Frankly, when buying a new-to-you old car, longtime ownership is a very good thing. Beware the quick flippers! This Austin-Healey 3000 Mark II BJ7, first registered in 1964, has been in the current custodian’s custody since 2005, and it’s in reasonable condition. See it here on craigslist in Georgetown, Texas (near Austin), with a sub-$40,000 price tag.
It’s an honest driver, with an attractive cream and blue two-tone paint job. Of course, that paint “is old and tired and will need to be updated,” but you can certainly drive it like it is without being too embarrassed. The owner is definitely an enthusiast, note the Bugeye Sprite in the other garage bay.
The owner has done a bunch of things to the Austin-Healey, including a new gauge package with rebuilt tachometer and speedometer, a refurbished front end (including the steering box), new suspension, and carburetors, as well as “countless gaskets and seals”. Good compression is promised on all cylinders, and the electric overdrive works.
The interior is, well, “serviceable, without rips or tears”. It actually looks better than that in the one photo provided. The wiring harness has been replaced with a replica of the original cloth loom. No rust is visible, and the vendor says the rockers and outriggers and all frame members are solid. The chrome looks good.
Beyond this, we don’t know much. The odometer reads “12,345,” which reads like consecutive numbers you enter to fill the box. But the total mileage is probably unknown anyways.
Sounds like a fun car you could improve gradually, or just drive as is. These 3000s are certainly desirable and have been appreciating in value. They called them “Big Healeys” to distinguish them from the Bugeyes. The 3000 was the third model on the larger body style, and it was available in both two-seater and 2+2 forms. The 3000 was built between 1959 and 1968. The car below, very close to our Mark II, is a 1961 example that was sold at Bonhams last year in England for $55,936. With judicious spending, maybe you could buy the car and get it to this level of quality and still be under that price?
The 3000 came originally with a 2.9-liter C-Series straight-six, producing 124 horsepower through its twin SU carburetors. The Girling front disc brakes were standard, but adjustable steering, overdrive, wire wheels, and that two-tone paint were available options. This car is loaded with those extras. A total of 13,650 3000 Mark 1s were built through 1961. The Mark II was introduced in early 1961. One of the main innovations was triple SU cabs, which upped the power to 132 horsepower. Useful, but the three carbs proved difficult to keep in tune. Now here’s an interesting thing about the car on offer. The Mark III debuted in 1963, with such amenities as a new center console, walnut dash, toggle switches, and optional leather. Very classy. But this one was first registered in 1964, yet is a Mark II. It must have been an unsold leftover, right? Austin-Healey’s story ends in 1970, with about 44,000 Big Healeys built. The company’s total production was approximately 200,000.
Price seems fair to me, if — should be IF! — the claims re: condition and rust pan out.
With proper maintenance and regular use, Big Healeys are virtually indestructible. Moreover, mechanical bits are easy for the DIY mechanic (at least on the topside). My father’s ’60 3000, which I inherited, had over a half-million miles under its wheels when I reluctantly parted with it. During the years I owned it, I got pretty comfortable with servicing brake and clutch hydraulics, carb. and valve adjustments, and a host of other minor-but-important tasks.
With a preference for the earlier flat-windscreen/removable sidescreen cars, I wouldn’t be all that interested, though this looks like a Healey one could drive and enjoy for quite a while before having to seriously contemplate restoration.
Jim, though I’m too lazy to look it up right now, I believe there was some overlap in production between the classic roadster and later convertible models, resulting in some convertibles being built with the original-style instrument panel and simpler seats.
Nice car. Sure makes me miss the two ’55 100s we had. Good point on the overlapping of parts year to year. Porsche and the British car makers couldn’t afford to throw away parts so they just used them up. Our ’53 MG TD had the rectangular taillights while some cars built before and after ours had round ones. Our ’59 Porsche Convertible D had a ’60 Roadster rear clip meaning they ran out of parts in ’59.
I had a “leftover” Triumph TR250. It was sold and registered as a ’69, but they only made them in ’68. Also, mine was a very early example, CD102L, which made it the 102nd left-hand drive model produced, yet it was a ’69!
This has been a dream car for me since I first saw photos and read about them in Road and Track back in 1985. I would prefer this driver quality model over the restored auction example shown in the photo for reference because I’d rather use it and not worry so much.
At one time, our local Rambler dealer also had agencies for BMC and Fiat products. I can’t imagine they turned them over very fast in our semi-rural location. Hence leftovers. Always good bargains for shoppers.
Owning a big Healey was a dream that never became a reality. Alias, I’m too old now, but I can still dream.
Bill in Colorado.
I did a “frame up” on a Healey 100-6. I believe it was a 1958. Perfect engine but body looked like it spent a while on Lake Michigan. I had to reframe the aluminum door frames and rocker panels, re-wire the “Prince of Darkness” wiring and ended up a real fun car except on a fast turn the rear end
wanted to meet the front .When I see the prices they bring now I should have kept it!
I remember looking at this era Austin-Healey , when they were new and I was in high school , I wanted one then and I still do. The closest ,I ever got was a 57 MGA and that was a short love affair. After that it has been Hot Rods forever.
I had a Mark II in 1967, firewall was rusted loose, engine blow-back was probably toxic but so warm I could leave the top down in the winter. Loved it, BUT, it had the three carbs, and they had to be tuned about every six weeks. True, the rear end tries to meet the front end on quick turns. I imagine in motor-cross the Big Healeys had trouble keeping up with the MGs and Jags. These days I’d need a sports-car mechanic at least age 60 or older to feel secure if I were to buy even a well-restored model. They were the poor-man’s Astin-Martins. A class unto themselves.