We collected it on Friday 30th September 2005 and drove it from Yorkshire to Warwickshire with no problems. Over the Winter we worked through a small job list to make sure that it would be reliable enough for driving in modern conditions. This included re-connecting the heater, and connecting up the fog lamps, which while the previous owner had installed them, he hadn't bothered using. At the same time, we replaced the period dynamo with an alternator to make sure it will generate enough electricity in all weathers and installed electronic ignition to keep it as reliable as possible. This necessitated changing the car from Positive Earth to the more normal Negative Earth.
All work is now completed and the Healey runs like a dream. The 3 litre engine has so much torque that you hardly ever need to change gears - it will go round roundabouts in 4th with no problem.
The ‘Big Healey’ started life in 1952 in its 100/4 guise with a 4 cylinder 2,660cc engine. In 1956 it evolved into the Austin Healey 100/6 when the 4 cylinder engine was replaced with a 6 cylinder 2,639cc engine. Then in 1959 it became the Austin Healey 3000 with the 6 cylinder engine enlarged to 2,912cc. All of these cars had fairly Spartan interiors with side screen windows and a hood that took several minutes to erect.
Then in 1963 the Austin Healey 3000 became civilised with the announcement of our model, the Austin Healey 3000 Sports Convertible (now normally referred to as a MkIIA). This has full wind up windows and a hood that can be erected in seconds rather than minutes. The gear lever was moved from the side of the gearbox to the top and the brakes were up-rated with the addition of a servo.
This is a rare car, one of only 455 Right Hand Drive Austin Healey BJ7 models built for the UK market. The majority of the BJ7s made, were exported, with 44 Right Hand Drive ones going to British Commonwealth countries, 5,019 going to the USA and another 595 to the rest of the World.
This car was extensively restored in 1991/2 including much new metalwork and a complete re-spray in its current colours of Sapphire Blue over Silver Grey. The interior is in light blue leather with contrast dark blue piping and dark blue carpets. It also sports a new mohair hood with a zip down window making it a comfortable car in all weathers.
When we first saw this Austin Healey, it was shod with new tyres on chrome wire wheels, but we are not a fan of wire wheels. Most tyre companies can't balance them properly and if the car is driven hard then the spokes can crack. So we had them replaced with silver Minilite replica wheels, which give a much better ride, avoid the risk of breaking spokes and are much easier to clean.
The car had very little use since the rebuild but has been fully serviced in preparation for earning its living by joining our classic car hire fleet.
After having driven the car for a couple of weeks, an unexpected problem came to light. As the Healeys aren't fitted with power steering they are fitted with large diameter steering wheels (16.5 inches). This gives extra leverage to cope with the steering but for anyone with even slightly chunky legs, it makes getting in and out of the car a little difficult. Worse than that, the steering wheel rubs against the driver's thighs. So after much deliberation we decided to change the original wheel for a 14 inch diameter Mota Lita steering wheel. Now there is more than enough room for those chunky thighs. There isn't any problem with leverage as the steering wheel rim is both thicker and leather bound giving the driver a much firmer grip.
Mark Robinson of Classics Monthly Magazine took our car out for a day for a photo shoot and wrote up an excellent article on both our Austin Healey and the delights of touring around South Warwickshire.
Graham Bell wrote about our Healey for the 19 June 2006 edition of the web based motoring magazine Piston Heads. Read his article in full here.
In mid 2006 the Crew Clothing Company used our Austin Healey 3000 as a backdrop to the photo shoot for their Autumn 2006 clothing catalogue.
Height and weight restrictions:
The cockpit of the Healey is very narrow and the doors are very short. Therefore anyone over 6ft 2in tall (1.88m) or weighing over 18st (252 lbs, 114 kilos) will probably not fit in the car.
For daily, weekend and weekly hire rates for our Austin Healey 3000, see the section on Hire Charges.
