This Austin-Healey recently came of storage to be “recommissioned” after some 30 years of hibernation. The seller has retired and been working at reducing the last of his collection. The Austin-Healey 3000 was more civilized than some of its predecessors, including roll-up windows and a convertible top that was a one-hand operation to fold down. It also had a six-cylinder engine which would provide more horsepower and torque than the four-cylinder models. Located in Canton, Georgia, this car is being offered here on eBay with no reserve. The bidding has currently reached $19,200.
British Motor Corp. (BMC) built the A-H 3000 from 1959-67. The car’s bodywork was done by Jensen Motors and the cars were later assembled at BMC’s MG Works in Abingdon, England alongside the corporation’s MG models. Over its production run, the 3000 changed from an open sports car to a sports convertible. Like other British sporty autos of the era, the export market was a big reason for the car’s existence. For 1963 alone, less than 10 percent of the 3000’s stayed at home, with 90 percent exported to consumers in places like North America. Total cars built totaled nearly 12,000 units, with more than half of those being the BJ7, the technical name for the A-H 3000 sports convertible in 1963.
The seller has a trail of paperwork on this car dating back to its date of production, which occurred in October 1962. It was delivered to its original owner in Texas who sold it to the seller 29 years later (1991). We’re told it was tucked away in the seller’s warehouse at that time and stayed there until the decision to sell it came about. The car comes with a British Heritage Certificate confirming that the original color of the Healey was black with a red interior and black convertible top. It was also equipped with factory wire wheels, an overdrive transmission, a heater, an adjustable steering column, and a laminated windscreen.
A need for speed struck the original owner and he replaced the original 1963 BJ7 engine with a brand new 1967 BJ8 motor. It had the highest horsepower ratings of all the A-H engines at 150 instead of the 136 with the original engine. The seller says the car starts and runs exactly as it should with a new water pump and fan belt. Given its limited time on the road in the last 50 years, the 3000 has only accumulated 42,600 miles. The 4-speed all-synchromesh overdrive manual transmission is the one that came with the car new. The clutch master and slave cylinder have been replaced.
As part of the recommissioning process, the gas tank was pulled and cleaned along with the original steel fuel lines all the way to the twin carburetors, which also got attended to. The original fuel pump was rebuilt. All the brakes are new, but the tires are ancient and will need replacement before driving it around past the neighborhood.
The body looks in good condition overall, but there is rust on the dogleg on the lower rear fenders. The floors are good except for one hole near the driver’s footwell and some surface rust. The car was in a minor fender bender ages ago which left the first few inches of the fenders by the headlights with some crinkles which shouldn’t be hard to fix. As a result, the front shroud is in poor condition and is going to need major repair work. The paint is not original, but the car has only been resprayed once.
This car’s interior was redone once back in the day and will need refurbishing again along with the top. There are some electrical gremlins to be sorted out including how to make the tachometer work because the one in the car is mechanical but the one that connected with the new engine requires an electric tach. But it has a new 12-volt battery. The trunk looks good except for a spot of rust on one of the wheel well bottoms. The buyer is going to have to spring for a new exhaust system.
The seller did some homework with Hagerty and has determined that one of these cars in Fair condition is worth $26,000, while one of the nicest left on the planet might get into six-figure territory. So, this no doubt looks to be an investment-grade automobile.
I so like the big Healey’s and this one looks as if one could afford to get into Healey ownership for a reasonable amount of money. Nice enough to finish making roadworthy and enjoy it while you slowly repair the tin worm issues.
This won’t be an inexpensive project. If the front shroud needs work — as it appears it will — the new owner will need to be (or have someone who is) good with aluminum. Getting it straight and fixing any cracked seams (I’ve seen them on cars with good shrouds) will take time. Looks as if some of the steel panels will need work, too. I’d also want to make sure what looks like surface rust underneath goes no deeper….
If the transmission is “all-synchromesh” as Russ reports, this is a true 1-of-1 car! All Healeys had non-synchro first gears, though this is not much of a problem once you get used to it.
Like most “Bargain Classics,” this will end up costing as much as it’s worth, or maybe a little more. Buy it for the pleasure of owning a Big Healey and you won’t be disappointed.
Moss UK is an excellent source for British car parts. Not cheap, this type of car was how I learned how to lead in body panels. Should be worth it to get it back to awesome.Wayne should buy this and finish it.
Looks like the Orange Dealer is back.
Electrical gremlins. . Well, yes, it undoubtedly had those new too. Might take a very long time to track down, might need a total wiring change. Don’t ask how much effort went into trying to fix my uncle Wally’s mg wiring, but this could prove to be the worst thing in here to fix. A least it does not appear to have actually been on fire. An extinguisher is a must driving with an original harness.
Forgot the numbers but a full replacement wiring harness isn’t that expensive. A good body person skilled with a TIG welder can repair the aluminum and steel panels. Could be back to being a good road car if no major gremlins are found.
Have only experienced four car fires, and I have been driving since 1957. Two in MG’s, wiring, one in a 40 year old Peugot, wining, one in a Chevelle, badly repaired carb. Only the Chevelle was a total loss, other three stopped by turning off the ignition and yanking out the wiring that was burning. Both MG’s restarted and drove home, Peugot had to be towed. ’54 Corvette with 3 Carter sidedrafts leaked gas, had extinguisher with that car, but never caught on fire. Carry extinguisher in my 16 year old Toyota now.
Back in the early eighties my brother sent his ’67 A-H 3000 out to me on the West Coast to sell figuring it would bring a higher price than where he lived.. His was red and in really beautiful shape. Not a drop of rust for a car that had been in the South most of its life.
Anyway, I took my time selling it. One day driving back from the gym, the hood flew open as I accelerated to about 40 mph. Bent that sucker like tin foil.
I had a wackadoo acquaintenance who was a Scientologist but an amazing body man. For the time it took to repair the hood and ancillary damage I had to listen to his wackadoodle belief system…something about an alien had put humans on earth and we all had to get our heads straight by spending ungodly amounts of money getting “cleared”. Talk about a cultist.
But he repaired the Healey and I sold it for $7,000. Brother was happy and none the wiser though my head ached :)