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1963 AUSTIN HEALEY MKII 3000 BJ-7L CONVERTIBLE
THIS BEAUTY IS ONE OF THE 3,532 BJ-7 AUSTIN HEALEY'S BUILT BETWEEN FEB.1962 AND NOV. 1963 AND EXPORTED TO THE UNITED
STATES FROM GREAT BRITAIN. IT IS KNOWN AS A "THE BIG HEALEY". THE 'REMARKABLE' FEATURES FOR THIS MODEL
WOULD BE 'WIND-UP WINDOWS', LAMINATED CURVED WINDSCREEN (WINDSHIELD), A 'PROPER BOOT' (ACTUAL FOLDING CONVERTIBLE TOP), 2+2 SEATING (FOR LEGLESS CHILDREN), LUXURY CARPETING, RETURN TO THE BELOVED TWIN SU CARBS, INCREASED HORSEPOWER, 'NEW' IMPROVED STEERING BOX, HIGHER RATED FRONT SPRINGS, THE 'NEW' SERVO BRAKE CYLINDER , PRESSED STEEL DASH AND ELECTRIC TACH.
WITH A FIRST YEAR ZIP-OUT REAR WINDOW THE MKII BJ-7'S
CAN INSTANTLY BE RECOGNIZED AT SPEED OR SITTING CURBSIDE BY THE VERTICAL -SLATTED GRILLE AND BADGING.
THIS ABSOLUTELY 'STUNNING' CAR IS FINISHED IN CLASSIC 'HEALEY BLUE' WITH BLACK BUCKET SEATS, SOFT TOP AND TONNEAU.
IT CARRIES THE NEW DAYTON CHROME WIRE WHEELS WITH STAINLESS-STEEL SPOKES, LUCAS FOGLAMPS, DERRINGTON
STYLE (MOTO-LITA) WOOD STEERING WHEEL, HEATER, GIRLING SERVO BRAKES, ORIGINAL EVERFLEX BRAND TOP/ TONNEAU /
BOOT ORDERED DIRECT FROM ENGLAND, ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMN, 'ROADSPEED-TYPE' RADIAL B.W. TIRES AND
OVERDRIVE, ALL EXCELLENT, AS WELL AS, THE NEATEST 'DECOR' OPTIONS IN 1963. IT UNDERWENT A TOTAL FRAME-OFF, BARE METAL RESTORATION IN BASE COAT/ CLEARCOAT WITH RECEIPTS IN HOUSE TOTALLING $23,186.55+ (MOSTLY PARTS) INCLUDING ENGINE REBUILD & SUSPENSION, DOWN TO THE TIE RODS. IT ALSO GOT A NEW CLUTCH, INTERIOR AND TOP W/ BOOT. WE JUST SPENT SEVERAL 1,000's DOLLARS ON RE-RESTORATION TO INCLUDE NEW SHOW CHROME GRILLE /SURROUND, AIR INTAKE CHROME, COMPLETE UNDERCARRIAGE RE-RESTORATION, (4) NEW KNOCK-OFF'S, NEW THOR HAMMER, ENGINE DETAIL AND MANY BITS & PIECES.
INCIDENTALLY, THIS CAR IS A STRONG 'RUNNER'.
THE 3000 MKII BJ-7 WAS FIT AT ADBINGTON, ENGLAND WITH THE 2912 6 CYLINDER MOTOR AND 4-SPEED GEARBOX.
AND PROVIDED REMARKABLY SUPER PERFORMANCE AGAINST IT'S COMPETITION.
OVERDRIVE WAS AN EXTRA COST OPTION ( 60 ENGLISH POUNDS ). WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT THIS CAR IS NOT ONLY FITTED
WITH O.D. BUT, IT 'WORKS' (SO MANY IN AMERICA ARE NOW DEFUNCT). THE RESULT , WITH THE OPTIONAL OVERDRIVE, WAS A BIG
HEALEY WITH A 5-6 SPEED GEARBOX. MAXIMUM TOP SPEED WAS RECORDED BY SPORTSCAR ILLUSTRATED AT 124 M.P.H. ( 4 MPH ABOVE THE SPEEDO READING). 0-60 MPH WAS 11.5 SEC., ALL FROM 131 BHP @ 4750 R.P.M....NOT BAD FOR A SIX
BANGER. IT CARRIED A 'NEW' FEATURE THIS YEAR: "SERVO ASSISTED DRUM BRAKES" AT ALL FOUR CORNERS.
THIS WOULD BE THE LAST OF THE LOW-SLUNG HEALEYS....... IN FACT, THERE ARE THOSE THAT WOULD ARGUE THAT THE BJ-7
MODELS ARE " THE LAST OF THE REAL RUGGED SPORTS CARS" AS, BY THE NEXT MODEL (BJ-8), AN INCREASED RIDE
HEIGHT WITH A LOWER SPRING RATE GAVE THE IMPRESSION OF A MUCH LARGER CAR, AS THE 'CUSHY RIDE' WAS ALSO INSTITUTED WITH MORE 'CREATURE COMFORTS' & DOO-DADS.
THOSE INCLUDED A HARDBACK FOLD-DOWN SEAT, PADDED GEARBOX TUNNEL, QUIETER EXHAUST, WOOD-LIKE FACIA DASH,
ADDED BODY LIGHTS, AND 52 POUNDS MORE BEEF WEIGHT THAN IT'S SISTER THE BJ-7, SHOWN HERE.
THIS FINE 50-YR. OLD ENGLISH SPORTSCAR IS CHASSIS # 25179
WHICH WOULD PLACE IT AT 135 CARS FROM LAST MKII PRODUCED, AND TITLED IN 1964, A COMMON PRACTICE IN THAT DECADE.
WE HAVE SPECIALIZED IN AUSTIN HEALEYS ( INCLUDING SPRITES) , JAGUARS AND 'BATH-TUB' 356 PORSCHES DURING OUR
ENTIRE 24 YEAR CAREER IN THE CLASSIC CAR BUSINESS. 100'S OF OUR CARS , IN OUR EARLY DAYS, WERE SOLD NUMBER'S MATCHING, RUST-FREE
DONOR CARS TO TOP-SHELF RESTORATION SHOPS IN EUROPE.... HAVING VISITED THERE MANY TIMES, WE CAN VOUCH FOR
THE QUALITY OF THIS EXPENSIVE, BOLT-FOR-BOLT RESTORATION IN MISSISSIPI.
RUNS AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS SO, IT COULD ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS "A DROP DEAD GORGEOUS #2".
ATTRACTIVELY PRICED @ ONLY $69,500 ~ DRIVE IT HOME....
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STOCK/INV. NUMBER:
BJ-7L CONVERTIBLE
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