1966 Austin Healey 3000 Mk III

With just two owners and 3,000 miles under its belt since being restored at huge expense in 1990 by marque specialists The Northern Healey Centre, this wonderful example has been in the registered keeper’s care since 2013

Originally a left-hand drive model finished in Healey Blue, ‘PUA 112D’ spent the early part of its life in Boston USA, returning here in around 1990. It was converted to its current configuration during the restoration and it is now finished in the classic colour combination of British Racing Green with a black roof and a matching black vinyl and burr walnut veneer cabin.

Despite not using it much since buying it, the seller hasn’t skimped: For example, in 2025 he noticed a pool of water underneath his beloved sportscar and asked Orchard Restorations to take a look, It investigated and reported that it needed new core plugs, which would be an engine-out job if they were to do the rear ones. He agreed and suggested they repair anything else that needed doing while they’d got it; the result was a bill for more than £4,282.

And this was not a one-off because the same firm carried out £1,500-worth of work in 2020 and just over a thousand pounds in 2016 – and there are many more from earlier years: This is a true money-no-object example, which is rarer than some would have you believe. 

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that it’s got an advisory-free MoT that’s valid until September 2027, but then if you were to whisper the word “advisory” in its ear it would look blank because it’s never had one. 

In fact, we rate this as being in an exceptional condition and is probably one of the very best examples we’ve ever seen.

The British Racing Green coachwork presents very well with excellent panel alignment, no obvious dents or dinks, and a fine stance.

The BRG paint was clearly applied by someone with a deft touch and presumably years of experience as we can’t find a single drip or run, much less anything as amateurish as patches of orange peel.

The brightwork remains, well, bright with no serious tarnishing, pitting, or rust spots to the extensive chromework, and only a few fine scratches on the odd piece such as the nearside rear overrider.

Speaking of chrome, the Healey left the factory bound for the ‘States wearing wire wheels – and it still wears wires today. These are, just like everything else, in a very good condition with no serious rust or corrosion and the rubber that’s fitted is a matching set of Vredestein Sprint Classic tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. 

The black fabric roof furls and unfurls easily, and it sits nicely taut when it is raised. The stitching is all in good order too, and the plastic rear screen remains clear and undamaged. A very good matching cover gives it a clean profile when it’s folded.

But if you’re looking for the cleanest possible profile then you should use the tonneau cover that’s also provided: Thus equipped, your lower half will be kept out of the wind and cosy thanks to the heater, while your upper half will be able to enjoy the bracing effect of cold air rushing around it; invest in a sheepskin flying jacket and you’ll be able to use your Austin-Healey no matter how low the mercury drops, accumulating style points and admiration in equal measure.

The lamp lenses, including the matching Lucas headlamps, are still bright and undamaged, an assessment that can also be said of the badges.

Other appealing features include a Waso fuel filler cap and three badges on the chromed badge bar.

As for flaws and blemishes, it will not surprise you to learn that our list is short: 

There is a small scratch on the nearside rear wing; a chip to the nearside door glass; and localised repairs to the leading edge of the driver’s door and the trailing edge of the offside front wing.

As you’d expect, the paintwork has also accumulated fine scratches over the years, many of which will have been accrued from being lovingly polished. A professional machine-polish should remove most, if not all, and we think that this would be a worthwhile investment given how good the paintwork still is. 

The cabin is every bit as impressive with a pair of low-backed bucket seats being supplemented by the useful 2+2 rear seats. All are in fine fettle with no rips, tears or other damage to their face fabric. 

The front seats also remain very supportive and comfortable, whether for day-long touring or a sprint around your local track.

All benefit from having seatbelts fitted, with lapbelts for those in the back and three-point belts in the front. 

The Smiths instruments all work as they should and boast vivid lettering and bright chrome bezels. The switchgear and controls are also nicely lettered still, and the burr walnut panel they sit within is (just like its twin on the nearside) shiny and free of chips, cracks, and peeling lacquer. 

But then all the details impress, including the smaller ones like the pedal rubbers, the chrome speaker cover, and the Austin Healey rubber overmats. 

The boot features a full-size spare wire wheel plus the tools you’ll need to fit it.

As you can see, the inline-six starts well and shows good oil pressure from the off. It revs freely and smoothly too, with a wonderful induction roar and a rorty exhaust note from the twin upswept tailpipes. 

It goes very well too, with no apparent faults during our brief test drive: The seller, who has been dealing in Austin-Healeys for more than 30 years, describes this one as “absolutely spot-on”, an assessment we cannot disagree with.

The engine bay is beautifully presented with clean metalwork and an immaculate engine; you might feel the need to wipe it over with a microfibre towel but that’ll be more to make you feel useful than because it needs it. 

The underside features body-coloured wheelarches and sills with everything else, including the suspension components, painted black. It too presents very well indeed but then as you’ll see in the next section, it has been uncommonly well looked after.

As a mark of the quality of its curation, it’s worth noting that the Austin-Healey’s MoT certificate is not only valid until the end of September 2027, it was also issued with no advisories, just like every single MoT it’s ever had.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and its history file runs to 131 pages of photographs. 

That’s too much to list in detail of course, but the highlights include several dozen invoices from The Northern Healey Centre for the restorative work in 1990, a V5C Registration Certificate, a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate, its last tax disc, a wealth of invoices from Orchard Restorations for work over the last dozen years, and the driver’s handbook.

Few classic sportscars are as accomplished as the Austin-Healey 3000; whether you want to pop to the pub or dispatch a continent before lunch, it’ll get the job done without fuss – and a great deal of fun.

And yet, for its many attributes, we suspect the virtual hammer will fall on this impeccably maintained example somewhere between £50,000 and £55,000.

Which would be an absolute bargain: As a MKIII, it’s the model the much-missed Quentin Willson recommended as being the pick of the bunch in the June 2025 issue of Classic Cars, so it should also hold its value better than most. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.