1966 Austin Healey

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HBJ8L37323

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Gasoline

You are bidding on a 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III BJ8 Phase 2 roadster. Red blooded American males have been lusting after this car since the swinging sixties, and for good reason. The Austin-Healey 3000 is equipped with a three liter, 148 horsepower straight six, fed by two SU HD8 two-inch carburetors coupled to a four-speed overdrive gearbox. This automobile is famous for its classic good looks, fabulous dual exhaust note, and sporty handling. The BJ8 is the last of the “Big Healeys” and is the most desirable and sought after model of the series. It is also the most powerful and luxurious, with burl wood dash board, locking glovebox, adjustable steering wheel, power disk brakes, roll-up windows, fold-down convertible top, and occasional rear seats. Oddly, this particular car has no heater. As you know, the value of these fine automobiles has skyrocketed in the last few years. Newly restored cars have brought well over $100,000 at auction and are regularly offered for over $70,000 on Ebay. Occasionally, a nice BJ8 is offered for a more reasonable figure, and this is one of them. As former president of the local Austin-Healey club (www.stahc.org), I get a lot of requests for help and advice on Healey matters. Recently a friend asked me to help him find a new home for his Austin-Healey 3000, and I am happy to oblige. I have spent all week preparing the car for auction, making sure that everything is in proper working order. Very little was required, and the only major item was the replacement of the power brake booster. The engine has excellent oil pressure, a compression check shows an average of 165 psi, and it won’t leave big puddles of oil on your garage floor. The cooling system has been uprated with a high performance six-blade fan and overflow recapture bottle…this engine runs cool, even in the triple-digit Texas heat. The clutch and overdrive gearbox work perfectly, and the power disk brakes are excellent. The sixty spoke original style wire wheels have Dunlop SP4 165/80-15 steel belted radial tires, which show very little wear. The battery was replaced in January. The spare has never been on the ground. This BJ8 is very original, right down to the factory AM radio. It is still positive earth and the distributor runs on points and condenser. The Old English White paint is very presentable in spite of a few chips and scratches. The red with gold piping interior is in especially fine condition. While the red carpet is showing its age, it is still quite serviceable. The lovely wood dash is in great shape, and the factory style steering wheel is as new. Some of the bright work is showing its age. The tidy engine compartment is finished in flat black, with the motor painted the correct light metallic green. This BJ8 came from California to Texas a few years ago, which accounts for its solid body and frame. There is evidence of previous corrosion repair in the form of new outer sills and trunk floor, with some welding on the inner sills. The shocks have been replaced, and the car handles nicely, but there is some play in the left king pin. The vintage ANSA exhaust system is solid and sounds great. This is not one of those $100,000 trailer queens, but is a solid and reliable sports car icon that will bring joy to its new owner, while providing a solid investment. The winning bidder must make a deposit via PayPal of one percent of the sale price within 48 hours of the end of the auction. The remainder must be paid within seven days via EFT or certified check. It is the buyer’s responsibility to pay for, and arrange shipping. Bidders and their representatives are welcome to inspect the vehicle.