ge4999361018762291825
ge5641540628597194452
ge5632820987102478952
ge5048617386983094790
ge5701620020109194524
Carsales Staff1 May 2006
REVIEW

Austin Healey 3000

The 'big' Healey 3000 is many peoples' ultimate British sports car

Big Beauty

If ever there was a car of the 1960s that echoed the spirit of Britain's Le Mans-winning Bentleys it was the Austin-Healey 3000.

The 'Blower' Bentley was long and tall and achieved its competition success on the paved surfaces of Sarthe and Brooklands. The 'big' Healey was an unlikely and highly successful rally car; broad and so low it seemed to be perennially leaving a trail of sparks for rivals to follow. Nonetheless, Healey 3000s between 1960-65 earned a cupboard full of trophies for the BMC works team.

With its engine lifted from the hefty A99 sedan, the Healey 3000 was launched in 1959 as a successor to the 2.6-litre 100/6. A significant advantage over rivals was the availability of 'occasional' rear seats that turned BT and BJ models into effective, open-top transport for those owners with young families.

Power developed by early models was an understressed 92kW and increased to a still-conservative 110kW in MkIII form. Use of Laycock de Normanville overdrive provided late series cars with a top speed of 195km/h. Triple carburetors were used briefly by MkII models but were fiddly to tune and probably added to production costs.

The MkIIA that appeared in 1962 returned to twin carbs, introduced wind-up windows and had a new, remote linkage gearlever to replace the angled lever fitted to previous cars. Phase II versions of the 1964-67 MkIII featured a revised chassis design that allowed greater rear suspension movement and use of trailing arms to locate the rear axle.

Styling changes during the 3000's eight years of existence were minimal and limited to a change in grille design that accompanied the MkII's introduction and the use of separate indicators and parking lights on MkIII versions. Interior upgrades were more dramatic and included the introduction of a centre console in conjunction with the MkIII model upgrade.

Playing 'Guess My Weight' with a Healey 3000 could prove surprising. While the sleek-looking E-Type 3.8 roadster tips the scales at 1206kg a MkIII Healey with all of the goodies is still 40kg lighter. Use of aluminium panels played a part, as did the Healey's conventional beam axle rear end.

The final Austin-Healey 3000 was built in 1968; its demise making way for the less glamorous and (now) far less valuable MGC model.

ON THE ROAD
The brutish appearance of 3.0-litre Healeys isn't necessarily indicative of the car's overall character. With a big lump of engine ensuring plenty of frontal weight bias, tight turns at low speed certainly demand firm use of the large, wire-sprung wheel. Once underway, however, the heaviness abates and most bends can be negotiated with a twitch of the wheel and dab of throttle on the exit. Plentiful torque ensures that these cars rarely need a gear lower than third when traveling at touring speeds.

Top gear pulls strongly from 50km/h and they reach 100km/h from rest in 11secs or less. Brakes are disc/drum and cars without the optional power assistance demand a firm push to pull up in a reasonable distance.

Accommodation is more generous than most 1950s sports cars, although the very high door line will inhibit those drivers who prefer a 'ten-to-two' hand position on the wheel. Early cars were two-seaters, with the '2+2' rear bench seat an option. From the introduction in 1962 of the MkIIA model, all big Healeys came with the additional seat as standard. Most 3000s were built with leather seat trim and MkIII models offer the decorative advantage of a full-width timber veneer dash panel.

The low-slung nature of the biggest Healey demands a cautious approach to those suburban 'traffic calming' humps and hollows and also on the open road. Ignoring a 'DIP' warning sign at anything like 100km/h is likely to generate a substantial crunch as the exhaust grounds on the bitumen. Carrying rear seat passengers further reduces clearance between the exhaust and the road.

Rob Rowland from The Healey Factory in Melbourne has been involved with Austin-Healeys for more than 30 years. Since the mid-1980s his business has imported 240 cars from the USA and sold hundreds more. He believes that a good Healey can be extremely reliable and relatively affordable to run.

"They are a very strong car and with some modifications can be very usable," Rowland said.

One recommended amendment to the car's independent front/live axle rear suspension is replacement of original lever-action shock absorbers with good-quality telescopic units, especially when wider wheels are fitted.

"It's mainly to do with the grip generated by modern tyres," Rowland explained. "Back when these cars were new and running on skinny crossplys, the suspension loads weren't anywhere near what a set of 195 section radials can generate."

Fitting additional leaves to the rear springs to improve clearance - rally cars used up to 14 leaves - isn't something Rowland would recommend due to its effect on the cars' balance. However, The Healey Factory does offer a classy, side-outlet exhaust conversion that eliminates the clearance problem in cars where the exhaust passes under the rear axle.

