In what has become somewhat of an annual tradition, a group of boating and car enthusiasts in New Hampshire host an annual auction with a surprisingly good assortment of classic automobiles for sale. There’s also a healthy selection of vintage Chris Craft boats if you’re the seafaring type. This lovely 1962 Austin Healey 3000 MK2 is just one of the classic autos up for grabs, said to have just 38,000 original miles. It popped up in the BF Classifieds, so we decided to take a closer look at the auction. Find the rest of the classic boats and autos up for grabs at the May 20th auction here on WoodBoats.org.
My personal favorite (surprise, surprise) is this 1968 BMW 2002, a “roundie” in one of the best colors there is. It may be restored, which I realize is not our typical fare, but some of you may wish to check it out if you’re in NH around Memorial Day weekend. It certainly has the right options, with a limited slip, Ansa exhaust and dual Weber carbs. I can’t tell what wheels are on there, but it’s definitely a few sizes larger than stock. The slimmer chrome bumpers look excellent.
This 1963 Ford Falcon Deluxe is a recent addition to the auction gallery. The seller says it is a recent barn find that’s been extensively refreshed mechanically, which I assume to mean the cosmetics were left alone, or simply fluffed and buffed. The engine is not original, however, as noted in the linked Hemmings ad: “The original 170 cu. In. 6-cylinder engine was seized and the transmission was not able to be repaired. The engine was replaced with a rebuilt 200 cu. in. 6-cylinder.”
Another car up for grabs is this tidy Triumph TR7 (put your bidding paddle down, Jamie – they can’t see you in North Carolina). This is a rare 30th Anniversary edition, and it looks to be in fine shape. The seller notes: “Rust free Roadster with new mechanical fuel pump, distributor cap, wires, plugs, oil+ filter, clutch, carbs rebuilt by Hobbs.” The original graphics and fog lights, standard with the Anniversary kit, are still affixed. Check out the entire auction catalog in the link above and let us know which one you’d take home.
Well, Jeff, I’d really like to have the Healey — even if it’s a BT7 and I’d prefer a BN7 — and the Falcon and BMW, but I’d also like to have the Mini and Lincoln Zephyr, too!
First, though, I’d have to build a five-car garage with appropriate work space, and that would more than use up the budget, so I guess I’ll just have to watch wistfully from a distance.
The boats are neat, too.
I’ve seen Big-Time Auctions that didn’t have this many cars I crave!
Right? To see a small auction with a limited offering of cars and have them all be appealing in some regard never happens. The Falcon and 2002 would be an ideal garage, in my opinion…
It’s not even that far away from me, doggone it.
The BT7 at least gives you a little room for an overnight bag, but I get it. I took my niece and nephew for a ride in the back seat of my old BT7 and even being 8 & 6 at the time, they had no room…
From age 10 to around 15 or so, I rode in the “occasional” seats of my father’s BT7. And, for a year or so before that, I did likewise in his 100-6. Certainly not the most comfortable way to travel, but I’ve since ridden in worse!
But I always preferred the looks of the BN7, and don’t need more than two seats these days, so it’s just a matter of choice. If the “right” three-liter came along, I wouldn’t count the seats!
Wish I could go. Always wanted a Chris Craft to restore.
I would take the BMW 2002 before any of the others.
There was a Bn7 mark 2 center shift in Buffalo Wyo that I have lost track of. It was one of 144 of a total of 380 that had the center shift, I sold it to friend in 1970 that lived in Buffalo. It spent most of its life in an out building and I would stop by a visit both my frieeend and t Healy. Some time in the earl two thousands my friend past and the car disappeared . I had put Buick wheels on it so that made it a little different. In Buffalo there was an older Black. 100 six and it also dissapeared , I would have getting back my old Bn7, oh it also had tri carb
Hands down the Healy, I’ve always liked them.
Just another reason to move to New England. It would definitely be worth a trip just to soak up the atmosphere.
I’m hoping the Healey is Old English White, but it doesn’y look like it unless the lighting is weird, like some odd fluorescent. If it actually has only 38K miles, then those were probably some of the hardest miles ever put on a Big Healey. But if the underside is OK and not rusty then it could be a buy.
Except for the odd paint color and seatbacks this car is exactly like the car I owned from about 1963 to 1965. Bought it used at half the list price with just under 20K miles. Best road car I owned until some years afterward when I bought a 4 year old 1970 240Z.
Both cars were previously owned by drivers who drove them hard, including one who was a race car driver (but did not race the Z car). I learned a saying years later that went “Break them in fast and they will always be fast”, and then I understood.
Both cars were very good performers on the road, and took a back seat to almost no other car except E Types and V8 Corvettes, plus of course the unobtanium Ferraris/Maseratis and similar. Later I owned a V12 Ferrari and understood what serious high performance was.
Jeff…I’d take the Healey too! But I wouldn’t mind the TR7!