Another prize in the “brevity” category goes to this ad on craigslist for a flock of Austin-Healeys. The listing promises one and a half Healey 3000s for $16,500 but then mentions two Bug Eyes and a few more Healeys, five in all. A call is warranted to find out exactly what the price will get you. Two cars are pictured, though the seller will provide photos of the rest of the motley crew on request. The cars are located in Hemet, California, and – start the gnashing of teeth – there are no titles. This blue car may be salvageable. A true roadster with side curtains, the early 3000 was offered as a two-seater (BN7) or 2+2 (BT7); I can’t tell which this is. Both were very popular, following on the heels of the slightly slower 100-6 in 1959. Across the three generations of 3000s, almost 43,000 examples were made through 1967 when production ended. Thanks to T.J. for spotting this herd of Healeys!

The 2.9-liter BMC C-series in-line six-cylinder engine was from Morris, and it incorporated several changes over the Austin-designed A- and B-series. Unfortunately, the power-to-weight ratio of the C-series was less than ideal. Still, the car was friskier than the 2.6-liter installed in the 100-6, with 125 hp and a top speed of around 115 mph. The zero to sixty trip took only ten seconds. If that wasn’t good enough, performance upgrades were available for competition. Disc brakes on the front wheels were a welcome improvement. This car’s interior is mostly complete, but a thorough inspection for rust is a must!

On the other hand, I’ll wager this grey car is not a resuscitation candidate. Rather, it has served the purpose of a “parts container” for too long while living outside. Collapsed in the center, this sad Healey might require a forklift to lever its sections off the ground. If you’re into restoring original bits, I guess there’s value here, but scarcely worth the trouble of transport as it’s already been relieved of several items.

This is likely a MkIII, with the two marker lights below the headlamps on each side. Looks like there’s a portion of a motor in the engine bay but I see grass where I shouldn’t, so likely most of the mill is long gone. Values for Big Healeys have remained fairly steady over the last few years, with exceptional examples approaching $100k while average cars hover in the $50k area, depending on the model. Generally, MkIIIs are favored for their creature comforts and increased horsepower, but many collectors prefer the early MKI. What do you think these Austin-Healeys are worth?