The Austin Healey 3000 was a “Big Healey”. That was the name given to the MK1, 2 and 3 versions of the 3000 and also to their predecessor the Austin Healey 100. They were big and brutish ( though actually only an inch or two bigger than the Triumph TR models and the “big” name was really intended to separate them from the Austin Healey Sprites.)
The 3000 was built between 1959 and 1967.jenson Motors made the bodywork and the car was then assembled next to the MG models built at the BMC MG plant at Abingdon. It was targeted at an American market with big fast open roads. ( in 1963 91.5% of 3000s produced were sold in the USA ! )
The Austin Healey 3000 was a successful Rally car. It did well in many European rallies and almost got Timmo Makinen winning the British Rally championship.
Austin Healey Development History
1959: Austin-Healey 3000 goes on sale with a vertically slatted grille and two-seater (BN7) or 2+2 (BT7) options. Wire wheels and overdrive are optional.
1961: 3000 MkII arrives with a new grille, revised bonnet air intake, fresh badging and triple 1 ¼-inch SU carburettors. The latter would be replaced by twin SUs within a year, with the introduction of the BJ7.
1962: 3000 gets a curved windscreen, wind-up windows and a folding hood. Unofficially known as the MkIIa, there’s also extra soundproofing and the engine reverts to 3000 MkI spec: two SU HS6 1 ¾-inch carbs and a revised camshaft. Options include a brake servo, wire wheels, heater and overdrive.
1964: 3000 MkIII appears with a walnut dash, 2-inch SUs, separate indicators front and rear plus a new camshaft. The exhaust is rerouted with two silencers under the nearside sill, there’s a stronger clutch and a brake servo is now standard.
The name 3000 comes from the C-series engine that powered the car. This was modified through each of the 3 versions of the car which lifted the power available from 124 bhp in the mark 1 to 132 bhp in the mark 2 and finally up to 150bhp in the mark 3 version. Rally specials had finer tuning and had even higher power trains.
The first versions had a claimed top speed of 115 mph and could get from 0-60 in 11.7 seconds. Mind you for this you were stuck with a car that only gave 21.6 mpg. (But who cared back then ?)
If you were a real petrol head in those days and you wanted people to know that you took your driving seriously, the Austin Healey 3000. Mind you it was also a beautiful car to look at and turned heads everywhere it went.
Austin Healey Videos
Austin Healey Mk3 by Autoblog
Austin Healey Mk4 Review
Austin Healey Post War Development by King Rose Archives