1961 Austin Healey 3000

Purchased by the current owner - a self-confessed Healey enthusiast with a love for British sports cars in his blood - in October 2015, this rare (one of 261) home-market, tri-carb and overdrive-fitted ‘Big Healey’ has been cosseted and cherished throughout its current ownership tenure.

Professionally stored in a ‘Carcoon’ air chamber at a dehumidified professional storage facility throughout its time with our vendor, the car has been used sparingly and maintained fastidiously. Boasting a number of largely hidden but key drivability upgrades such as an electronic ignition conversion and fitment of a high-torque starter motor, this is a Healey that can be used and enjoyed with confidence.

It has also been noted during previous inspections that the car would’ve originally been specified with a side-change gearbox, but this has now been replaced with the later centre-change unit. The engine block has also been changed for the later MKIII unit (prefixed 29K) whilst retaining its original triple carburettor setup.

Alongside the aforementioned upgrades fitted, the car also comes with its original hard-top, its original-spec disc wheels and has benefitted from a round of significant restoration works in the last 20 years, including a re-spray from its factory ivory into its current shade of black, along with fitment of a re-trimmed interior, all of which has been documented in the extensive file of accompanying paperwork.

Offered for sale simply due to needing to be driven more - along with the purchase of an Austin-Healey 100 - this is an opportunity to obtain a fettled, well-sorted and rare example of a home-market, tri-carb Healey in ready-to-use condition.

Resplendent in black, this BT7 looks fantastic and certainly strikes a purposeful stance, particularly with its hard-top fitted and the brace of Lucas driving lights, it evokes images of period road rallying.

Whilst it certainly looks the part, upon close scrutiny there are signs of age and usage visible, as you’d expect to find on an older restoration that has been enjoyed as intended. The chrome windscreen surround and details, for example, exhibit a commensurate patina, whilst there are minor blemishes and marks visible on the front end, and on various areas of the bodywork.

The rare, OE-specification disc wheels are in excellent condition and shod in a set of matching Michelin tyres, whilst the hard-top - specified from new - is also in good condition, though the seals around the edges of the top are showing their age.

Both the front and rear bumpers are present with the car, along with the folding soft-top and frame, though they are not currently fitted, with the owner preferring the ‘performance roadster’ appearance.

The matching Oxblood tonneau is present-and-correct and fits very well indeed, whilst the detachable side-screens are also included, along with the lined storage bag and a spare disc wheel.

Moving inside, the good news continues, as the re-trimmed Oxblood interior presents in excellent condition throughout. The seats up front show some minor signs of wear such as creasing and small blemishes, whilst the rear +2 ‘bucket’ seats appear to have barely been used, though there are some scuffs noted around the base of the driver’s seat.

The original steering wheel has been replaced with a Derrington-style Moto-Lita item, though the original can be included with the car should the next owner wish.

Ahead of the occupants, the dashboard is in great shape with no noted cracks or signs of sun damage, though the graphics on the various toggles and switches have worn away in a commensurate fashion. Underneath the dash, a set of auxiliary power supply ports have been subtly added, offering 12v and USB outlets for long-distance journeys, whilst an external switch for the driving lights have been fitted underneath the driver’s side of the dash.

The vendor is not aware of any waterproofing issues with the hard top or the tonneau cover, though the included soft-top, thought to be the original, has not been fitted in his ownership.

In the boot, the luggage compartment presents in worn condition, but is perfectly useable as it sits, and plays host to a recently-fitted battery.

The vendor reports that there are no known faults with any of the electrical systems or switches within the car.

Under the bonnet, the six-cylinder engine that gave the ‘Big Healey’ its moniker sits proudly, with its rare factory tri-carb setup being on display for all to see.

Save for a few small oil misting stains and flaking paintwork along the block, we could see no sign of any untoward issues or visible problems during our photo shoot.

Whilst the bottom half of the engine is not original, it is clear that this particular example has been fettled and tuned very well indeed, with the notoriously tricky tri-carb setup running sweetly and providing a wonderful period soundtrack to the engine. It runs smoothly at idle, the choke operates as it should and the oil pressure is strong on the dashboard gauge.

The vendor notes no known faults with any of the car’s mechanical or electrical systems, though he does note that the gearbox can be tricky to engage when cold.

On account of the car’s age, this Healey is exempt from mandatory MoT examinations. That said, a number of tests have been carried out in the car’s recent history, with the latest having taken place on 06 October 2017, which resulted in a clean pass with no advisory items at 50,611 miles.

Included with the sale of this BT7 is a rich and extensive history spanning two box files, spanning both the current owner’s tenure with the car and stretching back into the 1980s.

As ever, we’ve photographed all of the documentation that we’ve seen, and this can be viewed in the gallery below. For those looking for a quick run-down of highlights, however, please read on:

• V5 registered keepers document, showing just 2 former owners.
• Heritage certificate, confirming the car's original factory specification including the hard-top, disc wheels and more.
• Engine rebuild invoice from Oselli engineering
• Photographs and invoices from the restoration works carried out in the 1990s, including extensive bodyworks and panel replacements and the re-spray into its current shade of black
• Invoices from the interior re-trim into Oxblood
• Invoices from a gearbox rebuild, Dennis Welch camshaft, and other significant works
• Extensive paper trail of spares, miscellaneous parts and other expenditure both prior to and in the car’s current ownership
• Service history comprised of both specialist and other garages, including the likes of JME and other Healey experts.
• Three sets of keys
• An original Austin-Healey hard top brochure
• MoT certificates from throughout the car’s lifetime showing mileage

A rare home-market, Austin-Healey 3000 MKII BT7 retaining its original tri-carb setup and with an extraordinary factory specification as confirmed by the included BMHT Heritage Certificate, this is a fantastic opportunity to obtain a ‘Big Healey’ from a bona-fide enthusiast who has cosseted and cherished the car throughout his ownership.

Presented in very good, useable condition throughout and benefitting from significant investment, restoration and rebuilding throughout its history, this is a fantastically useable example of the venerable 2+2 British sports car, which would benefit from more regular use and continued pampering.

Offered for sale with an estimate of £40,000 to £50,000 this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.