If one could bottle the essence of British motoring, it might smell like an Austin-Healey. The Big Healey oozes charisma: In an olfactory flash, the hood’s down in a driving rain, exhaust rorting, chassis yawing, the headlights dimly illuminating the starboard hedgerow. The driver wears an almost imperceptible look of satisfaction at the paired abilities of machine and self. Or maybe it’s the Morley Twins ripping up those forest lanes in the RAC Rally or something else that’s equal parts challenging and romantic. Yes, the Big Healey is something, and the 3000 Mark III is perhaps the pinnacle of the breed (cue a big argument here). This ’64 Mark III will need a full restoration, but if a burly British sports car appeals to you, this one is currently on eBay (but not for long).
The seller claims that this 3000 has been sitting in dry storage for almost 40 years. It rolls freely and the engine turns with the starter, so it’s possible that it will run. It’s also said to have “very little rust,” although I’m a little perplexed by the choice of pictures included in the ad. The car is clearly on a hoist, yet there are no good pictures of the undercarriage (nor the engine, for that matter). The engine is said to be original; if so, it’s the classic three-liter inline six with twin 2-inch SUs, which put about 150 horsepower to the ground. Not bad.
The interior is dirty but mostly intact (door panels?), although you can see that the original exterior color was white. A white Healey with a black interior would be gorgeous, so if the new owner is reading…do that. Not to pressure you.
There are several pictures included of the lower body, which looks crusty but not alarming. It is a Georgia car with British Motor Industry Heritage Trust documentation, which verifies that it’s indeed a ’64 3000 that was bound for the United States, being “dispatched” on December 18, 1963.
With less than a day to go on the auction, the high bid on the Healey is $6,099, which has not met the reserve. It’s being sold on a Georgia bill of sale, so if you live in a title state, you might want to do the required research on making the car yours. Austin-Healey values have been strong for years, but full restorations are usually not done for investment purposes (at least it never seems to work out that way). Is this a challenge that’s worth taking on? Leave your take in the comments.
Yes. This. Exactly. In an olfactory flash, the hood’s down in a driving rain, exhaust snorting, chassis yawing, the headlights dimly illuminating the starboard hedgerow. The driver wears an almost imperceptible look of satisfaction
I love Old English White on any British car. It looks great on a big Healey. Also the existing color on this car is light blue metallic, Yuk!! My least favorite color! If this car is what the ad says and rust is minimal this could be a worthwhile project. Of course we all need to find out what the reserve is………….
Looks like it’s spent a whole lot of time in a huge mud bog. Cleaning it up to sell wouldn’t require a lot of effort or brains. Put that in front of me looking like that sure won’t excite me to buy it. Owned two ’55s and loved them. Even the rust problems on one of them didn’t drive me away because the car was clean enough to see what I was buying.
It looks like a rare Mk III, Phase 1. The front and rear turn signal/marking lights
are the giveaway.
The rear upper “lights”are reflectors.
Ended at 7K.
Reserve Not Met.
1964 Austin Healey 3000 Mk III Phase 1, just 1,302 were produced with over 90% due for export. Check out the later ones and note the raised rears.
The Phase 1 was the last of the traditional low profile Austin-Healey.
From then until the end of production in the 1967 the 3000’s had different
rear ends.
The bidding stopped at $7K That should tell the seller whats it’s worth.I never understand why sellers won’t take the time and clean and make it run.Eye wash does wonders.