1966 Austin Healey 3000 BJ8 For Sale
Sale Price: $89,995
We are delighted to offer for sale this very attractive 1966 Austin Healey 3000 BJ8. According to its Heritage Certificate it was originally delivered on March 7th 1966 to the dealership Saunders in Finchley London, in Colorado Red over Black with Grey trim. According to the current owner the car was driven in Europe for a short time then exported to Australia and records suggest it lived in WA for the earlier part of its life. The Healey was purchased by the current owner in 1996 with mileage at that point showing just 10,807 miles. Today the car shows just 37,701 miles with extensive records of regular service and maintenance. Interestingly there is a compression test conducted when the current owner acquired the car showing the same (and very good) results as it does when another compression test was conducted for the most recent presale service.
The engine is the original and has benefited from regular and careful maintenance. At some point the car has had a colour change which we know was before 1996. The current owner bought the car in this striking colour combination of metallic golden sand over chocolate with tan leather interior.
In 2008 the current owner sent the car to The Healey Factory for a full repaint in that same colour scheme. At the same time the chrome was redone and some mechanical work conducted too.
The current paint is in excellent order with only the smallest of blemishes but that is being picky. The original brightwork presents well and has some minor tarnishing but this is visible only on close inspection. The wider profile wire wheels were fitted many years ago by the current owner. These show some signs of wear but again this is only visible on close inspection. The original wheels come with the car should the new owner wish to revert to the original. The hood fits well and is in very good order as is the matching tonneau.
Once sat inside you are greeted by a dashboard that is simply gorgeous to the eye, and the cabin is simply a lovely place to be. All the gauges are clear and present very well as do the timber veneers. The tan leather seats show light wear and some patina but are in good order and work so well with the colour of the car.
The carpeting shows some light wear in the drivers footwell but elsewhere is excellent.
Turn the key and you really know you are in a ‘Big Healey’ with it issuing a lovely sonorous ‘burble’. It starts easily and settles into an even idle. Out on the open road the car is just superb. All the controls and inputs are easy to use. The clutch is not heavy; the brakes are even in their application and the gearbox is a delight to use.
In summary this original RHD ‘matching numbers’ Healey is a lovely car that drives very well indeed. These Healey’s are perfectly at home as a tourer; comfortable, practical with plenty of torque and power on tap. When you want to indulge in some ‘spirited’ driving they deliver in this respect too. Although not a freshly restored car it is one that benefits from a repaint to a high standard and has been extensively maintained and it would suggest it has a very low original mileage. A large folder of documents and invoices supporting its detailed history accompany the car. A recent service has been conducted ready for its next owner.
