Despite looking like an abandoned car found on the side of the road, bidding has still crested $3,000 for this rough 1960 Austin Healey 3000 found in Oxford, New Jersey. The origins of this discovery are likely far less mysterious than we tend to think, as it looks like the Healey is parked on a farm with several other rotting classics. Regardless, the missing windshield and disassembled engine in the trunk make this an ambitious project. Find it here on eBay listed as “parts only.”
It’s a shame this one has gone past the point of restoration, at least in the seller’s opinion. It comes with a title, which makes resale a whole lot easier if you have the means to restore it without relying on a shop to do the work. However, with no windshield, all sorts of weather has likely been doing its worst to the floors and interior, not to mention sitting on wet leaves.
Perhaps the hard top has been used to provide some weather protection, but that’s hardly a secure means of protecting the floors and interior. The seats are still there, and the seller mentions that the side windows and soft top frame are included. It’s amazing how a car this rough still looks quite sharp sitting on wire wheels, with tires that seemingly still hold air.
The engine is in pieces in the trunk, which is similar to how I found my farm-find 1980 BMW 320/6: the seller had begun a full engine tear-down, but life got in the way and all of the parts attached to the block sat in the trunk. In this instance, it looks like the removed components have been sitting in a damp trunk for many years. Is this Healey savable or purely a parts car?
What a sad end to such a beautiful car.
MGB hardtop…
Actually that’s an MG Midget hardtop, but who’s keeping track. :)
Or Austin Healey Sprite. So maybe the owner was hoodwinked into buying it for his big Healey and said “what the hell I’ll use it to protect a very small percentage of the cockpit.” A-H Sprite and MG Midget would use the same top.
Windshield and engine will likely be child’s play compared to what’s hidden underneath.
I think Healys are over priced to begin with, a symptom of the wild prices in Jaguar E Types. This is a $1000.00 car to begin with, and who knows what it needs. Don’t do this.
Years of New Jersey winters flooding the floor of this relic isn’t good news for any buyer!! I can’t imagine that the underside of this car is salvageable!! The fenders, hood, dashboard and some other parts might be good for someone!! I guess I’m just trying to be positive!!
Whoever buys this will be at least $3,000 further away from owning a complete Austin-Healey than they were before they did. I’d love to know what parts the bidders think they’re looking at here.
$3000 for this car thus far. Imagine what it might sell for if it had been properly stored all these years.
fagidabadit!
Had a good one in the 70s. Fun car. At least the seller states “parts” car instead of the typical “ran when parked”, and there is a Title. Around here (Oregon) “parts car” usually is followed with “Bill of sale only, no Title” which begs the question of who owns the car, the seller or someone else? :-) Terry J
we are sure seeing a ton of these , all in unsaveable condition.
I doubt if there are 3 grand worth of useable parts
just scrap
If only the owner had known that a driver-quality car would get $50k…..Something in the water up there. I live real close to Oxford, and I know of: 3 ’69 Camaros, 1 66 SS396 Chevelle, 2 ’57 Chevy 2-dr Wagons, 1 ‘454 Convert Caprice, 1 ’70 396 Camaro…..all sitting and rotting. The guy with the 2 57 Wagons uses a blue tarp for a roof on his house but refuses to sell them.
IF by some miracle, the frame is sound ( unlikely if it wasn’t on blocks ), this would best be a candidate for resto-mod for someone who can do a good job of welding in new floors themselves. A Rover/ Buick V8 would provide ample power, and mated to a 5 speed from Tremec or McCleod, it would be fun for weekend touring. If one were to go that route, side vents like the Big Healey rally cars would be a good idea, because at speeds below 35 mph, even with a powerful electric fan and a brand new radiator, heat gets trapped under the bonnet, and overheating can be a big problem ( speaking from personal experience ! ) Louvering the hood would be another option, but the side vents would probably be no more expensive, and they add to the look of the car.