Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII feat. Wayne Carini from Chasing Classic Cars in 4K | Buyer's Guide

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[robertfair]

Bought my BJ8 for $3, 000 off a used car lot in the San Fernando Valley. Drove it for years around Diamond Bar, used it in local Sports Car Rallye's in Orange County (from Larwin Square) and sold it for $10, 000 when my business needed the capital. Thank you Donald Healey for years of fun!

[Deejay]

When reviewing a vehicle, the first thing you should check is the model....In this case the vehicle is NOT a Mark111 (BJ8) but a Mark11 (BJ7). The bonnet badge and the pull out door handles give it away immediately! Other than that, this is a good review.

[steinwaygrande]

Rust is only an issue in countries that use salt on the roads in the winter. I bought my BJ8 MK111 Series 3 in 1968. Nearly 50 years later the vehicle was stripped bare and then totally rebuilt from the ground up and a fully rebuilt engine was rebored and rebuilt to better then new. In the first few years it got a hammering and suffered badly . Today its now in concourse condition in Colorado Red with Grey seats and carpets plus door panels. Its now an old lady and gets treated with lots of TLC. Never had rust problems as in Australia we dont use salt on the roads. Healeys rarely do a head gasket and the trick to make sure they never do a head gasket is to smear the gasket, head and block with engine oil, refit the head and then tighten down slowly working from the two front bolts, two back bolts and the two centre bolts. Torque wrench the bolts to the recommended torque settings as per instuctions. Both the twin and triple SU carbs are an absolute doddle too tune. Sadly not many people know how to tune the triple carbs and yet they are very easy. Of course there is a knack to it, but again not many folks have the knowledge to tune triple carbs let alone twins. The ignition timing is 5 degrees before TDC and with the micro adjuster on the distributor fine tuning it to perfection is easy but time consuming - thats of you want the motor to run perfectly. I could go on for hours talking about SU carbs as have been restoring them for over 40 years now .

[iscafan]

Absolutely, it's all about the smile.

[Routepubco]

Nice set of items to look at when considering buying an Austin-Healey or any classic car

[heatmoon]

There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned Healey.

[tompearson]

My 1959 Big Healey 3000 BT7 literally disolved itself along the seams where the steel fenders bolted to the aluminum body - galvanic corrosion turned the aluminum into a white mush.  Salt water during the winter was the electrolite.  When the temperature hit 20 degrees the car would not start due to low cranking speed. Super hot temperatures in cockpit during summer.  Needed better air on feet.   Despite all this I loved the car - right now I have a 1956 that has been restored but with a 327 Vette engine.  375 hp in 2400 pound car.    Sitting in the garage waiting for Spring.

[jennifermonks]

My man has the smartest BT7 ever. Minilites and hard top wow !!

[robertmerchant]

I was 17 and had my 1966 3000 Mark-III purchased in 1970 and had it for 3 years. I still miss that car but Wayne is correct, everything he said, I agree.

[steverice]

Holy Shite, what’s the brg/yellow Ferrari behind him in the opening? You could prob buy 10 big Healeys for the value of that Ferrari.

[armandozessar]

Jaguar E type has the best frames designs, and the best rear looking.

[armandozessar]

Wayne Carini knows how to do business;l feel sorry for the two guys of wheeler dealers that sometimes are losing money!

[terrymoran]

SEXY BEAST one of the best looking cars ever

[RossABQ]

I had 3 big Healeys in the late 60's/early 70's.  Wonderful cars, especially the sound, but absolutely the worst-built POS's ever.  Wayne didn't even touch on frame rust, the main unibody rails that support the engine are not nearly strong enough to begin with, take off some metal with road salt, and the front suspension is left with nothing to hang onto. Brake calipers that seize up annually.  Wheel splines that strip on hard brake application.  Oddly enough I never had electrical problems!

[johnmalenchek]

Healey's rust out around wheel wells. Body was designed with shelves that caught and held wet gravel against body panels and frame. Suspension was laughable. The engine was a truck engine. Beautiful design with primitive mechanical construction. Get good walking shoes if you buy one

[armandozessar]

Sorry but someone blame Lancia on the past for the rust on the body, but British cars where a!so involved.