is reportedly doing a fine job of keeping the temperature under control when sitting in traffic.

The car was bought from its first owner in 1998 by a Mr Daykin, the late husband of the vendor and a lifelong Austin-Healey aficionado who spent many decades pulling Healeys out of scrapyards and bringing them back to health. Looking after this car became his hobby, and he and his wife spent the next 14 years taking it to motoring events and enjoying a few touring holidays.

When he sadly died in 2012, care of the HMC passed on to his wife, who was determined to use it and care for it properly. ‘I’d always loved the car but I’d never actually driven it!’ she tells us. ‘At first I found it very heavy to drive because it doesn’t have power steering, but I worked at it, and now I find it very easy.’

It’s clear when speaking to her that she has taken great pains to give the car the best treatment possible, avoiding supermarket car parks, keeping it garaged – especially over winter – and paying her local classic car specialist to fix whatever was recommended.

All this has resulted in a turn-key classic that’s ready for action and drives without fault. We’re told it starts reliably, pulls well and rides without any untoward noises or vibration. ‘It’s absolutely fabulous to drive,’ says Liz. ‘It really sails along! But I’ve just been tootling about in it really.’

Nevertheless, she has now decided to pass it on, primarily because she prefers to drive with the hood down but finds it stiff to operate on her own.

Being GRP there’s no risk of bodywork corrosion, but structural integrity should always be a concern. There seems little to worry about here though. It’s superb throughout, without any sign of cracks or awkward repairs, excellent shut lines, and just one light graze in the rear offside corner.

Stone chips around the lower areas of the car are testament to a life well lived. It is believed that the bodywork has never needed repairing and, as far as the vendor is aware, all the paint is original – bar a few touch-ups of old stone chips by her husband.

The brightwork is all bright and clean, thanks in part to much of it being stainless steel rather than chrome. The car comes with its original hood and tonneau cover, both in excellent condition and structurally intact, with no leaks.

There are no missing or damaged spokes in any of the 15in wire wheels, and the tyres – though not a matching set (Fuldas on the front, Vredesteins on the rear, Michelin in the boot) – all show plenty of tread.

It’s worth remembering that this car has been used and enjoyed, but considering the car’s age, things are holding up well.

The interior is trimmed with lashings of lovely grey tweed. Some might find the ‘lived in’ look a little excessive, as gaffa tape has been required to hold the driver’s seat trim together. There’s also some fraying on the centre armrest, and a small hole in the passenger headrest, so the new owner may wish to budget for a retrim. These sorts of natural fabrics in neutral shades are seeing a revival in brand new cars at the moment, so there’s much to be said for resisting the allure of leather and seeking a match for the original material.

The car has an immobiliser, whose operation we should not disclose, but which works very well! Mrs Daykin informs us that all the switchgear is in full working order.

A period radio cassette player is mounted beneath the dash in the passenger footwell, and tidying up the hanging wiring behind it would be an easy way to improve the ambience.

Although the fabric-covered dash may lack the glamour of the walnut found on later HMC Mk4s, the material’s smart, isn’t lifting, and is quite free from signs of abrasion. The same can be said for the door trim on both sides which has resisted the passage of time very well. So too has the Moto-Lita steering wheel, which only has very small abrasions in its leather – probably quite easy to return to immaculate condition if the buyer wishes.

Rubber mats have protected the carpets so, aside from perhaps a shampoo treatment to lift some dust out of the corners, there’s no cause for expenditure here. The rear seats would also benefit from some shampoo, but they’re undamaged.

There’s some discolouration to the underside of the hood, which is nevertheless intact and very smart on the outside. The vendor tells us the rear plastic window is also intact and easy to see through.

There are no known structural issues, and there doesn’t seem to be anything more than light surface corrosion on the chassis or the running gear components. It’s always worth checking yourself, but given the car’s history and avoidance of mud and salt, it seems unlikely that it will need to see a welder any time soon.

New leaf springs were fitted in 2017, and judging by the photos they appear to have been spray-greased. You’ll also find braided brake hoses at the front – another thoughtful touch.

Given the MGB rear axle, the rear brakes are drums, rather than the discs fitted to later models.

A new battery (located under the rear seats) has been fitted this year.

One area that might need attention is the steering rack gaiters, which were flagged up as the only minor defect on last year’s MoT. The vendor can’t recall whether this has been attended to, but the images and service record suggest it has not been. They’re not too bad, but the photos do show some oil seepage from each side, so they probably ought to be done.

There are no obvious signs of trouble in the engine bay, where you’ll find plenty of evidence for the recent servicing and work indicated by the bills. Lots of cable ties are keeping everything tidy, and anyone with a toothbrush, degreasant and a few stainless hose clips could get it looking really quite smart. It would be wise for the next owner to replace the coolant soon, given the nature of the Rover V8, as this is one task that seems to be missing from recent receipts. That said, this is the more reliable 3.5-litre version of the motor, and a recent compression test did not flag up any cause for concern.

Custom made, stainless steel, four-into-one exhausts have been fitted, and the rear boxes and tailpipes appear to be mild steel. Information about how the exhausts were created is included in the history, should remakes ever be required.

Plenty of old MoT certificates accompany the car, stretching back into the Eighties. All maintenance work done during Mr Daykin’s ownership was done by his own hand – which explains why the receipts accompanying the car do not cover this period.

There is, however, a good collection of bills from 2012 onwards, when care of the HMC passed to the vendor. The car has enjoyed regular visits to the same classic car specialist in Gloucestershire ever since.

In addition to oil changes, suspension greasing and the replacement of engine ancillaries, the receipts all indicate standard maintenance procedures, and nothing too dramatic. In 2013 a carburettor issue was resolved, and some gear linkage bushes and gearbox mountings were renewed. In a separate visit the fuel tank sender was replaced and some front suspension components were renewed (including Polybushes). A seatbelt was renewed in 2018, when the choke mechanism also received some attention.

The MoT will expire in July, but as the official year of registration is 1961 the car is MoT exempt and can be legally be driven until the next owner finds time to have it inspected.

You might ask why this HMC is registered as a 1961 car if the chassis is from an MGB (whose production wouldn’t begin until 1962). Good question. Close inspection of some of the photos will reveal that the car used to wear the registration PLA 355E, which corresponds to a 1967 MG. Flick through the MoT history and you’ll see that the car wore this registration until the early ‘90s, at which point (before the Daykins’ ownership) the registration was changed to the current number, 1198 WD. The date of registration seems to have been changed by DVLA at the same time to 1961.

This is a lovely find. You might find more immaculate HMCs (for much more money), but it’s clear that this particular example has been very well cherished in the Daykins’ care over the last 22 years – the majority of its life. If you’re handy with a spanner then the traditional British drivetrain should prove very rewarding to work on, and a few cosmetic jobs (such as renewing the trim) will ensure a strong resale value, if you ever choose to pass it on.

Given the rarity of these vehicles and the individuality of this particular example, there’s little to compare it to, so we’ve set the estimate quite wide at £17,000 to £27,000. We feel this accurately reflects the car’s condition and will provide the next owner with a real bargain. With a little elbow grease it could be worth a lot more – especially considering its prototype predecessor is advertised elsewhere for £96,000 and one 1996 example is on sale for £56,000. You’ll pay similar money for a decent Austin-Healey 3000.

This really will be a clever buy for a hands-on enthusiast.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located near Gloucester; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Also, localised paint repairs are common with collectable and classic cars and if they have been professionally carried out then they may be impossible to detect, even if we see the car in person. So, unless we state otherwise, please assume that any vehicle could have had remedial bodywork at some point in its life.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ near Abingdon, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle.