1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III
The “Big Healeys”, as the 3000 was affectionately known, were produced from 1959 to 1967. The bodies were produced by Jensen Cars in West Bromwich and the vehicles assembled at the old BMC Abingdon plant in Oxfordshire.Originally fitted with a torquey 2912cc engine and twin SU’s, the MkII version was introduced in March ’61 with triple SU’s, but it was the Mk III version in October ’63 that set the real performance and luxury standards. Known as the BJ8, the car had a 150bhp engine, servo brakes with discs on the front and a walnut dashboard. In competition the car was to become legendary both in rallying and racing, with notable results at Le Mans, Sebring, Mount Panorama and the Monte Carlo rally.
This ‘Big Healey’ is an original North American export model which was dispatched from the factory in January 1965. The car has had a total chassis-up, nut and bolt re-build to the highest standard that includes preparing the metalwork with three coats of catalyzed urethane paint and building up the base coat and clear coat paintwork for the body work.
Technical Specs
2,912 CC OHV Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Twin SU HD8 Carburetors
150 BHP at 5,250 RPM
4-Speed Manual Gearbox with Overdrive
Front Disc, Rear Drum Hydraulic Brakes
Front Independent Double-Wishbone Suspension with Coil Springs
Rear Live Axle with Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs
Colour British Racing Green combined with a black leatherette interior. Black soft top and hood cover. This Austin Healey is a true driver car in fair to good original condition.
The car even features the rarely seen and usually lost original tonneau cover stays. The instruments are clear and clean, the dash is spectacular, and at first glance, most enthusiasts would assume that it has to be a replacement interior, but this car was simply immaculately maintained, not restored.
As was the case with most British sports cars, the cost to meet US safety and emission requirements sealed the fate of the car, relegating it to the history books for the 1968 model year. Delivered new to the Netherlands in November of 1965, this car was built to European-delivery specifications and originally finished in British Racing Green with a black interior and matching black soft top. It is important to note that at some point the car’s original engine was replaced with an engine of the correct type. This example is fitted with the ubiquitous chrome wire wheels and will serve perfectly for an owner looking to drive and enjoy one of the most beloved British automobiles ever built.
This is a perfectly driving ‘Big Healey’ of the last series with obvious traces of age and use, a driver car.
