Vehicle Description
Here's an ultra cool and well-preserved example of vintage British
automotive artistry. This 1965 Austin Healey 3000 Mark III BJ8 has
only logged just a bit over 58,000 miles in its considerable
lifetime and has reaped all the benefits of a thorough restoration
both inside and out. It's an exceptional classic sports car and it
comes with a binder full of documents that includes restoration
photos and build receipts to provide the narrative of its
transformation.
There were no shortcuts taken in bringing out the best in this car.
The British Racing Green draped over its exterior is accented by
white running the lengths of its sides and looks absolutely killer,
with a great shine and a mirror like reflection. This 3000 has a
very distinctive look - it's a bit more substantial in width than
some of its counterparts and carries an outstanding profile with
graceful, sweeping lines. From the headlights with their protective
covers that sit over a pair of fog lights and a clean straight
bumper up front, to the luggage rack securely mounted on the
decklid, the assembly of chrome on board is looking very strong.
Take your place inside the cockpit and you'll find yourself
surrounded by clear glass, and a black cloth convertible top rests
under its tonneau cover to rise up for protection when called
upon.
The black interior has been very skillfully restored and features a
collection of new components, including the door panels, carpeting,
a very sharp woodgrain steering wheel and a pair of leather bucket
seats that offer very nice support and plenty of comfort. The dash
pad running the width of the interior has a fresh, supple look to
it while below, the burlwood grain panel carries a collection of
clear, functional gauges, as well as a retro-style AM/FM radio to
send quality sound through the pair of seamlessly mounted speakers
in the doors - one of the few deviations from a stock look, and a
well executed one at that. The trunk area is also in very solid
shape, with a full size spare resting on its floor and the battery
securely mounted to one side.
The 177 cubic inch inline 6 standing by under the hood received
some special engineering attention the year before this '65 rolled
out, equipping it with a higher lift camshaft and a pair of SU
carbs to produce a full 150hp - plenty to propel a car with a curb
weight of around 2500 lbs. with authority. It sits with a
surprising amount of working room surrounding it in an engine
compartment that, like everything else on this car, is worthy of
display at a museum. Just behind it is a 4-speed manual
transmission that's also in top form - the entire drivetrain
received a very thorough going over not long ago - and whose
electric overdrive gear comes in handy for low revs at highway
speeds. Unlike many of its similarly proportioned European
counterparts, this 3000 features power steering, and it strikes a
great balance -making for nice, easy navigation while providing
plenty of feedback to keep the driver involved. The front disc
brakes have been cross drilled and slotted, so repeated stops and
starts aren't going to diminish braking ability. A set of 15"spoked
wheels complete this ultra-sharp roadster's vintage look. Below,
the undercarriage looks great and from this perspective you can see
the bracing Austin Healey employed to maximize rigidity.
If you're looking for a truly well-engineered and skillfully
restored vintage sports car, this 1965 Austin Healey 3000 Mark III
BJ8 is the one for you. Call today!
