1959 Austin Healey 3000 BT7 with hardtop, first year 3000

1959 Austin Healey 3000

Just in time for the Summer Suna fabulous first year production 1959 Austin Healey 3000 BT7 in rare Primrose Yellow (it's original color). Complete with "works" fender vents (in steel) louvered hood (bonnet) convertible top tonneau and a dealer accessory Parrish Plastics hardtop. This wonderful roadster has had it's venerable six cylinder rebuilt with a "hotter" cam to suit it's rally appearance. It really can move out quicker than the other Healey's I have driven. It also sports the 72 spoke wheels instead of the factory 48 versions. The hood (bonnet) is louvered to help with any heat build-up the body was redone in it's original color of Primrose yellow.....a rare but very period color. (It always get thumbs up and compliments when cruising down the road or parked). It also has polished cockpit trim which really looks great and harkens back to the 100-4's. The frame appears to be straight and un-hit...something not easy to find on a performance car that is 56 years old! The mileage I assume is 115676....but as there are no spaces before the "15676" I just do not know....the body and frame are very nice. The front frame extensions are straight and unbent.....so maybe this is the true mileage but I doubt it...so I will say mileage is really unknown by me.It is a very reliable car despite the British car reputation. It has always started and hardly ever requires a tune or adjustment. All gauges work although the gas gauge can take some getting used to....it tends to jump around a bit as you take corners and accelerate or brake...but I assume in those days that might have been normal or it is showing it's age of 56 years. Speedo does the occasional "needle float" but it never really bothered me. Trip and regular odometer seem to function fine. Overdrive works well. The trafficator (turn signal actuator) on wheel functions fine. I would classify this car as a really nice driver...not a show car (a Hagerty 3 to 3+).The paint is very shiny but not perfect. It also has some small chipping from use and other small imperfections. The previous owners were Healey collectors....but more importantly they drove their cars and enjoyed them...so this car was built in that spirit. As pics show (and look at the 115 photos on the link below) you can see the usual rust areas like floors trunk lip and fenders are good. The car has sound insulation under the floor as well to quiet road noise and keep things cool underfoot on the driver's side (exhaust runs under the floor there). I also have quite a few receipts as the pics show as well.This is a car you will get compliments on enjoy driving can rely on and not be worried about having to hide in a garage for fear of depreciation. This car is a blast to drive!Some things that I was going to eventually repair if I kept this another ten years: steering box seal...a matter of pulling the pitman arm and putting in a new seal (available from Moss Motors for $6.00 part number 520-260) and there are some small rust bubbles on the passengers door. They have not gotten larger in all the years I have owned this car (and I have a rust free straight door if needed). The convertible top was replaced not long after I bought it but I recently found a small hole in the top which I had repaired...so I don't list it as a newer top anymore. But it is and the repair is hard to see (I have a pic in the photobucket)...not to mention I am always driving it with the top down (I do not drive it in the rain or snow). I also am a bit of a perfectionist so the passenger fender bottom was repaired at one point and the profile is just not exactly factory...I have the factory patch panel for that area if the buyer needs. You can also see that the driver's qtr cove line does not line up exactly with the door (not an unusual thing). (the door itself lines up with the car just fine....maybe that is why in production they had three to four door sets laying around to fit the "best match" ha ha ha It was something that kind of bothered me when I first bought the car...but it just adds character so it does not even bother me anymore...but I mention it for full disclosure for potential bidders. That is really the "bad" if you want to call those bad points. The good is all the rest...including a rare period dealer sold Parrish Plastics top. Which had been restored at the time of the paint. The color matches the car and it has a black liner. The rear window is clear and fog free which is very rare. It appears to have had new seals/weatherstripping installed as well. This hardtop allows you to drive this in the fall to go enjoy the changing leaves and not freeze. I also never drove the car in snow..and the car was stored inside a heated garage for winter. And in the summers I had a dehumidifier to control any excess moisture...just my craziness I guess. Also the doors shut solidly with no funny sounds or multiple tries to latch. And they open when the car is jacked up so we know the frame is solid as well. Try that on some of the other cars for sale out there.....These cars are super simple to work on (you just need a spanner screwdriver and basic socket set)...and as I stated above this one really has not required much of anything over the years. Just change the oil check the dashpot oil grease the gazillion chassis zerts (just kidding) and check plugs and points once a year. (oh yeah and check the air pressure in the tyres ha ha ha) Other than that this car has been another great British roadster....if it were not for having a few too many cars and a new recent acquisition....I would not be selling this one. It has been very good to me and very very reliable. These old Healey's are not being remade and are only getting more and more expensive as the days tick by. I am starting to notice that even a project is costing north of $18000 for a good one anymore...and with the need to invest another minimum of $40000-50000 to finish...so unless you do all the work yourself finished cars are really the better deal.Hagerty shows an increase in values of $6700 in a condition 3 BT7 since Jan of this year alone! Hagerty values a condition 3 BT7 at $36200.00 currently...and mine is a better than a basic "3"....so buy one now before they are unattainable!!A summary of some of the work and features of the car:1959 Austin Healey 3000 BT7 with overdrive 1. paint and body done2. engine rebuilt by previous owner....and is tweaked for better performance3. Dayton painted 72 spoke wheels and tires4. rebuilt shocks with higher rate valving5. electronic fuel pump 6. Denis Welch racing sway bar with rose joints7. luggage rack (an original not a repop)8. new battery switch9. polished aluminum cockpit trim10. polished windshield posts11. vintage racing wood and aluminum steering wheel12. new Stebro racing exhaust (rare! and sounds great...has that cool popping noise on decelleration like tghe new Jag F-Type)13. new bumpers14. vintage Lucas driving lights and lucas accessory switch15. badge/light bar 16. three grille badges mounted on bar...one is genuine vintage "AA" badge17. new brake drums and shoes18. new rotors and pucks19. new wheel cylinders20. rubber Austin Healey floor mats21. new heater controls22. adjustable wheel23. overdrive24. solid state fuel pump25. new bumpers at time of paint26. new rear reflectors27. tonneau cover and support bar28. K&N air filters29. new carpet30. new knock offs31. flip top aluminum hidden locking gas cap32. Lucas wing (fender) mirrors33. new weather stripping for doors dash and trunk34. Halogen sealed beam headlights35. LED taillight for more brightness36. restored original Parrish Plastics hardtop37. aluminum/plex sidecurtains (will need restoring but all complete)38. operator manual (original as in pics)39. original dealer brochure (very hard to find with pics in the same Primrose yellow!)40. original magazine ad41. huge file of receipts and information on the car from the previous owners and myself 42. retractable lap/shoulder harnesses43. works front tow/tie down hooks44. plex wind wingsAvailable to the winning bidder at extra cost (but I will make it a good buy as I wold rather it go to the new owner than sit in my garage until a friend needs parts) 1. new hard brake lines set (still in box)2. new braided brake lines3. original heater box (I have two one with a dealer accessory radio "box" installed below and one original non radio version)4. refinished heater blower fan5. heater copper pipe6. panel kit for interior (NIB)7. 72 spoke Dayton wire wheel (NIB)8. original rotors9. original ribbed drums (rare and not being reproduced that I am aware of)10. grille eyebrow11. straight rust free passenger door stripped and ready to prime and paint12. original factory air filters13. new side curtain seals14. extra Lucas glass lenses15. Crane electronic ignition16. spare tire hold down bar and leather belt (New)17. spare radiator hose18. New engine gasket set19. racing degree timing gear set I think a Denis Welch item20. new trunk floor21. chrome gauge surround trim22. Porsche factory collapsible hard top standI am sure there are more bits squirreled around the house and workshop....I can discuss with the winner.I have a file of over 100 pictures to show the condition of the car here: http://i1172.photobucket.com/albums/r565/alexzlion/1959%20Austin%20Healey%20MKI/IMG_3876.jpg.html....I want the buyer to know what a nice car they are buying.....Please ask for more pics if needed....ask questions that the pics and description do not answer....and I will do my utmost to answer them for you. Paypal deposit of $750 is required within 24 hours of winning bid. And arrangement for funds to be transferred to my account within 7 days."0" feedback bidders need to contact me first or I will cancel the bid.Pick up or shipping is the responsibility of the winning bidder. And the car and title are not released until funds have cleared. I will assist with what is reasonable and as I can with getting the car ready for transport...but buyer responsible for arranging transport paperwork and any customs requirements.Best of luck to you bidders....and I know the winning bidder will have a great car that is increasing in value!!!

