Vehicle Description
The production of the Austin Healey 3000BJ7 ended in October 1963.
These Mark II examples are improved over their earlier Mark I
predecessor with a wraparound windscreen, roll- up windows,
vertical front grill bars, and improved convertible top design.
Only 6,113 were produced over the approximate 3 years of
production. We are excited to offer this gorgeous 1963 Austin
Healey 3000 Mark II BJ7 Sports Convertible! Finished in factory
correct Colorado Red with upgraded Black trim accented with red
seat piping and correct Black convertible top! Powered by a correct
2912cc Inline 6-cylinder engine upgraded with triple SU HS4
carburetion, and 4-speed manual transmission with factory
electronic overdrive! Other factory options included laminated
windscreen, adjustable steering column, wire wheels, Smiths heater,
and road speed tires! Optional accessories that enhance this Healey
even further include the addition of beautiful 72-spoke chrome wire
wheels, Michelin radial tires, polished stainless steel exhaust,
dual fender-mounted mirrors, and new brake lines.
The car represented here was produced with a final release date of
September 17th, 1962 to BMC Distributors, Inc located in San
Francisco, CA. It will come with a British Heritage Trust
certificate of authenticity showing it came with nearly all the
popular options. It retains its original painted wire spoke spare
tire, generator charging system, canister style oil filter, Lucas
distributor and coil ignition, and correct gold faced Smiths
gauges. As the story of this particular Healey goes, it was
purchased by the second owners in 1965 to replace an accident
damaged 1962 BT7 Roadster they loved dearly. The triple SU
carburetion of that BT7 was quickly transferred to this BJ7 for
increased horsepower and torque. It was then driven regularly
throughout the balance of the 1960s before an effort to repaint the
car commenced. To help save some of the labor cost of this process,
the owner elected to prepare the car by removing and properly
tagging all trim and interior parts. He then delivered the body &
driveline ready for a total refinish to a friend ready for the
paint job. Once the car was returned, the owners were preparing for
a relocation to West Virginia.
The car and parts would travel with them and land in storage for
approximately 15 years. After another move within West Virginia,
the car would then find its way back to their home garage for
another 15 years of dry storage! As with many stories of important
and valuable cars, it would become the product of an estate asset
and sold to British car specialist, Michael Gassman, of Gassman
Motors in Waynesboro, VA in May 2009, after being ignored for some
44 years. He quickly recognized the overall, outstanding California
rust-free structure with perfectly straight chassis underneath that
still, even today, possesses the original factory applied red paint
underneath! Gassman Motors professional restoration services
allowed to quickly freshen up the paint, reassemble the car with
original components that included the fully tuned original engine
retaining the rare triple carburetion, new clutch, resealed
transmission, new suspension, all new exhaust, reupholstered seats
in the current presentation along with new padded carpet, door
panels, fresh dash, new trunk kit, new wiring throughout, cleaned
gas tank, new fuel pump, new chrome components including new wire
wheels/tires, weather stripping, convertible top, trim components,
windshield, etc. In just 6 months, it was then sold to William Mays
of Lynchburg, VA with 48,785 actual miles on the odometer as a
frame-up restoration.
It would later be purchased by the St. Louis Car Museum & Sales
when we first represented this car in June 2011 with 49,024 miles
on the odometer, which was listed as actual mileage on the past two
title copies at that time. We sold it in October 2011 to longtime
sports car enthusiast collectors, George & Rose Wamser, who enjoyed
this BJ7 for the next 8 years. It would sell from our showroom
again to a collector in Brunswick, Georgia that May 2019 with an
odometer reading of 49,678. This new owner elected to immediately
convert the factory positive ground charging system over to
negative ground upon purchase along with install brand new
Vredstein Sprint Classic tires (5) and RetroSound Motor 1 under
dash radio. Each caretaker allowed it to be driven sparingly and
cared for passionately! It is now offered back in our museum
showroom once again 4 years later.
It showcases an older but very well maintained 13-year-old
restoration today! The chrome and interior upholstery still appear
excellent! The convertible top is still new, and the exterior paint
finish remains very sharp with only a few minor touch-ups. The
engine bay and undercarriage also remain very presentable for a car
that continues to be driven and enjoyed. It was recently tuned and
is a wonderful performer making it a fun all around cruiser! The
current odometer reading is 49,841 miles today. Please feel welcome
to call with additional questions or to schedule an appointment to
see the car in person. Thanks for looking!