In the mid-1960’s when I was about 10 years old, I remember seeing my very first Austin-Healey 3000. And it stopped this skinny little car geek in his tracks. I had seen an occasional Triumph Spitfire and MGB around town, and even one of those funny-looking little Bugeye Sprites, but this car was different. It was bigger and beefier looking and those flowing lines with the long hood and short deck and wire wheels made quite an impression on me. What a beautifully proportioned British roadster! Sixty years later, it’s still a show stopper, still looks great, is now a ’60’s icon, and has been highly collectible for years. And here’s a 1962 Austin-Healy 3000 Mark II that, according to the owner, is one-of-one, making this particular Big Healey even more collectible.
So, here’s the story: the owner states that of the 355 Austin-Healey 2-seater BN7-11 models built in 1962, this is the only one that is a German model. It was ordered new by a U.S. Army Officer stationed in Germany and it has a few different features including “a locking steering wheel and the front has separate lights for the signal and the parking lights, rear lights are a little different too, and there’s a minor difference on the wheels as required by German law.” At some point, the Healey was brought back to the states and stored in Missouri until the current owner purchased it in 2002. Having already restored eight of these classic Big Healey’s, the owner brought it to Tennessee where he and a friend restored this rust-free, low mileage (46,000) roadster to its current condition.
The owner says when he purchased the Healey, it needed painting and a new interior, but he went ahead and restored all of the mechanics as well and claims “we rebuilt or replaced everything; it is strong.” According to the car’s heritage certificate, it came from the factory painted Healey Blue and it was given a repaint and the addition of Old English White coves. The only thing altered during the restoration was the addition of a louvered hood, but the owner has an extra factory hood if the next owner wishes to put it back to original. The Healey’s interior is nice and finished in a beautiful blue that compliments the exterior perfectly. The white piping on the bucket seats is especially attractive.
There are several photos of a clean engine bay showing the desirable triple-carb, 2912-cc six-cylinder engine that was capable of reaching 120 mph back in the day. It’s paired with a 4-speed manual transmission with electric overdrive. I’m not sure how many miles are on the rebuilt engine, but the owner says the Healey has 46,000 original miles. He also shares that it runs great, it’s driven at least once a month, and that due to his age, he’ll “let it go but only if I receive $105,000.” The Big Healey is in the Knoxville, Tennessee area and is listed for sale here on craigslist. Hagerty’s values a ’62 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark II in #1 condition at $95,000. I guess the next owner will have to determine how much of a premium this one-of-one Big Healey is worth (and if the current owner has any wiggle room in his asking price).
No question, a beauty. Wonder what the wheel difference is?
Doesn’t matter, as the seller replaced them. Chrome-plated wheels are strictly aftermarket anyway, as all wire-wheel Healeys had painted spokes and rims. They also appear to be 60- or 72-spoke, unlike the standard 48-spoke wheels.
The ask is pretty ambitious. It’s a nice-looking restoration — I’d install a stock steering wheel and un-louvered bonnet as well as keeping the body all blue, but that’s just me — but it’s no longer original one-of-one with the changes made.
My “dream” Healey is a BN7 Mk. II, but not this one.
Does BN7 = 2 seats, and 8 = 4 seats? Also, if BN7 is so uncommon why isn’t it flaunted in the pictures?
The original wire wheels would have had 60 spokes and been painted silver.
These aftermarket chrome wheels are 72 spoke. The exterior has been two-toned, and the hood has been louvered. The rarity of it sort of goes away.
More bling maybe, but you may have gotten closer to the asking price if
you’d restored it as it was when delivered in Germany. Maybe a Craigslist
customer won’t realize the difference?
Nice car. The looks of these cars is why I went through two ’55 100s. Didn’t have to drive them, though they were fun, all you had to do was get the chair and a beer and sit and look at them. My wife liked them too while we were dating but I don’t think that’s why she married me, I hope. The 72 spoke wheels are a good move as the original wheels required a lot of maintenance to keep tight and true.
Wish I could post pics on here, I have a pic of my uncle with one these when he bought it new
I bought a ‘62 Mk II shortly after graduating high school in ‘68. It had been rode hard and put away wet, as they say. It had a slight knock so I put new bearings in it and drove the hound out of it. That triple carb engine made pretty good power, you just had to be sure and keep oil in the SU carburetors to keep them happy. About a year later I traded it for a ‘64 Chevelle SS as my first child was on the way.
I’ve got one of these Mk II BN7s sitting in my warehouse that I bought to restore about 10 years ago when the AH prices were going through the roof. Then the AH prices tanked and now it sits, unrestored. Maybe the prices will go back up again. I’m guessing that currently, this car posted on Barn Finds might bring $70,000 max.
$105,000!!?? I’ll take a Ferrari 308 with change back please!
When I was 16/17 my sister had a ’60 3000 2 seat that she let me borrow from time to time, The high school girls loved it.This one is a very nice looking automobile. Personally, I think that the chrome 72 wires are a great addition and I completely agree with bobhess regarding keeping the 60 spoke wheels tuned. My sis was lucky and she had a boyfriend at the time that had an XK-150 Jag so he would tune the wires for her. I also agree that $70,000 is probably the ceiling for it. Nice car nonetheless.
My cousin in California had one; it was his first love. He could not afford the car and go to college too, so he sold the car.
British sporting at it’s very best.
The white coves, the louvered hood, and the 72 spoke wheels make the car look “special”. The combination of Healy blue with ivory coves combination is iconic. I’d have done the same thing.
(It’s not like he dropped a small block Chevy into it !)
Holy smokes.. I had no idea these were going for so much. A high school friend of mine took me out for a spin one winter’s day in the early 70s in one he’d picked up used for a few hundred bucks. We did literally end up spinning right off the road when he hit a patch of black ice too, but fortunately we missed a power pole by a foot or so and got it back on the road and went on our way, but a bit slower and more carefully after that.
In 1973 I was buying my first with a loan, my short list, 68 Firebird 400 4 speed, $650, 63 3000 my ll, $600l, and a 69 Triumph GT6, $1400. I went with he GT6😭.
Edit: car loan, ankle lll
Edit again! Mk lll
Hello. Sorry to have to say that this car was/is not the only Mk2 BN7 that was delivered new to Germany. There is one here in Australia that was sold new in Germany, taken to the US and years later ended up in Australia where it was converted to right hand drive. The car continues to be enjoyed in the Australian state of Queensland.
Hello. Sorry to have to say that this car was/is not the only Mk2 BN7 that was delivered new to Germany. There is one here in Australia that was sold new in Germany, taken to the US and years later ended up in Australia where it was converted to right hand drive. The car continues to be enjoyed in the Australian state of Queensland.