Is the Austin Healey 3000 MK 3 phase one the best Big Healey to own?

[@scottwooster4102]

one of the most beautiful cars ever made!

[@darrellsimpson6966]

The mark 1 E type comes close.

[@pjmurphy920]

In 1970, in St. Louis, I was young and working as a secretary at McDonnell Douglas. There was a car dealership called Continental Cars. My brothers-in-law had sports cars--Morgan, MGB, Porsche 911 (?). Friends had MGBs, Fiats, one a Jaguar, Triumphs, etc. I stopped by to peruse and ended up buying a 1964 3000 Mk II (or III?) with overdrive, light powder blue, spoked wheels, two mirrors on the hood, trunk rack, navy leather seats, zip out back window with navy top that you could just unhook from the inside and pull back. I LOVED that car. I still have dreams about it sometimes. I paid $1,400 for it. Nice to see your video.

[@bshstuff2410]

Beautiful, My favorite British sports car.

[@wslco15]

David. Back in 1974 I restored a 1963 BJ7. It had been in a wreck so there was quiite a bit of work.I got it running and used it to drive to college. The BJ7 did not have the fancy dash. Looking back I wish I had never sold it!

[@tomhollandroberts1737]

The BJ7 is the best Big Healey. It has the original metal Healey dash panel.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

@@tomhollandroberts1737 Yes! and it also had window cranks!...I love the older metal dash, with those older Smith gauges. I do believe that the BJ8 models had a slight upgrade in horsepower. But they sort of muffled the more brazen, beautiful sound of that brutish straight six.

[@bobgrim9605]

I've had three Healeys since 1973. My '64 was the best looking but the newer exhaust design accentuated scraping on my driveway, railroad tracks, and speed bumps. The system was only to adhere to noise restrictions in Europe. The car overall, was a collection of compromises. BMC really should have continued along the lines of the 100S, make fewer cars. but be true to Healsy's ultimate concept.

[@bertiewooster3326]

The best all round Healey is the BJ7 .

[@lib556]

Beautiful.

[@OldinMariner]

Great Car, always wanted one myself. I did noticed that when you opened the right side door that there is a lock hidden under the handle? You mentioned there were no locks on the doors?

[@hoopaholicstickum]

My ‘65 BJ8 MK3 phase 2 had the single larger indicator in front and in the back with the small reflector above it. I like this rendition best.

[@IVAN-bs5bq]

Yes my 64 car is the same !

[@tomhollandroberts1737]

The BJ8 phase 2 had side lights AND indicator lights fitted. Yours sounds like a phase1.

[@randey1954]

N​​⁠ot true. In May 1964 the Phase II version of the Mark III was released, which gained ground clearance through a modified rear chassis. In March 1965 the car received separate indicator lights. Mine is also a phase II Mark III built before March 1965. It has only 1 light below the headlight

[@hoopaholicstickum]

It’s never easy to know “exactly” how a Healey came from the factory because of parts availability, timing of progress of design etc. then what owners do to them over time. The devil is in the details.

[@robertcallahan4065]

Maybe the later series 3000's aren't to your taste but I prefer the larger taillight lenses, brighter, safer and turn signals separate from tail/brake.

[@tomhollandroberts1737]

My BJ7 is an ex-export car and is fitted with separate side and indicator lamps.

[@biggs10able]

The one in my garage would be the best

[@patricklousada1800]

The guy is wrong about the exhaust. I have a Phase I BJ8 and it has (quite correctly) cross rear silencers so that the exhaust exits on the opposite side to that shown on this car

[@hoopaholicstickum]

Called rear resonators… stock on all BJ8s. A much quieter yet still healthy sound, but many opted to remove the resonators for a more old school Healy sound.

[@davidminnesota4050]

Beautiful car, but the roadsters; BT7s and before are more beautiful and sporting cars. The convertible top is convenient but a comprise in style. If I was to pick one model it would be the BN7 Mark 2. To each his own.

[@larryeastwood6544]

How much?

[@rovercoupe7104]

Beautiful. M

[@tomhollandroberts1737]

The Austin Healey 3000 BJ7 was the very best model with it's original pattern metal dash panel. Why fit varnished plywood dash panels to a real sports car.????

[@gregwarner3753]

This would have been a really great car with a 3 liter six cylinder Toyota twin cam engine. As well as the Toyota five speed transmission.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

Sadly, many folks have modified these old classics, with upgrades in horsepower, etc. A travesty, IMO!

[@curbozerboomer1773]

The Healeys had an OD unit, that worked on 3rd and 4th gears, making it a six-speed!....and upgrades to the engine could be done...there was a Rootes competition kit, that extracted up to 250hp from that venerable straight six. And better shocks were also available. In that form, the Big Healey was a beast on the track!

[@ianmcleish6113]

I have a 1963 MKII that was rebuilt in 1995. It has a Nissan RB30 engine and upgrades to the brakes, steering, suspension and bucket seats from a Holden Commodore. When I bought it in 2021, it was referred to as an Austin Nearly. It had only one owner who rebuilt it with 40,000km on the clock. She turns heads and receives compliments every time I take her out. It isn't original but in many ways superior and so much fun to drive.

[@gregwarner3753]

Sounds about right.

[@67daltonknox]

The Austin Westminster convertible, heavy, underpowered, with mediocre suspension and brakes. If you want to know what a British sportscar of the era should be, drive an Elan.