Vehicle Description
SUMMARY
2-owner car / Professional ground-up restoration completed in
2014
Shown at the 2014 Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours
d'Elegance
Correct 2.9 liter British Motor Corporation 29A 6-cylinder /
Correct twin SU carburetion
5-speed manual transmission / Hydraulic clutch
Black leather interior / Black cloth top / 1 of 445 3000 Mk IIIs
fitted with Black trim
PPG Toyota Sand Stone Beige paint / Originally Golden Beige
Metallic / 1 of 553 Metallic Golden Beige 3000 Mk IIIs produced
Sale includes: Original Shipping Document / British Motor Industry
Heritage Trust Production Record
Sale includes: Restoration receipts / Brochure highlighting the
car's concours appearance
Correct front disc and rear drum brakes / Correct wire wheels
1 of 17,712 3000 Mk IIIs produced
The early '60s could quite possibly be considered the dawn of
performance roadsters. Of course, hardcore racers had always
whipped fire-breathing drop-tops around various tracks. But the
majority of America's '50s convertibles were big, luxurious, cushy
and way too civilized to take serious turns. That's why spry cars
like this freshly restored Austin-Healy 3000 Mk III gradually
redefined how the domestic market interpreted open-air motoring.
Small, tossable and extremely fun right out of the box, this
virtually spotless classic was professionally rebuilt in
preparation for the 2014 Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival &
Concours d'Elegance. 1 of only 17,712 Mark IIIs produced, the car
is innately exclusive. And, if you're looking for a fully sorted,
fully pedigreed Austin that's also a blast to drive, it's the 'big
Healey' of your dreams!
BODYWORK/TRIM
Roughly 2 years out of a detailed restoration, this 2-owner Mk III
was completely rebuilt by Harrisburg, North Carolina's Carolina
Sports Imports and Charlotte, North Carolina's Mike's Auto Body
Repair. Finished in a fresh coat of PPG 2-stage, the car reflects
smooth Toyota Sand Stone Beige that's extremely similar to its
original Golden Beige Metallic single-stage. At the front of that
pigment, a mirrored bumper hangs new overriders beneath
chrome-trimmed headlights, bullet-style parking lamps and a
textured grille that's topped by an ornate header emblem. Above
that grille, a subtle hood scoop leads the eye to chrome-trimmed
glass that's reflected in small mirrors and capped by clean cloth.
At the sides of that scoop, classy fender toppers perfectly
complement chrome door handles, polished profile inserts and
sculpted style lines. At the back of those toppers, correct
"Austin-Healey 3000" badging rides between chrome trunk trim,
simple tail lamps, a small gas cap and a second bumper that props
two reflectors outside two more overriders. And it all adds up to
one lust worthy 3000 that puts most European metal to shame!
ENGINE
Mechanically, this Austin exemplifies top-notch detailing through a
rare twin-carb engine that appears to have been completely rebuilt.
Tilt the lightweight hood and you'll find 2.9 liters of 29A
6-cylinder that looks good and runs great! Based on British Motor
Corporation's stalwart C-Series, Austin's inline mill isn't a
grossly overpowered piece. But it's certainly proven its ability to
jet this compact roadster out of many tight curves, and cruise
comfortably in just about any situation its owners' demanded. At
the top of the light green block, compact Coopers air cleaners
sling air in to two familiar SU carburetors. At the base of those
carbs, a stamped, factory-correct valve cover caps factory intake
and exhaust manifolds. At the base of that cover, an old school
points distributor sequences spark through fresh plug wires.
Cooling is provided by a correct Coventry radiator. And the car's
tight engine bay is dotted with many show-ready essentials,
including a color-keyed generator, a requisite red finger guard and
an old school Tudor washer reservoir.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Restored to be cool to look at and fun to drive, this micro
roadster is founded on a nice mix of upgraded and factory-correct
components. For starters, a fresh 5-speed utilizes a tough
hydraulic clutch to compliment Austin's built-in canyon prowess
with great highway manners that aren't afforded by original
4-speeds. Stops come courtesy of manual front disc and rear drum
brakes. The car's chassis, which rides on a familiar set of coil
and leaf springs, has been restored in a subdued mix of beige and
black pigment. A factory manifold, replacement pipes and
traditional mufflers handle exhaust duties. At the corners of the
floor, correct wire wheels spin 185HR15 Vredestein Sprint Classics
around fresh knock-offs. And, as far as appearance goes, the bottom
of this 'big Healey' is exactly what you'd expect from a lightly
used classic.
INTERIOR
Like its exterior, the interior of this 3000 was completely
rejuvenated during the car's ground-up reboot. Front and center,
small bucket seats sport upgraded leather hides. In front of those
seats, a correct Walnut-veneer dash centers a retro mirror on
factory heat, restored Smiths telemetry and a locking glovebox.
Beneath that dash, a flowing console frames a petite shifter in
front of an optional ashtray. Below that console, fade-free carpet
provides a supple foundation for a polished hand brake and
red-trimmed Austin-Healey floor mats. In front of the driver, a
classy steering wheel laps a period-correct trafficator. At the
sides of the passengers, scuff-free door panels frame bright chrome
hardware. And behind the cockpit, a small trunk hauls a fifth wire
wheel and full-size tire opposite an Optima gel cell battery.
OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION
The car's original Shipping Document (Similar to a Window
Sticker)
The car's original Driver's Handbook
The car's original service booklet
A British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Production Record
Restoration receipts
A brochure highlighting the car's appearance at the 2014 Hilton
Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d'Elegance
Vintage European metal has aged with more grace than most, wearing
designs that are still capable of turning heads in their basic
factory form. And since they're becoming increasingly scarce,
British offerings like this pedigreed Austin get snapped up almost
as quickly as they hit the market. If you're an enthusiast who
likes to put their hardware on the pavement, few classics deliver
this blend of fun and exclusivity. And, being fresh out of a
professional restoration, this roadster should fare very well at
any gathering you choose to attend!