1966 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII BJ8

Description

Restored in 2008 and under 8,000 miles since; various upgrades including Denis Welch Racing head and steering column; much recent expenditure including new alloy radiator; Revotec fan, high torque starter motor, new chrome wire wheels and tyres; removable gold wrap; a super example at a very enticing guide price

Fast, loud and brutishly handsome, the hairy-chested 'Big Healey' is the quintessential British sportscar of the Sixties. Launched in 1959, it just got better as time went on, the final 150bhp MkIII version of 1964 offering 125mph performance along with luxuries like wind-up windows; a wooden dash stacked with gauges; wrap-around windscreen; independent front suspension; servo-assisted disc/drum brakes and optional Laycock transmission with overdrive on 3rd and 4th – effectively a six-speed ‘box for effortless cruising at sustained high speeds.

Production came to an end in 1967 by which time 17,712 MkIIIs had been sold, over 85% of them LHD models for the booming North American market.

Built in December 1964, this MkIII BJ8 is one of those American export models, the Heritage Certificate showing that it left the factory finished in Colorado Red with a black Vynide interior, options including overdrive, wire wheels, heater, adjustable steering column, laminated windscreen and MPH speedo.

Nothing is known of the car’s early history but it returned to the UK in January 1990. From at least 2006 – 2009 it was owned by a Mr R Parker of Norwich who seems to have treated it to a fairly substantial restoration, judging by the invoices on file. This included repairs to the bodywork and a professional repaint and waxoil treatment.

The engine was tuned and the carbs rebuilt, a dyno sheet from October 2006 (at 60,966 miles) showing that it was producing 127bhp and c.150lb/ft of torque. The overdrive was repaired, a new clutch kit was fitted along with new clutch and brake master cylinders, the suspension got some new polybushes plus much various other jobs. We suspect that a fair bit more was done to the car for which there are no invoices.  

In 2015 it was acquired by The Ashtree Collection of Shrewsbury where it was immediately fitted with a Denis Welch Racing steering box and adjustable column which cost £1,812 excluding fitting. It has also clearly been fitted with some other Denis Welch tuning parts although it isn’t clear when this was done or what it involved.

It seems from the MOT history that the car was then unused for the next five years, an invoice showing that in November 2020 it was sent to JME Healeys of Warwick for a thorough service and recommissioning with any faults rectified.

This cost £11,178 and included: rear axle rebuilt; brakes overhauled; new wheel bearings; new clutch kit; new engine and gearbox mountings; steering box rebuilt and tracking adjusted; reconditioned rev counter and fuel gauge; halogen headlamp conversion; wiring loom repairs plus much else besides. The gearbox was also taken out and serviced and the crankshaft was fitted with a rear main oil seal conversion kit, the mileage at this point being c.68,500.

Our vendor acquired the car from The Ashtree Collection in November 2021, the purchase invoice showing that he paid £58,000. A retired garage proprietor and former professional mechanic, he has fitted various new parts including an uprated alloy radiator; Revotec cooling fan; new alternator; high-torque starter motor; CSI electronic distributor and coil; rear seat belts plus a new set of chrome wire wheels shod with new Continental tyres. He has also put a gold wrap on the lower half of the car which is easily removable if desired.

He has covered around 1,000 fine weather miles in the car and we are told that it drives as well as it looks, the odometer currently showing 71,015 miles. It has certainly been starting promptly and running beautifully as we have moved it around on site, with healthy 60psi oil pressure and a pleasingly rorty exhaust note. Although it no longer needs one, it has an MOT until May 2026 with no advisories recorded.

As you can see in the photos, this pampered and judiciously uprated Big Healey looks most attractive indeed and is ready to enjoy right away. On offer here at a very modest guide price, it is only for sale because our vendor has recently suffered a bereavement which has altered his perspective on life and he would rather the car finds an enthusiastic new owner who can reap the benefits of all the work so recently carried out.

Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com