Austin-Healey 3000

Austin-Healey 3000
Manufacturer	BMC
Production	1959-1967 42,926
Predecessor	Austin-Healey 100-6
Class	Sports car
Body style(s)	2-door roadster
Platform	FR
Engine(s)	2912 cc C-Series I6

The Austin-Healey 3000 was a sports car built from 1959 to 1967, by the Austin-Healey marque, and is the best known of the 'big' Healey models. The 3000 was a successful car which won its class in many European rallies in its heyday - and is still used in competition by enthusiasts today. The car was originally to be called the "Mille Miglia" after the famous sports car race, but the displacement-based "3000" name stuck instead. Both the 3000 and the 100 before it were known simply as "the Austin-Healey" in the 1950s, since the company was essentially a single-vehicle marque.

The original Austin Healey 3000 was 2912 cc (nearly 3 litres), with twin SU carburetors and front disc brakes. It was only called the Mark I after the Mark II was released. The original 3000 was built from 1959 - 1961 and has model designation BT7 (4 seat version) and BN7 (2 seater).

The 3000 Mk II came with triple SU Carburetors was built 1961 - 1963 and had model variants BT7 (4 seater version), BN7 (2 seat roadster) and BJ7 (wind up windows rather than side curtains).

The 3000 Mk III was launched in 1963, and remained in production until 1967.

The Series BJ8 was the most powerful and luxurious of the big Healeys - with a Walnut veneer dash, wind up windows, and  hp (112 kW).

Austin Healey 3000's have a long competition history - having raced at most major racing circuits around the world, including Sebring (USA), Le Mans (France), and Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst (Australia).

A green 3000 was seen in the Tears for Fears music video Everybody Wants to Rule the World.

A 3000 was seen in several shots of Transformers. Sam's father drives it to take Sam to pick up his first car. (The 3000 does not transform into anything.)

Photos of Austin-Healey 3000s

In the 1959 Stanley Kramer film, "On the Beach", Ava Gardner drives her Austin-Healey 3000 to meet Gregory Peck before the radioactive cloud reaches them in Australia.

Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II

1959 Austin-Healey 3000, front view

1959 Austin-Healey 3000, back view

The red leather cockpit of a black Austin-Healy 3000

References

• Ray Bonds (2003). The Illustrated Directory of Sports Cars. Motorbooks. ISBN 0-7603-1420-9. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Austin-Healey 3000

• Austin Healey 3000 BJ8 site
• Austin Healey Club of America
• Austin Healey Club USA site - Austin Healey 3000 individual model differences, and indicative pricing
• Austin Healey Club of Oregon
• www.healeydata.com Volunteer register with records and photos of the 3000

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