Beautiful and desirable 3000 BJ8 Mark III in fantastic colors. Documented frame-off restoration several years ago, still in excellent condition. Wire wheels with radials. The last of the big Healeys is also the best!
There were a lot of variations of the Austin-Healey sports car, and depending on who you ask, they all have their own special appeal. What we like about this 1965 3000 BJ8 Mark II however, is that burly 6-cylinder engine under the long hood. That's why the 3000s are consistently the most sought-after of the Healeys. Technically it's a 4-seater, but the proportions are the same as the 100-6 that preceded it and I'm not sure I'd call the small divots in the back area "seats" as we know them. This remains a roadster in the traditional sense of the word. This car was restored by the British car experts at Automotive Artistry in Hudson, OH, and their work speaks for itself--it's just gorgeous. The two-tone white-over-red paint job is deep and glossy, surely better than new, and the fit and finish is extremely good, especially for a largely hand-built British sports car. It is holding up superbly with very few signs of use or age--this car could easily pass for a much more recent restoration. All the chrome was refinished, including the bumpers, grille, and small pieces, and all the emblems remain bright and crisp. This car is just gorgeous!
The red leather interior is part of why we love this Healey so much. It's the perfect complement to the sporting two-tone bodywork, sophisticated yet flashy, and entirely appropriate for a big kid's sports car. Everything inside the car is new, including the upholstery, carpets, door panels, and even the dash pad. There's a big banjo-style steering wheel that makes it quite easy to handle and there's a matching shifter knob for the 4-speed manual gearbox. All the Smiths gauges were rebuilt and remain fully operational, and this car is equipped with an optional heater unit under the dash, which can extend your driving season a bit. The factory overdrive unit is operational and is actuated by a simple toggle switch on the dash, and it really transforms this into a grand touring car that can eat up a lot of pavement in a single sitting. The back seats are probably best for small children, but it does provide decent storage space, along with the trunk, which is fully finished with correct mats, a full-sized spare, and the battery. There's also a black vinyl folding convertible top and matching boot, which obviously hasn't seen much use.
The reason the 3000 is special, however, resides under the hood: a 2912 cc inline-6 that is a big step up from the unit found in the 100-6. Smoother, torquier, and just as willing to rev, it turned the big Healey into a genuinely fast car for the era. The engine was fully rebuilt to stock specs and still inhales through a pair of SU carburetors. The engine bay is correctly detailed with Austin Green paint on the engine itself, proper fittings and copper lines, and a new fabric-covered wiring harness as well as a giant aluminum radiator to keep it cool on the hottest days. It starts easily with a little choke and settles into a burbling idle that almost feels like the car is impatient and ready to go. On the road, the exhaust note is epic and there's torque available all over the tach, which was surely the goal with the upgraded engine. The 4-speed shifts cleanly and as I mentioned, the overdrive turns it into a comfortable cruiser on today's highways. The exhaust system is stainless, and you can see the results of the frame-off restoration throughout the undercarriage, which is still extremely clean. It brakes confidently, steers crisply, and rides surprisingly well given its primitive suspension setup. Painted wire wheels are the perfect finishing touch, and they carry 16SR15 Michelin radials that look right and handle great.
Documentation includes the Heritage Certificate, plus receipts and photos from the restoration.
I can't stop looking at this car. It's just lovely. The paint looks deep enough to swim in and the combination of red and white with a red leather interior is hard to beat. Add in the fact that this is the most powerful of the big Healeys with the best road manners, and you end up with a car that does everything well. Available for a fraction of today's restoration cost, this is a special car. Call today!
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