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1959 Austin-Healey 3000 (BT7)

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£28,620

  • Mileage~10,466
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine3.0L
  • LocationCarlisle

SOLD

1959 Austin-Healey 3000 (BT7)

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Introduction

Kevin Jacutan
Professional Consigner

The original BMC 3.0L straight six, these Big Healeys had many class wins in European races, and are still raced by enthusiasts at historic races to this day.

Launched in 1959, the first of the "Big Healeys" was born, now known as the MK1. The car came in two variants, the two-seater BN7, and the one we have here, the four-seater BT7.

The Austin-Healey 3000 was built from 1959 until 1967 and nicknamed the "Big-Healey" as a result of the 3.0L engine it featured. The bodywork was shaped by Jensen Motors and assembled at BMC MG Works in Abingdon. The 3000 really stood out on the track, winning multiple classes in many Europen rallies and races. As was the trend at the time, from 1963, 91% of 3000's were exported worldwide with most ending up in North America.

This stunning 1959 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark 1 BT7 spent most of its life in the States, before coming to the UK in 2011. Coming to market from ~10 year ownership in the UK, it has been restored over time and is now fit and ready to be enjoyed by its new custodian.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Kevin after meeting Paul the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

Right from being an apprentice mechanic, the Big Healey is always one car I've had a passion for.

Paul has been the owner of this stunning Mk1 Austin-Healey 3000 for the past ~10 years. The car came from a specialist in Hampshire who imported it from Austin, Texas. Being a mechanic, the essentials were checked before work commenced on the body. The gearbox was found to be in good order and also the engine, which had already been converted to accept unleaded fuel.

With the car originally exported to a dealer in Los Angeles, this meant that the Healey was produced as a left hand drive, but since coming back to the UK this has been converted whilst the restoration was being carried out. Paul is very knowledgeable about his car, and will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have in the comments below.

Paul
Vehicle Owner

Paul saved £5,040* when they
sold their Austin Healey with us.

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Exterior

The superb lines of the Austin Healey are emphasised with the addition of white over the stunning Colorado Red paintwork.

Wheels and Tyres

The original steel wire wheels have been finished in matt silver with a chrome knock off spinner. These look in excellent order with all the spokes nice and straight.

Keeping you connected to the road is a set of period looking Firestone tyres, which are in good condition with a good amount of tread remaining.

Bodywork

When the car landed with Paul, the first step was to remove the body from the chassis. Under inspection the chassis was found to be in excellent condition, which was definitely an added bonus. The body was also checked, and after stripping it back, the floor area was the first point of call to receive new metalwork. This was followed by some repairs to the bottom of the doors to get the body ready for the next stage.

As you can see from our detailed images, the Healey looks in stunning condition, with the doors, bonnet and boot looking to align as they should. There are no dings to mention as we look down the flanks of the 50’s sports car.

There is a roof and frame included, but this has not been fitted as Paul never intended, nor used, the car in the wet. Please take the time to look through the hi-resolution images we have taken for a more detailed look at the exterior.

Paint

With the body work complete, the car was repainted in the original colour of "Colorado Red", but this time a contrast white was applied to the sides, which just emphasises the beautiful lines of the Austin Healey.

The paintwork looks to be in superb condition with a deep lustre to the red finish, and with no obvious chips to mention. It has clearly been a much loved and cared for car by Paul. The only thing left to do is stand back and admire it!

Please take the time to fully assess the condition of the exterior. The images taken are from various angles and reflections to show off this stunning 1959 Austin Healey 3000 at its best, as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves.

Glass and Trim

The windscreen has been replaced and is therefore in excellent condition, with no marks to mention. The chrome trim that surrounds it is also excellent.

The bumpers have been replaced for new, together with the grille and any other chrome items. These are all excellent, as you would expect, and have a bright finish to them. The car also comes with a tonneau cover, and a brand new still in box soft-top roof.

Interior

With a re-trimmed interior as part of the restoration work, this is now nicely bedded in for immediate use.

Seats and Carpets

The seats in the car have been retrimmed in black, with red piping to match the exterior. There is some light creasing and a very small amount of wear to the driver’s side, as often seen on any low seating sports car. The rear seats are excellent and don’t look to have been sat in more than a couple of times.

A new black carpet has been fitted throughout, with a heel pad fitted to the driver’s and passenger side which has the embossed Austin logo. The carpet continues behind the seats and over the transmission tunnel.

