Vehicle Description
Vehicle to be offered for Auction sale January 19th 22nd 2017 at Russo and Steeles 17th Annual Scottsdale Arizona Auction at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Please contact us for more information.
Noted racer and constructor Donald Healeys Hundred sports roadster was created in 1952 for display at the Earls Court London Motor Show and skillfully combined a chassis designed by Barry Bilbie with sleek envelope-type bodywork by Gerry Coker and Austins A90 four-cylinder engine. BMCs Leonard Lord quickly struck a deal with Healey for series-production by Austin and one of the finest British sporting roadsters was born. In 1956 the six-cylinder 100/6 arrived and then for 1959 the engine was enlarged to 3.0 liters and front disc brakes were added. The resulting Austin-Healey 3000 was an immediate success - both on and off the track.
Enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic fell in love with the new Austin-Healey 3000 from the beginning. Road & Track called it ...an enthusiasts sports car that was fun to drive with lots of performance and good handling and braking characteristics. A subsequent review of the Mark III by UK magazine The Autocar was equally favorable prophetically finding it ...tractable capable of an immense amount of hard work with reasonable economy it will still have its devotees long after production has ceased.
The final version of the Big Healey so named in comparison to its smaller sibling the Austin-Healey Sprite was the Mark III BJ8 introduced in 1963 and built in Phase I and improved Phase II forms through 1967. With its twin two-inch SU carburetors the well-developed 2912 cc six-cylinder engine produced 148 horsepower providing acceleration from rest to 60 mph in 9.8 seconds and top speeds over 120 mph. Other improvements included a revised exhaust system and standard vacuum brake booster. Additionally cockpits were more luxurious with a wood-faced dash and console plus the roll-up side windows of the prior BJ7.
A very nice example of the last and some say the best evolution of the famed Big Healey this 1967 Austin-Healey 3000 BJ8 MK III Phase 2 roadster has travelled fewer than 26000 miles and it is offered from nearly 50 years of single ownership having been purchased by the second and current owner in 1968. A remarkable offering in highly original condition it is equipped with a luggage rack and front fender-mounted mirrors. Accompanied by the original service book this late-production Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III BJ8 roadster is reported to drive well commensurate with such a low-mileage example.
