On offer here is a rare and beautiful tri-carburetor Austin Healey
3000. The car was under the stewardship of a single owner going
back over 30 years. Under his care this big Healey underwent a nut
and bolt, body off frame restoration. The body, frame, and
undercarriage are all solid and rust free. The paint presents very
well with its mellowed older restoration. The goal of the
restoration was to build the best driving Austin Healey possible.
While big Healey's have always retained their visual appeal with
its gorgeous flowing lines, the driving experience can be frenetic
in modern traffic conditions, especially so on the highway. To
address this, desirable upgrades were carefully planned and
installed. One is a modern five speed transmission providing
synchromesh in all forward gears, much better gear spacing (a bonus
too is that it doesn't leak like the originals). The five speed is
a Toyota Supra unit with one of the Smitty conversions which can be
read about on various Internet and Healey sites. The clutch action
is smooth and the modern five speed transmission adds to the
driving experience without the maintenance worries that accompanied
the original gearboxes in these cars. The brakes, suspension, and
steering are all in good order. Another upgrade is aluminum
Minilight style wheels which are true knock-off type wheels, not
bolt on types. These lighter aluminum wheels not only look great,
they reduce unsprung weight making the car feel more nimble and
sure-footed. They are also stronger and safer than wire wheels. The
engine was completely rebuilt and hardened valve seats installed in
the head for compatibility with lead-free fuel. No more worries
about lead substitute additives. The car runs on a Pertronix
ignition and was upgraded to a modern alternator. The engine is in
top condition, holding excellent oil pressure, no exhaust smoke,
and delivers strong performance. Also installed on this car is a
stainless steel exhaust system that sounds glorious. The interior
is very attractive and looks virtually new. It is finished in red
leather with white piping. The matching red carpets are in fine
condition with no indication of wear. The door cards, also red with
chrome hardware, are in mint condition. Peering through the
steering wheel, one sees the original gold colored Smiths gauges
that are in excellent condition. The steering wheel itself is
beautiful with varnished mahogany rim and polished stainless steel
spokes. A neat detail is the vintage key fob that, judging by it's
patina and little thank you badge, may very well be the orginal
dealership complimentary item. This car needs nothing other than a
new caretaker to drive and enjoy the Big Healey experience. For
questions or more information, call or text Mike at 573-579-4617 or
email to
[email protected]. Thanks for looking.