1959 Austin-Healey 3000 MK I Deluxe Roadster

Austin-Healey was born in 1952 as a joint venture between the British Motor Corporation and noted engineering and design firm the Donald Healey Motor Company. The 3000 - or big Healey - was the signature model and was built from 1959 to 1967. It came in two styles: the four-seat BT7 Series or two-seat BN7. This model represents the brand's heyday when the cars were being driven to impressive wins on the winding road rally circuits of Europe and capturing the imagination of sports car enthusiasts worldwide.

The 3000 Series replaced the 100-6. Despite the new name, changes were relatively minor; it now boasted a 2,912cc inline-6 engine, twin SU carburetors and front disc brakes. Wire wheels, overdrive transmission, laminated windscreen, heater, adjustable steering column, detachable hard top and two-tone paint were among the many available options. In 1960 a BT7 3000 dressed-out in hardtop form topped out at 115 mph and stopped the 0-60 mph clock in 11.7 seconds.

This car is a very early MK1 BN7 3000 Series. After 33 years in storage, it was meticulously restored with a frame-off that included extensive engine, transmission and rear axle rebuilds. The chassis got a full powder coat and the body a deep Glasurit Diamond Black paint with acrylic urethane clear coat. During restoration, all of the nuts and bolts were shipped to California for CAD finishing. Red leather with black piping finished off the interior and the removable hardtop was also carefully restored.