The boot has been fitted out with a vinyl type material, again in black, which covers the floor, sides and back. There is a matching spare wheel, with a new tyre, along with a jack and mallet for the knock-offs. Please see the interior gallery section for more detailed images.

Dashboard

The dashboard has been trimmed in black to match the seats, along with the fascia, and this shows no signs of any damage. The instrument binnacle is also trimmed in the same, and holds the gauges which all look to be in good order and working correctly.

Please see the interior gallery for more hi-resolution images.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A classic wood rim, three spoke steering wheel has been fitted, which is in excellent condition and is finished off with an Austin-Healey centre. Replacing the steering wheel means the original steering wheel indicator switch has been relocated with a column mounted stalk.

The gear knob is leather and, again, has an Austin-Healey logo like the steering wheel.

Mechanics

The 3.0L straight-six is enough to propel the Healey to 0-60MPH in 11 seconds, very respectable for a car from the 1950s.

Engine and Gearbox

The 3.0 litre straight-six was converted to accept unleaded fuel in Pauls' ownership, so there are no issues with filling up over here in the UK. A full check over and service has been given, with no issues to report.

With the flick of the key, the vehicle fires up straight away and comes to an even idle quickly. There are no untoward noises coming from the engine bay, as can be heard in our Mechanical Review video.

The gearbox is 4-speed with a switch operated overdrive mounted to the dashboard. The change is nice and smooth and the overdrive works as it should.

Suspension and Brakes

The suspension has been refurbished with new parts and bushes fitted where necessary. The ride feels nice and tight with no crashing over uneven ground.

The brakes have been given a full refurbishment and are working as they should, bringing the Austin-Healey to a halt in a straight line.

The Drive

You can’t fail to love the look of the Austin-Healey, and it really does turn heads wherever it goes. The car handles on the road nicely and sounds fantastic as it moves through the gears.

Electrics and Other

The switchgear in the Big Healey is quite minimal, as you would expect for a vehicle of this age, but you will be glad to know that everything is fully working as it should. There is also the addition of electric washers, which Paul has fitted, along with a 12 volt charging port and USB. Ideal for your sat nav when flying through the country lanes. Paul is also throwing in his Carcoon to the sale.

History and Paperwork

There are some nice invoices, all of which correspond to the huge amount of work which has gone into restoring this beautiful 1959 Austin-Healey.

With any restoration, it is hard to keep track of all of the invoices, especially over a few years. A nice selection comes with the car, mainly from UK Healey Centre Ltd, where the majority of parts have been purchased for the restoration. Paul is also throwing in his Carcoon to the sale, and it's worth noting the car comes with a tonneau cover and a brand new soft-top that is still in its box.

The V5 is present and shows that there have been 0 previous UK keepers. It shows the car was registered in the UK on 01.01.2012. There is the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate showing the car was built on the 10 - 11 December 1959, and exported to the states on the 19th December 1959.

Paul has had a dilemma on his hands regarding the Healey and his other love, a Triumph TR4, due to storage issues. Unfortunately, there is not room for them both, which has meant making the difficult decision to part with one. The Austin-Healey has drawn the short straw, meaning some lucky owner is going to get a stunner of a classic car.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned an HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
09.05.2014 MOT 9,840
09.05.2013 MOT 9,845
19.12.2011 MOT 8,840
Key Details
  • Model3000 (BT7)
  • TransmissionManual
  • Reg. Date11.12.1959
  • CC2,921
  • Mileage~10,466
  • ColourCalifornia Red over White
  • Interior ColourBlack
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #H-BT7-L/6063
  • Engine #29D-RU-H/8097
  • RestoredYes
  • MOT ExemptYes
  • HPi ClearYes
  • Former Keepers0 Previous UK Keepers
  • LHD or RHDRHD (conversion)
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~10 years
  • Key FeatureRestored and converted







Vehicle Sold

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This vehicle has now been sold - click 'I Want One' below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

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Ask Questions
Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.
Kulraj Salh
Admin

Update – The seller Paul has removed the reserve on the auction. This car will sell to the high bidder this evening. Good Luck if you’re involved in the bidding. Best, Kulraj – Trade Classics

Crainiac
Member
Crainiac

I appreciate you have never fitted the roof but are all the correct parts there to do so? Is the roof itself in good condition and waterproof? Unfortunately sudden downpours are common in Scotland. Thanks.

cakey
Member
cakey

Hi, are any of the parts to return it to lhd with the car?
Many thanks

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Vehicle Location

Carlisle

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