1961 Austin Healey 3000 BT7

Vendor Tim Brooke bought this car back in 1991 from a chap in the Midlands. ‘He’d imported three from the US and had restored two of them, but didn’t want to do the third,’ he explains. ‘I took Steve Jowett, then of specialist Northern Healey Centre, with me and we decided it was a decent base for a project.’

That project would take between four and five years to complete, with Tim carrying out the mechanical side of things himself and Northern Healey Centre looking after the other elements.

To get an idea of just how comprehensive the restoration was, consider the fact that there’s four hundred and thirteen images (yes, 413!) in the Healey’s Photographic Gallery, below. These include a full pictorial history of all elements of the rebuild itself, as well as every invoice attached to it.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever thrown anything away; it’s all there, every job sheet, every invoice, every MOT, every tax disc and every bill. It was a case of getting it back to being a perfect car and whatever it needed, it received.’

After stripping the car Tim had the shell blasted and a full body restoration carried out (more on that later). Both the engine and gearbox were stripped and rebuilt, and the braking and suspension systems were replaced. Finally, a new interior was fitted.

Tim tweaked the car for his own personal taste, choosing the Pale Primrose colour rather than it’s original Black and adding a Works-type front grill. ‘I just felt every other Healey is Red or Healey Blue over Old English White, and for me the front overriders ruin the shape a bit. I wanted something different and for it to stand out a bit.’

Twenty-five years on, and after a lot of enjoyment, Tim’s now 70 years old and ready to sell. ‘I have mixed feelings. I love the car – my middle son helped with the rebuild – but my wife no longer likes travelling in it. I’m getting emotional just talking about it…’

As stated, photographs can be viewed in the gallery and they show exactly how comprehensive the body restoration was. ‘Bad metal was cut out and replaced with new; this included repairing the shrouds, new floors, inner and outer sills, door bottoms, and one front wing and two rears. The bonnet is original, but the boot lid is a replacement.’

Paint prep and spraying took Northern Healey six weeks, and on the car’s return Tim fitted the mechanicals to the rolling shell to test them before the remaining panels were finally attached. ‘I just wanted to make sure the engine didn’t have to come back out’.

Today, it still presents absolutely beautifully. Tim wanted to stand out and it does just that. The rally-type grill, and removal of bumpers, lends it a thoroughly racy exterior aesthetic. Two and a half decades on, the bodywork remains absolutely straight and the paint in top condition with a consistent and alluring shine.

The car has been driven and enjoyed so there are one or two minor marks here and there; these include a small scuff and a deep chip on the offside lower rear quarter panel, as well as another couple of deep chips on the nearside rear wheel arch and sill.

It must be stated though that’s being picky in the extreme and these don’t detract from a car that otherwise presents immaculately – wait until you see the underside!

Tim sourced a fresh SC Parts interior and had it professionally fitted. This included black leather seats (with white piping) and a replacement Moto-Lita steering wheel. ‘The original comes with the car, but will need restored if the new owner wishes to use it.’

The interior should have an ashtray and it was re-chromed, and again comes with the car, but Tim chose not to fit it during the rebuild. He also has an original hardtop in un-restored condition that could be available by separate negotiation.

It’s still a lovely and purposeful cabin; the chunky sports steering wheel suits the Big Healey’s gruff character to a tee. The leather remains in supple condition, but the driver’s seat requires a bit of TLC. There’s a further bit of minor fettling to do, as the steering column, horn button and surround are all a little bit loose.

You’ll find a pop-up wind deflector fitted, and the convertible top and tonneau cover are excellent.

Before we get to how it drives, I have to mention the undercarriage: it is toothbrush clean. ‘For the first 5 or 6 years after restoration I used to put it up on axle stands during the winter and polish the underside, although I don’t do that now,’ explains Tim. Finished in body-colour sprayed stone-chip, it would surely win any show that involved displaying the underside of cars (now there’s an idea).

‘It’s a real fun car to drive,’ says Tim. ‘I liken it to a go-cart, it’s so positive. You can have an awful lot of fun in it, without getting into serious speed. Again it has a few tweaks to improve handling including slightly wider wheels, negative camber bushes on the front suspension and a high-ratio steering box.’

You’ll also find an alloy fuel tank located in the boot and up front, an engine bay in similarly pristine condition. ‘There are two plastic boxes of original parts, including half a dozen distributor caps – although I don’t know why.

‘It’s also important that the next owner knows that it uses silicon brake fluid; if you have a spillage it doesn’t damage the paintwork and it doesn’t absorb fluid like the standard stuff. I’d be more than happy to talk to anyone about the car.’

Having taken it out for one or two spins here at The Market it’s clear that this is one very sorted car.

If you intend to leaf through the history file then ensure you allow plenty of time, because to say it’s comprehensive is an understatement.

With any restoration pictures are always welcome. It gives piece of mind to see the level of workmanship that has gone into the classic car’s resurrection. How does 41 photographs sound? And that’s not just of the professional bodywork completed, but also mechanicals, as well as reassembly.

Similarly, you’ll find an astounding 353 documents relating to the car. I won’t reel off chapter and verse as I’d be here for some considerable time and still not even get halfway.

If you’re seriously considering this Healey then it’s worth taking your time to peruse what is probably one of the most comprehensively documented restorations that we’ve seen.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the paperwork to support our claim that this car has been restored and maintained to the highest of standards.

We do love a Big Healey here. They’re just rammed with such rambunctious character that driving one can only ever result in a huge smile and the urge to get back out on the road at the earliest opportunity.

Like many cars of its era, one of the keys to a good one is bodywork. It’s a time-consuming and painstaking process to get a restoration spot on and that’s why this example offers any buyer piece of mind, carried out as it was with no-expense spared by a renowned marque specialist.

Allied to that is a fastidious owner (that underside!) who meticulously rebuilt the mechanicals – again with no expense spared – and who then went on to maintain it to the highest of standards.

That’s why we think this example will fetch somewhere between £43,000 and £58,000; in the grand scheme of things, that’s not a lot of cash for the quality of classic car being purchased.

It’s been tweaked for drivability and given a racy aesthetic, which for us is most definitely a win-win combo.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; our offices are open Mon-Fri 9.00 am to 5.00pm. To arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.