1962 Austin Healey 3000

BT7 Convertible

8 - Cyl.

Manual

HBT7L18732

Gasoline

PROFESSIONALLY RESTORED AUSTIN HEALEY DRIVER. ALL STOCK STEEL AND ALUMINUM BODY WITH NEWLY REBUILT 1965 289 FORD V8 WITH 4 SPEED TOPLOADER. UNDER 1,500 MILES SINCE REBUILD. CLEAR TITLE. THIS MAY NOT APPEAL TO A PURIST, BUT IT'S A TOTALLY ORIGINAL APPEARING HEALEY. THE CAR RETAINS BALANCED HANDLING AS THE 289 V8 IS LIGHTER THAN THE ORIGINAL STRAIGHT SIX, WHILE ADDING SERIOUS V8 POWER. DOCILE AROUND TOWN OR ABSOLUTELY FLYS WITH A TOUCH OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AT THIS PRICE YOU CAN CONVERT BACK TO A STOCK STRAIGHT SIX OR FOR LESS THAN THE PRICE OF A COBRA FIBERGLASS REPLICA OWN A REAL CLASSIC BIG HEALEY THAT WILL OUT ACCELERATE MANY SMALL BLOCK COBRAS. THIS CAR WAS RESTORED OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS. I BOUGHT THIS AS A RESTORED CAR AND IT WAS AN AMATEUR RESTORATION NOT UP TO MY STANDARDS. THE HEALEY WAS PARTIALLY STRIPPED, PREPPED, REPAINTED, A COUPLE PANELS REPLACED, NO FILLER PATCHED RUST, MOTOR REBUILT, BRAKES REPLACED AND MANY CHANGES MADE TO GET IT RIGHT. I'M SWITCHING MY FOCUS BACK TO VINTAGE RACING, HENCE THE NEED FOR FUNDS. BODY The body is all steel and alloy: inner, outer and pans. There is no rust I can find on the body panels, frame or pans. The body had been mostly restored and poorly painted by the previous owner. I also replaced inner rockers and pans, the old paint was partially stripped, any irregularities repaired and professionally painted with two stage Sherwin Williams paint at an excellent local body shop. The underside was cleaned and received a coat of black paint to inhibit corrosion, there is no thick sealant to cover problems. Much chrome replaced: bumper, boot hinges/handle, lighting trim, grill surround top, fender trim strips, etc. and remainder all very nice. Many hours were spent to get all the panels including doors, hood and boot to close and latch correctly. I do not have a top, frame or side curtains although these are readily available from Moss, Victoria, etc. INTERIOR and ACCESSORIES The interior was completely redone with new carpets, correct step plates and door jambs. The dash pad is new as are the door panels quarter/rear panels. Steering wheel and column are original, rear view mirror in original position. Bumpers, light trim, door handles and latches all Healey or correct repro items with great chrome. Windshield has no cracks or repairs, rubber moldings in new condition. Pedal cluster and box are all original Healey items and in standard position. The seats and gauges (all working) have been replaced with period appropriate, but not original parts. I do not have the original gauges or seats. I have wiper arms/blades, drive components and wiper motor but they are not installed. Lights all work correctly including dash guage lights, brake lights and turn signals. SYSTEMS This Healey has had the disk brakes completely replaced (new rotors, calipers, lines and pads) and the car tracks straight, steering is tight and wheel centered, stops straight (remember no power brakes). The suspension is in good shape, all springs, shocks bars are Healey items and the car rides smoothly and comfortably (remember 289 V8 is lighter than the original six). Drive shaft, u-joints, etc. appear to be in solid shape. Battery and battery switch cut-off replaced and in original position in the trunk on passenger side. The radiator has been re-cored to expand capacity and is augmented by an electric puller fan. Wiring harness has been replaced with a new Painless wiring harness and fuse block (no 50 year old lucas wiring problems). The original 48 spoke wire wheels have been updated to new 72 spoke painted wires for durability and new Khumo radials mounted in the correct size (165 15) and profile (the spare wheel is a 48 spoke). Handles well with stock size tires, but will easily spin them if not careful with the gas pedal and shifts. MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION Motor is a 1965 289 V8 from a Mustang and matched to a T4 top loader 4 speed with original shift lever, mechanism, reverse lock out and shift knob. The motor was fully rebuilt professionally in a local shop with several upgrades for reliability and improved performance. Motor rebuild was based on a solid block (+ .030 bore), rod and crank bearings +.020, block tanked, rods and crank magnafluxed and balanced, new 9.5 to 1 flat top pistons and rings, timing chain/gears. Heads are early small chamber (high compression) with push rod guides cast into the head, were inspected and had been very recently rebuilt so were cleaned and reused. Upgraded components include Summit street hydraulic lifter cam (448/472 lift, 262/272 duration, with new lifters/pushrods), new Weiand dual plane street warrior aluminum manifold, Edelbrock 650 electric choke carb, custom exhaust manifolds, high capacity water pump, Procomp ignition system, new plug wires, Procomp distributor, etc. The transmission functions correctly including all synchros, shifts smoothly. Clutch is a new Quartermaster assembly using a hydraulic throwout bearing. The exhaust is run through 24" glass pack mufflers and exits in slash cut pipes in front of the rear wheel wells. Summary This is a really fun high quality driver with excellent new paint, a rebuilt period 289 motor, it starts, runs and stops the way it should. What I like best about this car is it's absolutely beautiful, a stock appearing Healey, but has a great running V8 drive train. This is not a backyard conversion it has been professionally built continuously improved and ready for the next owner to enjoy. Given all that it is a 50 year old Healey and a buyer should understand although its a really solid and good running car its an on-going labor of love. II have never had as many thumbs up and interest in any car I've owned and people love this car. If anyone is considering a re-conversion back to a standard drivetrain, nothing has been altered structurally, to install a stock drivetrain the major components would be engine and transmission mounts, drive shaft, exhaust and use the altered wiring harness. Pretty much everything else remains. Terms: For sale, no trades I have a 100% positive feedback rating including buying and selling a number of specialty cars and bikes and will go out of my way to make us both satisfied with our transaction. Also selling locally and I reserve the right to end this auction at any time. Please make sure you think through your purchase, check with significant others, bankers, psychologists and well intentioned advisors before bidding. Since previous sales have fallen apart, all bidders must have at least 5 purchases without negative feedback under their belts or the bids will be cancelled. I will make every effort to make car available for inspection but any review must be done before the auction end as the sale is final as is. For value compare this Healey to vintage competitors: jaguar, triumph, mg, porsche, cobra, kit carsOn Apr-06-12 at 12:27:14 PDT, seller added the following information: Thanks to all who have asked questions. I posted about 70 miscellaneous additional photos of the Healey's underside and a few more of specific areas and the paint process for anyone who's interested at the following Flicker link. Read an interesting Road and Track article on the original 62' cobra (page 55) in latest edition referring to Shelby's considration of the Healey as the basis for his cobra, but Donald Healey wasn't interested at the time. Also just went for a quick drive in car and amazed again at no squeaks or rattles, just a fun, loud, fast nice driver. Please email with any questions or request for phone contact. Mark http://www.flickr.com/photos/67732869@N06/