The “Big Healey” underwent continuous development over its 11 year production run, transitioning from the four-cylinder models to the 100-6 in 1956, followed by the introduction of the first 3000 series in 1959. Production ceased at the end of 1967 after 42,926 had been made, of which 17,712 were MKIIIs.
The most powerful and luxurious version was the 3000 MKIII BJ8, released in October 1963 and later updated (Phase 2) in May 1964. The Phase 2 cars featured a new chassis design for improved ground clearance, an enhanced rear suspension system and modifications to the bodywork, enhancing the car's overall road presence. In late 1964 twin indicators were introduced providing for the final production specification, where the cars were in their most refined format.
In classic Duotone Ice Blue over Old English White, this stunning example of the last of the “Big Healeys”, comes with a British Motor Industry Heritage Certificate. Manufactured on 2-3 February 1967, it was built as a LHD North America export car, where it remained until being bought back to the UK by Healey experts Murray Scott-Nelson.
The Healey was acquired in 2007 as a rolling chassis and underwent a professional ground up restoration, completed in 2021. Works carried out included extensive body, chassis, interior, electrical and mechanical restoration, including a full engine, carburettors, gearbox, suspension and brakes rebuild. The car has travelled less than 400 miles since completion. The documented history file contains over a hundred invoices totalling approximately £24k for parts and specialist work, excluding labour. Additionally, a comprehensive photographic record of around 200 images showcases the car before, during, and after the restoration, accompanied by a detailed five-page written summary.
What makes this car even more special, is that with less than 200 miles driven, the car has been subject to circa £50,000 worth of upgrades since 2023, to turn it into the incredible fast road spec example it is today. All upgrade works were carried out by renowned Healey specialists JME Healey.
Upgrades include a Denis Welch Motorsport fast road cylinder head and camshaft, with fast flow inlet manifolds, tubular manifolds and side exit exhaust system. It has also been fitted with a high torque starter motor and electronic ignition. A Fosseway Performance front discs and calliper kit, significantly improves braking and cooling has been upgraded to a large core aluminium radiator with additional thermostatically controlled electric fan. The gear box has been upgraded to a 5 speed box, the steering effort reduced with the addition of adjustable electric power steering and lighting improved, with the addition Inox spotlights. Finally, suspension front and rear has also been overhauled, with new rear springs and all bushes replaced.
The car's interior was completely retrimmed in leather by Aldridge Trimmers and it comes with all its weather gear that includes a brand new vinyl roof, hood cover and full tonneau cover.
Many original parts substituted by the upgrades have been retained and will come with the car on sale. These inculde, the cylinder head, gearbox, front and rear bumpers with overriders, all brackets and light fittings and original steering wheel. The gearbox and cylinder were both rebuilt as part of the restoration, completed in 2021 and have done less than 200 miles, bumpers and steering wheel are as new. The sum total of all additional parts that come with the car, including an additional set of brand new 72 spoke chrome wire wheels and tyres, have a value of over £12,000.
Being the most powerful and luxurious of all the Healey derivatives, the MKIII Phase 2 BJ8s have always been much sought after. This example, benefiting from a recent high quality restoration, featuring many significant upgrades as well as coming with a valuable selection of spares (included in the sale), is a stunning looking and fantastic driving car, that's ideal for touring, shows or just an invigorating summer’s day blast down a B road.
The Duotone Ice Blue and Old English White colour combination, really suit the lines of the Healey and is a much sought after colour combination.
As part of the ground up restoration, completed in 2021, the entire body and chassis were bare metal stripped, sanded, painted and lacquered giving it the uniform deep gloss shine, it still wears today. The history file documents the detailed work carried out including the addition of both an aluminium bonnet and boot lid (standard fitment would have been steel), to match the standard aluminium front and rear shrouds.
It's clear to see from the pictures that it's still stunning today, which is testament to the outstanding quality of workmanship carried out in its restoration. The panel fit and gaps are excellent throughout. All external trims, bumpers, door handles, windscreen frame etc. are mostly original items that have been re-plated. The Triplex windscreen and all glass are in exceptional order as is the new folding blue Vinyl roof fitted over the original hood frame that has been sandblasted and enamelled. Most of the lights are original Lucas.
Since the restoration and with a nod to Healey’s rallying heritage, the car has been de-bumpered front and back. Larger Inox driving lights mounted on custom made aluminium brackets, have replaced the standard bumper mounted spotlights. At the rear, the full bumper has been removed and just the overriders mounted, which we think provides for a much cleaner looking rear end. Both the front bumper carrying the original spotlights and full rear bumper, have been retained and will be come with the car on sale. Finally, the standard petrol cap has been replaced with a Monza style quick opening kind.
The luxurious and unique 3000 MarkIII BJ8 trim finished in fine blue leather, was completely reupholstered by Aldridge Trimming in Wolverhampton during the restoration. New deep pile carpets with Healey branded over mats were fitted and are in exceptional order as are the rich walnut trim dash, dash top, door cards and rear seating area side panels. Heat and sound deadening panels have been fitted to the floor pan and gearbox tunnel.
All original Smiths gauges have been rebuilt and work perfety, with crystal clear glass and showing no adverse signs of ageing or deterioration. The car was optioned with a heater when built, which was overhauled during the restoration, so works perfectly.
All lights and electrics work as they should with the additional Inox driving lights cleverly wired up, so as to be activated by the redundant overdrive switch on the dashboard.
A set of chrome quarterlight mounted overtaking mirrors come with the car, although not currently mounted.
