1959 Austin Healey 3000 MKI BT7

This utterly charming Austin-Healey 3000 comes to us fresh from 23 years with the vendor. A genuine UK right-hand-drive car, it was first registered on the 10th of October 1959 making it, we are told, only the 20th ‘BT7’ four-seater built.

It has been used for various high-days-and-holiday trips over the years including camping holidays in the New Forest with the owner’s son when he was small – and as his drive-away wedding car when he got married; as such, it is very much part of the family despite only having covered around 10,000 miles while in his care.

In need of some cosmetic refurbishment it is nonetheless highly usable and benefits from a few carefully selected mechanical upgrades to help it better cope with modern traffic, something the vendor demonstrated by driving it here.

Now being offered with no reserve, this delightful British sportscar will sell from the very first bid, no matter how low that is…

The red coachwork is largely solid and in a decent condition, albeit patinated. We wouldn’t mind driving it as it is for a while as we quite like its authentic look, something it wears with pride.

We especially like the straight, ripple-free flanks and dent-free panels and while there is, of course, some rust what there is appears to be largely superficial and limited in scope.

The chromework is largely straight but lightly pitted, and the rest of the trim is similarly faded but fundamentally solid and restorable.

The 15-ich wire wheels are painted rather than chromed (a move we applaud, by the way) and are in a decent condition. They’re also shod with matching Continental tyres, all of which have good tread as they’ve covered fewer than 1,000 miles since being fitted.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you an insight into their attitude towards maintenance.

The tan fabric roof is okay; functional, free of major damage and still reasonably weathertight, we can nonetheless see that a new one will make its way onto the new owner’s To Do list.

The tonneau cover is distinctly tatty too, but the side screens are good.

The red leatherette front seats have become soft with age and the covers are worn and ripped in places. Wonderfully patinated, sadly they’re beyond economic repair but the rear seats are in a better condition and could be saved.

The rest of the interior is in a similar condition; much of it needs refurbishment but a few bits and bobs such as the ivory faced Smiths dials could be saved and used as they are. Wonderfully, the passenger’s door card still features the original ‘Supplied by Elliott & Sons Motors Ltd of Bideford’ plate.

The carpets, on the other hand, are threadbare and, like a couple of the chaps in the office, beyond salvation. Yet, the front and rear red overmats with their black rubber Austin-badged heel protectors are, like your writer, wearing their years with an almost Eastwood-esque ease…

The boot floor and inner wings were replaced by a Healey specialist around 20 years ago. This might not sound very impressive but as the car has never seen rain since then the work has stood up very well indeed and these areas are still utterly solid.

There is an electrical isolator switch in the boot, which is not only a handy anti-theft measure but also makes long-term storage easier if you don’t have access to a trickle charger. There’s a spare wire wheel in there too, along with a length of wood to hold the boot lid open. The vendor assures us that both come with the car at no extra cost.

Oh, and it’s got the optional-at-the-time Smiths heater, which helps make it much more usable in the colder seasons.

Update 9th September: We have added a new photo showing the Engine Number plate secured to the cylinder block. This number matches the engine number stated on the Heritage Certificate.

The Healey is fitted with a brake servo, an alternator, and a pre-engaged starter motor, all of which help with the car’s everyday usability. Originality buffs will be delighted to hear that the original components are still with car.

The automatic electric choke has been converted to a manual switch; they never worked as they should, even when new, and this simple modification has, the owner tells us, transformed its cold weather starting. We’ve test-driven the car and can confirm that it starts on the button and settles into an even tickover.

It drives well and, as you can see in the video, shows good oil pressure. The clutch was fitted only four years ago, and the car has travelled minimal mileage since then.

The engine bay is serviceable but we can see that the winning bidder will want to spend some time tidying it up.

The underside of the Healey has had some remedial welding over the years, most notably at the rear where the repairs are effective and strong but perhaps a little crude in appearance.

Issues? Well, the overdrive switch isn’t working and the indicators can be intermittent.

The Austin Healey doesn’t have a current MOT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have the car re-MOT’d at the earliest. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The expired MOT certificates in the car’s history file appear to support the car’s recorded mileage.

It also has the original buff logbook, a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years, and a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate. It also comes with a box of spares plus two spare tyres and tubes. 

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

Your dream of owning an Austin-Healey 3000 is one that almost certainly stands up to rigorous financial scrutiny, too; while the price of the very best Austin-Healeys might have dropped in the past year from a high of £80,000 to around £70,000, it seems to have steadied now.

Which makes the guide price for this original, UK RHD example of £17,000 to £28,000 seem a bit of a bargain; the need for some cosmetic fettling, during which you’ll be adding value, helps make a compelling case - and that’s without factoring in the paltry interest you’re currently receiving from your savings account …

And remember, when the market falters it looks to cars it knows and loves, cars with a pedigree and mass-market appeal - and the British public holds few cars as close to its heart as this.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.