On May-24-15 at 18:02:47 PDT seller added the following information:

Thank you for all the interest and questions regarding the Healey. However I cannot reveal the reserve nor will I end it for an offer-price as it would not be fair to the others watching and bidding. I will try and put some pics with the tonneau cover in place ion the photobucket this weekend...it really is like having three cars....hardtop convertible and two seater open top (with tonneau)..when in place and only two people in the car looks like a two seater..but gives you a place to put overnight bags picnic basket blanket etc. behind your seats.Thanks again and happy bidding!

On May-25-15 at 09:16:18 PDT seller added the following information:

For those watching and interested I uploaded a couple videos of the car. The first is the car starting cold...I simply rolled it out of the garage set the choke and started the car. The second is when the car is almost warmed up with choke completely off....the car can idle at about 800-850rpm even with the rally cam. And you can hear the slight lope in the video...always runs really well does not stall or buck once warm.Oh and you can see what the tonneau looks like if two people are in the car.....I also uploaded a pic of a fender cover I had bought for the car I always kept in the trunk......I thought the new owner could use it..even if just for display as I hardly ever needed it! ha ha ha

On May-26-15 at 04:53:58 PDT seller added the following information:

Just as an FYI....my reserve is a good amount below the Hagerty value for a condition 3....thanks

• Make: Austin Healey
• Model: 3000
• Type: roadster
• Trim: HBT7
• Year: 1959
• Mileage: 15,676
• VIN: HBT7L1571
• Color: Primrose Yellow
• Engine size: 3.0
• Number of cylinders: 6
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Transmission: 4 spd with overdrive
• Drive type: RWD
• Interior color: Black
• Options: Convertible
• Vehicle Title: Clear
Want to buy? Contact seller!