Vehicle Description
This 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III BJ8 has that beautiful
classic British look - right down to the color. As you dig deeper,
you'll even see a few subtle upgrades to enhance the pure driving
experience. So this one is calling you out to the open road.
British Racing Green is always the color of choice on a proper
English sports car. And this one truly is fitting of it elevated
status. The Big Healey, one of the most gracious styles of its time
with a style line that started at the headlight and had a gentle
arc that flowed through the door. The rear fenders are just as
artful as they rise above the trunk line. You can see all of this
so well because of the exceptional panel fit of this example. There
was just the right amount of brightwork to attract an American
audience on places like the wide grille, mirror-like bumpers, and
door tops. This example also retains all the great European
details, too, like the fender-mounted side mirrors and bright trunk
hinges. And of course, it's not a true classic European sports car
without wire wheels with genuine knock-off hubs.
These cars are meant to be open to the world, and so the black
interior looks terrific against the dark green exterior. The BJ8
series was the final run for this storied design, and these are
sought-after today for some of the upgrades given to this swan
song. The walnut veneer trim is exclusive to these later cars. So
is the comfort of the center console in-between the bucket seats.
Owning a later Healey also adds in plenty of practicality. After
all, these have a full convertible top and roll-up windows. The
rear seats are a nice occasional use for children or luggage.
There's even been an upgrade to an AM/FM/cassette stereo. But even
with this level of sensibleness, nothing gets in the way of the
pure driving experience. The gearshift is in that perfect resting
position for your right hand. The thin a grippy sports steering
wheel will make your pulse race at first touch.
Another example of why the final series of this car is so desirable
is the motor. The 2.9-liter inline six was upgraded with larger
twin SU carburetors. This yielded a 14% boost in power to push it
to 150 HP - the most powerful Austin-Healey ever. So it's great to
have what's believed to be the original unit still under the hood
today. And you get to take full advantage of this one better than
the rest thanks to a strategic upgrade. The four-speed transmission
with electronic overdrive has been replaced by a sturdy five-speed
sourced from Toyota. It allows for crisp shifting and a genuine
extra gear. But purists will also be happy to know the original
gearbox comes with the sale, too. Plus, nimble handling, modern
tires, and front disc brakes all come together to create a stellar
vintage driving package.
Tradition, beauty, and an all-around great driver make this
Austin-Healey 3000 a true gem. Don't let it slip away, call
today!