BUYING
More than 43,000 examples of the Healey 3000 appeared on roads around the world during the model's eight year production life. The difficulty for those who live in right-hand drive environments is that over 80 percent of those were exported to the US and rust has claimed the vast majority.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with owning a RHD-converted Healey or, for that matter, one that has been left in its original left-hand drive configuration.

According to The Healey Factory's Rob Rowland, the defining factor in Healey values is body and chassis condition. "Cars that need a lot of work to the body or are displaying chassis damage will be costly to get right so starting out with a good, straight car is the best bet," he advised.

Rowland is also not convinced by the perceived superiority of later, wind-up window cars over those with sidescreens.

"It all comes down to how the car will be used. If a Healey will, as most are, be used for relaxing drives on a fine day with the top down the issue of windows becomes irrelevant," he said.

A car that can, with minimal detailing be submitted for concours judging with an expectation of coming home with a trophy will now typically cost more than $100,000. Later BJ8 versions are the most common with 16,314 made but rank as the most desirable due to their combination of improved performance and wind-up windows. One of these in very good but not stunning condition can be found for less than $70,000, while our featured Series IIA car is currently for sale through The Healey Factory for $50,000.

BUYER CHECKLIST

BODY & CHASSIS
Rot and corrosion are endemic in Healeys so don't even trust a recently restored car's ability to fight off the metal cancer. Reactions between aluminium and steel components forward of the windscreen manifests as bubbling which will be costly to rectify if the alloy panels have seriously corroded. Rust in the floors is common and not a serious issue. More significant is rot that affects the rear spring mountings, inner sills, door mounting posts and front shock absorber mounts. Kinks in the front rails can often be spotted from above but inspection on a hoist is recommended. Check from ground level as the car is driven away from you for signs of 'crabbing' that denote a twisted chassis.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Here is gets a lot better. The six-cylinder engine was designed to power a truck and is very durable. Oil leaks except from the rear main bearing can be lived with while smoke and bearing rattles will only manifest in motors that are well overdue for a rebuild. The exhaust system is very vulnerable to damage and needs to be closely inspected. Replacements cost from $600 to more than $1000. The transmission is equally tough and a typical rebuild should cost $1500. Make sure that the electric overdrive which operates on top gear activates easily. Splines that locate wire wheels to the hub can wear and cause clunking noises under acceleration.

SUSPENSION & BRAKES
Healey 3000 steering should be direct and responsive. If there is significant free play at the wheel or wandering under brakes, it's very likely that the steering box, suspension bushes and even some components are due for replacement. Old-style lever action shock absorbers can be reconditioned if they are leaking oil and The Healey Factory offers a telescopic damper conversion using Koni components. Brakes are Girling - new disc rotors about $100 each - and can be easily reconditioned.

INTERIOR & ELECTRICS
Electrical niggles will always be an issue with older British cars and often stem from deteriorating wiring and/or poor earthing. Conversions to alternator electrics and uprated starter motors are available while fitting modern H4 headlamp inserts with relays is recommended. The folding top needs to be inspected for mould and defects and to be sure that the frame can be folded easily. Worn leather trim can be easily replaced; not so a seriously damaged timber dash.

FAST FACTS

NUMBER BUILT: 43,017 (1959-68)

BODY: steel and aluminium, separate body/chassis, two-door roadster

ENGINE: 2.9-litre in-line six-cylinder engine with overhead valves, twin or triple carburetors

POWER & TORQUE: 110kW @ 5250rpm, 223Nm @ 3500rpm (MkIII)

PERFORMANCE: 0-96 km/h - 9.8secs, 0-400m - 17.2 seconds (MkIII)

TRANSMISSION: four-speed manual with optional overdrive

SUSPENSION: Front: independent with coil springs, wishbones, anti-roll bar and lever action shock absorbers. Rear: live axle with semi-elliptic or quarter elliptic springs, Panhard rod or trailing arms with lever action shock absorbers

BRAKES: disc front/drum rear power assistance optional

WHEELS & TYRES: 15 x 4.5J steel or wire spoke, 590 x 15 crossply

PRICE RANGE: $25,000 - $115,000

CLUB: Austin-Healey Owners' Clubs in all states. Website: www.austinhealeyclubnsw.org.au

Share this article
Written byCarsales Staff
See all articles
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.

If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
Download the carsales app
    AppStoreDownloadGooglePlayDownload
    App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
    © CAR Group Ltd 1999-2024
    In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.