Description
The Austin-Healey 3000 is the best known of the "Big Healey" models built from 1959. Almost 90% of the cars were exported, mostly to North America. The 3-litre Healey was a highly successful car which won its class in many European rallies in its heyday and is still raced in classic car competitions by enthusiasts.
The car has a 6 cylinder, 2912cc engine with twin SU carburettors producing 136 - 150bhp with a top speed of 112mph. Overdrive in 2, 3, 4. Front disk brakes.
The Mark III (BJ8) has become the most sought after model and was launched in October 1963 and cost £1, 362.
This car is the first generation of MkIII - Phase 1, of which there were only 1, 302 cars produced, with about 108 registered in the UK.
BBH 820B ’s HISTORY
This BJ8 was assembled at the Abingdon factory in April 1964 as a UK model and first registered to a buyer in London for one of it’s company directors. It was soon involved in an accident badly damaging the side of the car so that it was taken off the road by 1966, and then sold in 1967.
Bob Faulkner who ran an engineering company bought the car. He repaired the damage and put the car back on the road with it reregistered as TUD 186G. Bob has confirmed that he only used it infrequently for "special occasions" before putting it storage where it sat for many years. At some point the roof of the workshop it was stored in came down with the ceiling resting on the car windscreen preventing further access to the car. In 1998 it was finally sold as a restoration project, having only been driven about 12, 000 miles.
The car remained off the road as a pending project for more than a decade until Paul Davis (ex. CEO TWR Jaguar) acquired the car. The body was removed and stripped to bare metal with the rebuild completed by mid 2013 returning the car to it’s original form and colour - Colorado Red (full photographic record available) by one of his ex-team mechanics. MOT records show that the mileage at that time was 12, 870. When the car went back on the road it was reassigned its original registered of BBH 820B. The car was inspected and verified by the Austin Healey Club, and granted a Historic Vehicle certificate. Most recently a new stainless exhaust and rear springs have been fitted.
Investigations indicate that this car has barely covered 20, 000 miles to date largely because it has been in storage pending renovations for much of it’s life. The car has been very well setup handling beautifully, with strong brakes and a smooth gearchange. A real joy to drive and in excellent condition following the restoration and ongoing routine maintenance keeping it in top condition. Several iles of receipts and documentation to validate work done on the car.
