1964 Austin-Healey 3000 MK III news, pictures, and information

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Sport Convertible

The Colorado Red with black leather interior Austin Healey 3000 MKII was offered for sale at the 2006 Worldwide Group Auction held on Hilton Head Island. It was expected to fetch between $60,000-$75,000. A great level of time, attention and effort has gone into preserving the vehicle, such as the cadmium plated nut and bolts. It is equipped with chrome wire wheels, wood steering wheels and added Solex carburetors which were optional equipment at the time. At the conclusion of the auction, the 3000 MKII had found a new owner at the price of $77,000.

The 3000 MKII British sports car with the body of an Italian barchetta was the work of Donald Healey who had a successful pre-war racing career with the highlight being a win at the 1931 Monte Carlo Rally. Introduced at the 1952 London Earls Court Show, the 3000 was immediately popular. There was seating for two and a four-cylinder Austin Atlantic engine that provided excellent performance.

Sport Convertible
Chassis Num: H-BJ8-L/25959
Engine Num: 29K-RU-H/929

This 1964 Austin Healey 3000 MK III Convertible is powered by a 2912-cc engine that produces 150 horsepower. It has a four-speed manual gearbox with electric overdrive and front hydraulic disc brakes. It has sixty-spoke wire wheels and has had four owners since new. It was offered for sale at the 2006 Gooding & Company Auction at Pebble Beach where it was estimated to sell between $70,000-$85,000. It was offered without reserve, which did not matter as the car was sold for $70,400 and satisfied the estimated value.

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Sport Convertible
Chassis Num: HBJ8L25913

This 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 BJ8 MKIII Sports Convertible was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held in Amelia Island, Florida. The car was offered without reserve and estimated to sell between $60,000 - $70,000. It is powered by a 2912cc overhead valve six-cylinder engine with three Weber carburetors capable of producing 175 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive and four-wheel disc brakes. The car has traveled 62,000 miles, though it has been treated to a comprehensive, nut-and-bolt restoration. It is finished in Mediterranean Blue with a light gray leather interior. There are sixty-spoke stainless and chrome wire wheels and radial tires. There have been three owners since new, and at auction, it found its fourth owner. The car was sold for $61,600.

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Sport Convertible

Donald Healey intended the 3000 to fill a gap that he perceived in the American sports car market between Jaguar's XKs and the MG T series. These cars were more sizeable and civilized than their predecessors, the Austin Healey 100 series cars. The 3000 almost edged into GT territory and was quite fast, but still retained all the exciting qualities of a true English sports car. It was produced in three versions from 1959 until 1968.

Sport Convertible
Chassis Num: HBJ8L25651

This 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII Phase I is one of 1,390 examples produced. It was a California black-plate car from new and was used for only 11 years before being put into storage. It has been given a nut-and-bolt rotisserie restoration that was completed in June of 2008. It wears a custom color combination of Aston Martin's period California sage with a linen-color interior, with leather seats and wool carpeting in cream beige. The dark-green top is a correct English Everflex example. There are 60-spoke chrome knock-off wire wheels, new rubber, and brightwork.

In 2008 this Austin-Healey was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company Auction in Pebble Beach where it was estimated to sell for $90,000 - $120,000 and offered without reserve. The lot was sold for $101,200 including buyer's premium.

The Austin Healey 100 was introduced in October of 1952 at the Earls Court Motor Show. The first Austin Healey 100's were known as 100-4 or BN1. The name 100 came-about by being able to break the 100 mph barrier. The BN also had meaning. The B represented the engine class which meant it had between 2000 and 3000 cc. The N represented the body-style configuration, two-seat and open-top. The 100 was powered by a A90, 2660 cc, four-cylinder engine capable of producing 94 horsepower. The manual three-speed transmission was also borrowed from the A90. However, the first gear was blocked off and was fitted with overdrive on the second and third gears to provide extra power.
The name 'Austin Healey' was formed by a partnership comprising of the designer, Donald Mitchell Healey, and the manufacturer, Austin.

During its total production cycle, 10,688 examples of the BN1 were produced.

In October of 1955, the BN2 was introduced. The BN2 was similar to the BN1 in design but now featured larger drum brakes and a new four-speed transmission with overdrive.

During its production run, 3,924 examples of the BN2 were produced.

The Austin Healey 100S was produced in limited numbers, only 55. Their primary purpose was for competing in racing and rally events as well as for development and marketing purposes. They were entered into races such as Sebring, Mille Miglia, and Le Mans. They were copies of special factory test car that Stirling Moss raced in the 1954 12-hour Sebring race where he placed third. The 100S's were produced at the Healey Warwick factory and most were decorated with the American racing colors, white and blue. Of the 55 that were built, only 10 remain unaccounted for. The 100S, when compared with the 100, featured Dunlop disc brakes on all four wheels, different cylinder head and internal engine modifications, four-speed gearbox without overdrive, and a light-alloy body shell.

The 100S was followed by the 100M. The 100M was a Le Mans variation of the BN2 with an increased horsepower rating of 100-110. It featured bigger carburetors and modified distributor. Valve springs and anti-roll bars were added to the suspension. During its production run, 1100 of the Le Mans BN2's were produced.

Over time, about 100 BN2 were later modified but in order to qualify for the Le Mans configuration the vehicles needed to meet specific standards. These standards included a 1.75 inch H6, SU carburetors, cold air box and air tube, Le Mans regulation strap and a factory style louvered hood.

The four cylinder engine was used from 1952 through 1956, after which a BMC six-cylinder engine was used. The car was dubbed the '100 Six'. Three years and a few engine modifications later, the car was named the '3000' and today is known as the 'Big Healey'. Over the production lifespan of the 3000, it could be assembled with multiple options such as a two-seater or 2+2, hard-tops, single or duo-tone paint schemes, overdrive, and more.

In 1962 the body was redesigned with a curved screen and wind up windows. The interior of the vehicle was revamped in 1964 and also received more ground clearance.

The 3000 was produced from 1959 through 1968. The original engine produced 124 horsepower and was capable of about 114 mph. Modifications to the engine throughout the years increased the horsepower to around 148 and the top speed to 121 mph. The size of the car, the power of the engine, and weighing in at around 2400 lbs made this car responsive, competitive and fun to drive.

In all, there were around 73,000 100's and 3000's produced with 58,000 featuring the six-cylinder engine.

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