The big Healeys have been steadily rising in value, it’s to the point that even projects can fetch serious money. Listed here on craigslist in St. Louis this 1960 Austin Healey 3000 project and is priced at $16,900. There isn’t much information provided with this ad and that is where the art of two-way communication is going to have to comes into play. If you have questions, please contact the owner so this Healey can find a new home.
Healey produced 13,650 early 3000 models from March 1959 till March of 1961 in the 2-seater model the BN-7 and the 2+2 BT-7, which this model is. The BT-7 would later be refereed to as a MK I. This Big Healey, as all non-Sprite Healeys are referred to as, is a project, as you can see from the images.
The interior, appears to be, in pretty good shape. All the gauges are present and appear to be the original. There maybe a starter sitting on the passenger side floorboard? The side-curtains are mounted and the frame for the hood (roof) are included.
You may wish to find a replacement front bumper, a left headlamp and some turn signals might be would be a good idea to make this into a driver. The owner says this is a solid car. We don’t know if the engine runs or spins. With the VIN number you can get the build date, ship date, colors, etc. if you are interested. Tom, the owner, provides a phone number with the craigslist ad, so you can communicate with him and hopefully get answers to your questions. Big Healey days can be big fun!
Motor-on,
Robert
You’d need more than a front bumper, headlights and turn signal lenses to make this a decent car. Rocker panels, for sure, and probably some metalwork on the fender bottoms. With external rust a “given,” I’d be a bit worried that frame and floorboards have corrosion issues as well. Then there’s the driveline, brakes and suspension; all simple, but replacement parts are costly.
As a former Healey owner (at various times, a ’60 BT7, ’56 BN2 and a Frogeye Sprite), I would love to get back into Healey ownership. I’d look around before deciding on this one, though.
Before I started following this sight I didn’t pay much attention to British cars. I gotta say I’ve grown to like them especially the big Healey’s, however this car is way to rusty for the coin being asked. I just finish putting floors and rocker panels in my 51 dodge and I can tell you that this is a mountain of work. I don’t know how much replacment metal is avalalble. But I’ll bet that there will be some from scratch fabrication required. Good luck to the new owner, nice find though.
Last time I checked — maybe 10 years ago — new rockers for Big Healeys were available. They required trimming (and, of course, welding). Almost everything for these cars is reproduced nowadays, and what can’t be bought can be rebuilt (the lever shocks, for example).