When looking for an Austin-Healey 3000 for sale, be sure you know what you are looking at when inspecting the cars you have found. There are still numerous models on the road and in garages for you to choose from that are from the original Austin-Healey plant in England, but they are not alone.
For under $45,000 you can have a brand new Austin-Healey replica with a V8 powerplant ready to drive. This is from a manufacturer in Port Charlotte Florida called CRD Inc. This replica is from the 1967 model BJ8 Mark III that was a 2+2 car or four-seater. The instant give away is the power plant, so do not be fooled when looking under the hood. There are other used versions going for less than $20,000 so if the price is too good to believe, it just might be.
An original 3000 Austin-Healey in mint showroom condition would have a price tag that can be as high as $65,000. On average, a totally restored 3000 may come slightly lower at $35,000 to $45,000. If you are looking to restore an old Austin-Healey 3000 then the beginning price will usually be under $10,000. The condition of the car generally dictates the price along with how bad you really desire to own this particular model.
For those looking at this as a restoration project, there are numerous parts suppliers still manufacturing spare parts at a reasonable price. Just be careful when shopping. Not all sellers actually know what they have and are advertising MG cars as an Austin-Healey 3000 for sale. Know what you want and what you are looking at before you write the check.
Austin-Healey Restoration: Labor of Love
The Austin-Healey restoration projects that are looking for a powerful version of the car sometimes look past the Austin-Healey 100 and the Austin-Healey 100-six. This is because, in 1959, the Austin-Healey 3000 or Big Healey came into production. This was the year after the little economical version of the Austin-Healey went into production that produced the “Bugeye”, which was fun to drive, but a diversion from the power line that the 100’s had set.
There were 5 different versions of the 3000 made during its production run from 1959 until 1967. The BN7 Mark I and the BT7 Mark I was made from 1959 until 1961. The main difference between these two versions was that the BN7 was a 2 seater and the BT7 had 2 small seats in the rear just large enough to accommodate a pair of small children. The overall length of the car was also increased by 6 inches.
Many collectors feel the 3000 was just a continuation of the 100-six line of Austin-Healey’s, but there were differences. The distinctive difference was that 2 more inches were added to the wheelbase from 90 inches to 92 inches. This gave the car more stability in the corners and more room for the passengers.
Another difference was an increase in engine size up to the 2912 cc motor. In 1960, this first version was tested by Motor magazine where it obtained a top speed of 115 mph.
For those restoring one of these old gems, there were many standard features and options available. On all of them were Girling disc brakes on the front and drums on the rear. The options included wire wheels, an overdrive gearbox, laminated windshield, an adjustable steering column, a heater, two-tone paint, and an easily detachable hard-top were available. There were just over 2,800 BN7-Mark I models produced along with nearly 11,000 BT7-Mark I models during their production run.