Lot 248: Austin Healey 3000 Mk. III BJ8

Donald Healey was active in motor sport well before World War II, his achievements including an outright win with an Invicta in the Monte Carlo Rally and no less than six Alpine Cups. He drove and designed cars for Triumph from 1934 to 1939, but after the war he decided to go it alone and produced a series of sports cars using Riley and Nash engines that soon ran up an impressive number of successes in events such as the Targa Florio, the Mille Miglia and the 24 hour races at Spa and Le Mans. In 1952 he showed his Healey 100 at the London Motor Show. This used the four cylinder, 2.6 litre Austin A90 engine and, by the time the show closed, Healey had been signed up by the Austin Motor Co. which would make the car as the Austin Healey. The ultimate Healey model came in early 1964 with the introduction of the BJ8, the 3000 Mk III. The car incorporated myriad changes, most notably increased power, twin 2" SUs, revised exhaust system, new dash design, electronic tachometer and vacuum brake servo. The interior was far more refined: for example, the old steel dash panel was replaced with wood veneer, the seats covered in real leather and a useful console placed between the front seats. Presented in the classic Healey colour scheme of Ice Blue over Old English White, this extremely thoroughly restored example has had attention lavished upon from the new convertible top and matching tonneau cover to its chrome wire wheels and Yokohama tyres. The body has been blasted to bare metal and the entire car has been taken back to its component parts. Even the dials have been re-wired and restored. The original six cylinder engine has been totally overhauled with new pistons, new bearings on the crankshaft, new chain, valves and guides. The twin 2 SU Carburettors have been reconditioned with the original gearbox and overdrive also overhauled. There is a new clutch and pressure plate, exhaust and complete photographic restoration record. This is a driver's car and looks as fresh as the day it rolled out of the Abingdon factory gates.