The “pram framed” blue vinyl roof is as new, as is the matching hood, hood cover and full tonneau cover.
The fully detailed engine and engine bay houses the original and matching numbers 2912cc OHV 6-cylinder inline engine.
As part of the restoration completed in 2021, the engine was completely rebuilt by John Gibson Racing, Oldbury. In addition, the twin semi-downdraft 2 inch S.U.HD8 carburettors were fully rebuilt by Andrew Turner Carburettor Specialist, Lincolnshire. Finally, the gearbox was fully rebuilt by Klassic Transmission, Wolverhampton.
In 2023, the car was subject to a significant mechanical “fast road” upgrade programme costing over £44,000.
All works were carried out by JME Healey, following much advice/consultation, evidenced in email correspondence in the history file. The history file also contains all the relevant invoices pertaining to the mechanical upgrade works.
Upgrades include:
Denis Welch Motorsport fast road aluminium cylinder head
Denis Welch Motorsport fast road camshaft kit with DWR8 Camshaft
New timing chain and improved hydraulic chain tensioner
Uprated cylinder head studs
Oil seal rear main conversion kit
High Flow Inlet manifold
Sports air filter kit
Tubular exhaust manifold
Side exit exhaust customised to increase ground clearance
New water pump with deep v pulley
Spin on oil filter conversion
High torque starter motor
Upgraded large core radiator
Electric cooling fan on thermostatic switch
Electronic 123 programmable distributor
5 speed gearbox conversion (Toyota W58 – Supra)
EV adjustable electronic power steering
Suspension front and rear (slightly lowered at the front), has also been completely overhauled and all bushes replaced
Needless to say, the above investment has provided a very noticeable uplift in performance. Driveability has been enhanced with the addition of the 5 speed gear box, adjustable electric power steering and overhauled suspension. Overheating worries, the bane of many a 60s British sports car, is now a thing of the past and to cap it all, the soundtrack is incredible.
The original gearbox and cylinder head will come with the car on sale.
The 5 painted 72 spoke wire wheels and chrome spinners are in exceptional order. All matching quality Blockley 165 R15 Radial tyres are as new, having only covered a mere 388 miles since the restoration was completed.
In addition, the car comes with an additional set of 4, 72 spoke chrome wire wheels, fitted with matching set of Michelin 195/65 R15 tyres.
The original Power Assisted Girling Hydraulic disc front brake system, has been upgraded to a Fosseway Performance set-up. This includes lightweight 6082 aluminium four piston alloy calipers, fitted with EBC Green Stuff brake pads, stainless steel brake lines and vented 22mm discs, designed to bolt straight on to the front suspension upright. This upgrade package transforms the feel of these great cars and gives a reassuring level of braking, unknown until now.
The rear drums have been fully restored with new wheel cylinders and brake shoes. All brake pipes have been renewed with replaced with Kunifer or copper pipe and a new brake servo and master cylinder fitted.
The car comes with a hammer for the knock-off spinners, a spare wheel and jack.
As can be seen from the photos, the underside of the car is to show standard. The chassis having been sand blasted, etch primed, primed seam sealed and stone chipped then finally primed, top coated and lacquered.
As part of the pre-sales preparation process, all mechanical componentry on the car’s underside was painstakingly treated to multiple coatings of clear DINITROL automotive rust prevention and corrosion protection treatment, to provide for long-term protection. In addition, long lasting DINITROL underbody protection clear wax has been applied over the top of the underside’s existing painted and lacquered finish as well as the hard to access areas, such as inside the rear overriders, prop shaft tunnel, inner wings and wheel arches.
Finally, all chassis box sections and inner sills were subject to a comprehensive DINITROL ML cavity wax treatment.
All together, this provides for a further level of corrosion resistance which is long lasting and jet wash proof. This all adds up to a car that now has outstanding underbody protection from corrosion, typically unavoidable for cars driven on UK roads all year round.
The documented history folder, contains the registration document and clear MotorCheck report dated 09/07/2024. It also contains the certified copy of the factory records for the car, from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (“B.M.I.H.T”). In addition, correspondence from Murray Scott-Nelson, as a registered valuer for the Austin Healey Club, confirms the car to be genuine with its chassis number and body number plates matching the details on the B.M.I.H.T Heritage Certificate.
The documented history file also contains over a hundred invoices totalling circa £24k for parts and specialist work relating to the restoration, not including labour, up to 2021. Helpfully, the file also contains full photographic record of circa 200 images that documents the car before, during and after restoration along with a concise 5 page written summary.
All of the invoices for the upgrade parts and works carried out by JME Healey, as well as parts additional items such as, the Fosseway Performance brakes, set of chrome wire wheels, EV electric power steering and aluminium large capacity radiator, are also contained in the history file. In total, circa £50,000 has been spent since 2023 on the upgrades to the car.
Finally, the car comes with an Austin Healey 100/6 and 3000 MKI to III workshop manual and 2 sets of keys.
Whilst every effort has been taken to ensure accuracy of the vehicle descriptions and information, some inaccuracies may occur. It is important that you do not rely on this information but check with Montpellier Motor Cars Limited about any items which may affect your decision to buy this vehicle, as well as examine the vehicle and check the accuracy of the information before purchasing any vehicle. We cannot accept any liability arising from any errors in the data provided.
Whilst every effort is made to represent details accurately on our Web Site, variations or errors may occur and so the information contained herewith does not constitute an offer for sale of any particular vehicle, accessory or specification.
