To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION
Estimate:
$45,000 - $50,000
- Desirable early Mark II BT7 roadster
- Numbers-matching 2,912-cc inline six-cylinder engine with
triple S.U. carburetors
- Four-speed manual with Laycock de Normanville overdrive
- Finished in striking Black/Reno Red livery
- Please note this lot will need to be collected from St. Louis,
MO
Introduced in March 1961, the Mark II version of the Austin-Healey
3000 ushered in a host of improvements over the first series to
create the best-performing Healey to date. Primary among the
refinements was the addition of a third S.U. carburetor to the
2,912-cc inline-six, paired with a revised camshaft to boost output
to a healthy 132 hp. Power was sent through a four-speed gearbox
with optional Laycock de Normanville overdrive, delivering
outstanding all-round performance. Midway through the Mark II
series, the 3000 gained roll-up side windows and a redesigned soft
top, dampening some of the raw, bare-knuckle appeal of these
earlier models.
This 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II roadster is one of just 5,451
triple-carb BT7s produced, putting it among the scarcer iterations
of the classic Big Healey. An early-production Mark II, this
example is one of the last of the pure roadster versions before the
3000 series grew larger and increasingly luxurious. This car's
British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate shows it left
Longbridge at the close of October 1961, destined for the North
American market. It was originally delivered to San Francisco and
is believed to have spent much of its life in California.
In the early 2000s, the Austin-Healey underwent a complete
restoration, and was refinished in this beautiful Black/Reno Red
livery. It is pleasingly well-finished, with authentic detailing of
the red leather-trimmed cockpit and of the numbers-matching engine.
Additional features include chrome knock-off wire wheels with
period-correct Michelin radial tires, Laycock overdrive, and Smiths
heater. The high-quality restoration has mellowed gracefully,
making this 3000 the ideal companion for regular top-down drives
around ones favorite country roads.To view this car and others
currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/0120.
