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1960 Austin-Healey 3000 (BT7)

Sold Price

£21,440

  • Mileage~64,477
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine3.0L
  • LocationWarwick

SOLD

1960 Austin-Healey 3000 (BT7)

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Introduction

Glyn Parry
Professional Consigner and Photographer

Celebrated for its timeless design and raw, unfiltered driving thrill - an enduring icon of British motoring brilliance.

The Austin-Healey 3000 is a quintessential British sports car, embodying the spirit of open-air motoring with a perfect blend of performance, style, and driving engagement. As part of the "Big Healey" lineup, the BT7 was the next in line from the 100/6, updating the model with a more refined, yet still raw and exciting, driving experience. Powered by a robust 3.0 litre straight-six engine producing ~124BHP the BT7 offers spirited acceleration and a throaty exhaust note that thrilled enthusiasts.

With its distinctive long-hood, short-rear-deck proportions and sleek, flowing lines, the 3000 BT7 added improved brakes and handling over its predecessor, making it a favourite in rallying and endurance racing, further cementing its status as a motorsport icon.

This example comes to market from almost ~2 years with our vendor, and an MOT valid until 29th July 2025. It comes with the heritage certificate and has been extensively restored to bring it back to its former glory, along with some modifications and upgrades.

This listing was written from information supplied by Glyn having visited and photographed the vehicle, and information from the seller David.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I love these Big Healeys, and I've been lucky enough to own more than a couple!

David has been the owner of this stunning Austin-Healey 3000 for the past ~2 years. The car was imported from the USA where it then caught the current owner's eye, "I was on the hunt for a car that I could re-commission and transform into a proper classic rally machine - something that started as a blank canvas but had the right pedigree". He tells more about the past history spent with the Healey, "As you can see from the restoration photos, this Healey was built up from the shell and drivetrain, a true labor of love".

The car comes to market with us as the new owner had the opportunity to get his hands on a BT7. Should you have any questions about the car, David would be happy to answer these in the comments section below.

David
Vehicle Owner

David saved £3,780* when they
sold their Austin Healey with us.

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Exterior

Renowned for its rallying pedigree, the BT7 is a true enthusiast’s favourite - loved for its timeless design, raw charm, and exhilarating open-top experience.

Wheels and Tyres

The 3000 is set on 15" black 70-spoke wire wheels. These are in great condition with very minor marks and overall look really smart. The style of the wheel compliments the race feel for the car really well. The spinners show some tarnishing to the finish which would benefit from some light restoration.

The wheels are fitted with a set of Coker Classic tyres all round. The condition of tyres looks good overall with no obvious cracking or concerning signs of wear. Please take a look at the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior of this Austin-Healey and a closer look at the wheels and tyres.

Bodywork

Having benefitted from a full restoration the bodywork overall shows in good condition. Looking over the car, we found no major dings or marks noted. Both doors and bonnet and boot open and close well without concern.

We did find that some of the panels gaps weren't fitting true and there were mis-alignments in some of the joining edges as pictured, some fettling for the new owner to look in to.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view at what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Finished in red, the coverage is respectable across the car with no noted differences in colour. There were a couple of minor stone chips towards the front of the car, and some imperfections to the finish on the base of the door sills, but nothing overly concerning.

Again, we have taken high resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the bodywork for yourselves. The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

Windscreen section and mirrors all appear in good condition and we could see no sign of chips on the main glass sections.

The seals, badges and light sections to the front and rear look great around the exterior and in line with the rest of the condition of the car.

Interior

Classic and charming, the compact cabin is back to basics but delivers everything the driver needs for the road ahead.

Seats and Carpets

The seats are finished with black leather with the material looking smart across all the seats. Both front and rear seats in the car look to be in good condition with only minor sign of wear across the sections - overall, this was a well presented interior.

Looking over the carpet sections, the mats showed to be in good condition, and looking underneath these, the main floor sections showed without concern. Checking over the boot, it displayed well.

We've captured high-resolution photos and a full interior video tour through the car. This covers off the angles inside the car for you to review and appreciate the condition of what's on offer here in our interior review section.

Dashboard

Clean and without fuss, the black dash appears in great shape with no issues or scratches to report. The top of the dash presents well and without splits or cracking to this section. Mileage counter showed with ~64,477 miles at the time of our visit. We noted there were a few sections of trim missing from the cabin area, but nothing that presented a real concern.

We noted no issues with any warning lights and the oil pressure, oil temp, fuel gauge and volt meter were all functioning without concern, however the tachometer and speedometer weren't working on our drive, they will need some investigation.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

A well presented Moto-Lita 3-spoke steering wheel shows in good condition without major signs of wear. The central Austin badge is a nice addition.

The same can be said for the 4-speed gearstick which shows no visible signs of major wear or damage, and presents in good condition along with its gaiter surround. We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

Mechanics

The 3.0L straight-six engine propelled the Healey from 0-60MPH in just ~11 seconds - a solid performance for a car from the 1960s.

