Saleofcar.com :Austin

Austin Healey 3000 (1959)
for sale

Price: US $39,000.00

Description:

For sale is my 1959 Austin Healey 3000 Mark 1 BT7. It is one of the earliest 3000’s produced that originally had the automatic choke (since replaced with a manual one). I have owned it for 29 years and it’s time for someone else to take over. It was frame off restored in the late 80’s and still looks nearly new. At the time, the mechanicals were rebuilt, the interior replaced and it was repainted in base coat/clear coat. I have a photo album of the restoration and a 2” thick file of all the receipts that go with the car. During my ownership, the car has won several awards at shows such as the British Invasion in Stowe, VT and British on the Green in Granby, CT. The interior shows almost no wear. The front seats are leather. It has a vintage Moto-Lita steering wheel. All gauges, switches, heater, wipers, blinkers, lights, horn, etc. work. The speedometer for some reason takes a while to ‘warm up’ but reads correctly after several miles. Seat belts are fitted on the front seats as well as the two rear jump seats where my kids used to ride when they were a lot younger.
A full tonneau cover is included and features the ribs for rigidity. The top is in excellent shape and fits and tightly. The aluminum framed side curtains are in good shape with the sliding plexiglass showing some scuffing.
The paintwork still looks 9 out of 10 with a few stone chips and minor imperfections. The car was originally Colorado Red according to the BHMIT certificate, but was black with silver coves when I bought it. I chose to switch the coves to red. The car was painted by Kevin Healey in Walpole, New Hampshire using the least amount of filler possible. Door gaps and shut lines are very good.
The frame is solid showing the usual dings most Healeys have from people not jacking them up properly. While the underside is no longer as clean as it was after the restoration, it has aged quite well. A previous owner had patched the trunk floor which was left alone when the car was restored since it looked solid.
The engine (which was rebuilt during the restoration) starts easily and runs well. Very smooth and vibration free. The overdrive functions properly. The transmission was also rebuilt when the car was restored. When new, these cars never shifted like modern cars, but this one still does quite well as long as you don’t try to speed shift! And, like most all old British cars, it does leak some at the rear main seal – a poor design. The fan was upgraded to provide better cooling and a spin-on oil filter was added. The original fan and canister oil filter are included with the car. Several years ago, the rocker shaft was replaced and all the rockers re-bushed. Oil pressure is excellent maxing at 55 lbs. when warmed up.
Two years ago I replaced the splined drive hubs and the wheels with 15”x5.5” 72 spoke tubeless painted wire wheels. The tires are 185/15 Vredestein Sprint Classics and really fit the car well. No shimmies or shakes. The car tracks straight. The brakes work perfectly, no pulling left or right. The brake and clutch hydraulics use silicone brake fluid.
In addition to the photos in this listing, more are available at the following link: here
If you are looking for a great, dependable car that looks great and runs well, and that you can be proud to take to car shows or just out for a cruise, take a look at this one. I’m available any time for inspections. Vermont is an non-title state for older cars, but it has a valid registration. $500 deposit via PayPal within 48 hrs., balance via wire transfer within 5 days.
Please email with any questions and I’ll get back to you promptly.
Thanks for looking!

_{update: 2015-05-10}