"The Austin Healey 3000 was built from 1959 to 1967 and is the best known of the 'big' Healey models. The car's bodywork was made by Jensen Motors and the vehicles were assembled at the BMC Abingdon works. The 3000 was a successful car which won its class in many European rallies during its heyday and also ran at Le Mans during that period. As such, it's still used in competition by enthusiasts today. The 3000 Mk. III was launched in October 1963 and remained in production until the end of 1967 when production of Austin Healeys ceased. Classified as the BJ8, the new model was the most powerful and luxurious of the big Healeys with a walnut veneer dash, wind-up windows and a 150bhp engine. Improvements to the engine included a new camshaft, valve springs and twin SU 2 HD8 carburettors together with a redesigned exhaust system and servo-assisted brakes.
This delightful BJ8 Healey Mk. III is presented in light blue metallic coachwork with complementary blue leather trim and matching tonneau and hood. The accompanying Heritage Certificate tells us that this car, with optional wire wheels and overdrive, was originally exported to North America on 11th March 1966 where it lived most of its life. In 2002 the car returned to the UK where the first UK owner had it fully restored, converting it to right hand drive, he subsequently sold the car to Beaulieu Garage from whom our vendor purchased the car in 2004. Having been recently restored our vendor saw to some fettling issues and then proceeded to enjoy driving this car across the continent ever since but not without significant expenditure with some of the best Healey specialists in the industry to ensure it remained in fine, reliable order throughout. Orchard Restorations cared for the car between 2009 and 2013, Dennis Welch Motorsport cared for the car between 2013 and 2018 with minor services in between fulfilled by a local garage before J.M.E Healey in 2019 provided a general overhaul, service and works to the brakes more recently. All of this is documented in a fabulous history file which contains countless invoices amounting to an average £3,300 a year spend demonstrating a real no expense spared philosophy since being purchased from Beaulieu in 2004. Although our vendor has enjoyed the past 17 years touring in his wonderful Healey, he has decided that the time has come for a more modern replacement and thus the car he considers part of the family needs to find a very good home.
This Austin Healeys condition is commensurate with the specialist attention the car has received over the years. The fitment of electronic ignition has improved the reliability and an overdrive gearbox ensures this is a very capable continent cruiser. The fastidious vendor is aware that this BJ8 requires ongoing investment, having received advise regarding the front suspension, however having just completed a trouble free 100 mile round trip reported the car to be in good order. With values of these big Healeys increasing steadily of late and regularly achieving over £50,000 we believe this example to represent exceedingly good value given the significant level of investment in recent times. To be expected, a fabulous history file accompanies this privately owned and much loved Healey. "