Engine and Gearbox

Starting the car up from cold showed no issues and it drives without concern with its manual gearbox transferring the power to the rear wheels nicely. The engine was rebuilt as part of the ground up restoration, as pictured in the history section.

The engine bay showed in good shape and we noted no signs of oil leaks or anything unwanted in this area. The 3000 functions very well and goes through the gears without any issue. We heard no signs of slipping or any other issues with the clutch. We took the car on a short drive and go into further detail about the Austin-Healey, take a look at the the mechanical review video to see the detail and the car in action.

Suspension and Brakes

On the drive out around some local roads, we heard no unwanted knocks, bangs or noise from the suspension, it provided an enjoyable journey. Looking underneath the car, the condition shows well being a restored example.

The brakes felt to have no pull or vibrations that stood out to us when on the journey and brought the car to a stop without a problem and with the kind of stopping power you'd expect. Overall the car performed as to be expected with no observed issues. Please take a look over the mechanical videos and photographs to see close-up images from under the car.

The Drive

Behind the wheel, the BT7 delivers exactly what you’d expect from a proper Healey - raw, responsive, and full of spirit. The throaty inline-six engine provides a smooth yet exhilarating ride, while the handling keeps you engaged with the road.

With its distinctive exhaust note under acceleration, it’s a car that constantly reminds you it’s built for driving enthusiasts who crave both performance and character. A true blend of power, precision, and classic motoring spirit.

Electrics and Other

As a 60s classic, the electrical setup is simple and straightforward. David let us know that he has had no issues with the electrical elements on the car and to the best of his knowledge, everything was working as it should do except the tachometer and speedometer which may need some investigation.

The car looks to have been used in historic racing in America, as evidenced by mounting points for a roll cage and harnesses, and the upgraded dashboard.

History and Paperwork

With race inspired upgrades, a ground up restoration in America, and over ~£10,000 spent on updates over the past ~10 years, this Big Healey is one for a new owner to fettle and enjoy at the same time.

Having benefitted from extensive restorative work over its life, the USA imported Healey has had a ground up rebuild from its shell and drive train. As part of the previous works, the 3000 is fitted with 70-spoke wheels, 2-inch SU carburettors, and a four-branch stainless exhaust, all adding to its character. It comes to market after almost ~2 years with David, it has a heritage certificate and a current MOT valid until 29.07.2025.

At some point in its past life, the Austin-Healey had seen some racing or rally action, as evidenced by the roll cage mountings, harness fittings, and the dashboard setup for a Heuer Rally Master and Halda Twinmaster.

Several upgrades have been carried out on the Austin over the past few years, some of these works have included; Guide, slide and support plates, bonnet catch, prop and release rods, bonnet badge, speedometer cable, sender unit, rally over-rider which were all replaced in 2024.

A servo non return valve, handbrake linkage spring, speedometer cable, were changed in 2023. Gasket cylinder head, oil pressure pipe, drive plate, wheel cylinders, rear brake shoes, alternator kit, throttle cable, fuel pressure regulator, condenser, valve springs and timing chain were updated in 2022. Brake servo kit, sidelight switch, ignition switch and barrel, piston ring, fuel pump kit, big end bearing set and gasket set were all replaced in 2021.

David told us there is an opportunity to acquire an 'Abingdon works' registration UJB 121 (reflecting race/ rally cars UJB 141-143) which is on retention.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
30.07.2024 MOT 64,459
Key Details
  • Model3000 (BT7)
  • TransmissionManual
  • Reg. Date01.01.1960
  • First UK Reg. Date01.01.2021
  • CC3,000
  • Mileage~64,477
  • HistoryGood
  • ColourRed
  • Interior ColourBlack
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #H-BT7-L/9440
  • Engine #29D/RU/H22816
  • RestoredYes
  • Engine RebuildYes
  • MOTYes. Exp 29.07.2025
  • MOT ExemptYes
  • Road Tax ExemptYes
  • HPi ClearYes
  • Former Keepers1 Registered in UK
  • Tyre TreadGood
  • Tyre BrandCoker Classic
  • # of Keys2
  • LHD or RHDLHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~1 year, 10 months
  • Key FeatureRestored example
  • Auction ID2588







Vehicle Sold

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Ask Questions
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6 Comments
lebourbet
lebourbet
20 days ago

Hi David
Can you answer a few questions please before I bid.
Early in the description it says the tacho and Speedo work, but they didn’t in the road test. Do they work and if not which end is the problem? E.g do the cables revolve as they should?
Does it have a roof of any sort, hard or soft top?
A tonneau?
Is it points or electronic ignition?
Standard starter?
Original Su fuel pump?
Are they definitely 2″ carbs and not the standard 1.75?
Many thanks
Albert

lebourbet
lebourbet
  David
17 days ago

Thank you Daisymay. I will wait to hear from you. If you take an air filter off and measure the carb inlet diameter, it will be 2 inches or 1.75.

lebourbet
lebourbet
  David
16 days ago

Thank you David
Can you confirm if the hood and bumpers are included in the sale and are the bumpers in good condition?
Regards
Albert

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Vehicle Location

Warwick

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