1964 Austin Healey AH 3000 Mk III BJ8 Phase 2 Overdrive OD Running 64

1964 Austin Healey 3000 BJ8 Description

1964 Austin Healey 3000 Mark III BJ8

’64 Austin Healey 3000 Mark III (BJ8), with the Laycock de Normanville overdrive unit. Chassis number is 28100, and I think this makes it a ‘Phase Two’ BJ8.

History

I am selling this car for a friend who purchased it about eleven years ago from the U.S. At the time the car was represented as a solid driver. He did find it to be very good mechanically, driving it occasionally during his first three or four summers of ownership, at times getting it up to about 70 MPH on the highway without issue.

However, the seller quickly noticed that the car was not as solid underneath as he had been promised (see full description of rust in ‘Body’ section below), so when the brakes were in need of repair about seven years ago, he put it into storage in a heated warehouse and let it sit while he decided whether or not to restore it. He has now found a different project and wants to sell the Healey.

The car is currently as shown in the photos, all of which were taken onDecember 10, 2016. It is complete (except for part of the back seat), runs and drives (albeit with poor brakes), and comes with no loose parts save for a fifth spare wheel (pictured in gallery), some rough trunk carpeting and a modern aftermarket left-hand mirror (not pictured as it is currently off the car).

The car has no documented history prior to current owner’s purchase, save for the State of Illinois title that was provided to seller on purchase (this will likely be useful for re-importing the car to the USA if that is where it ends up). Current seller did minimal work to get it up and running (a new aftermarket exhaust system, tuning the SU carburetors, and other basic maintenance).

eBay only allows 24 photos in their listings, but a set of over 100 photos of the car all taken onDecember 10, 2016can be found on my Photobucket account at the following link:http://s1346.photobucket.com/user/tiga78/library/1964%20Austin%20Healey%203000?sort=3&page=1

High resolution photos and a short video of the car running are also available on request.

Since being parked in the warehouse about seven years, the carsatunused until earlier this month. At that point its fuel system was drained, fresh fuel added, it was fired up for a few 10-minute sessions, and driven out into the warehouse’s parking lot for the exterior photos in the gallery. In this month’s preparations, it has not been driven at any kind of speed.

Serial Numbers

See the included photos of all numbers listed below.

Chassis Number (present on data plate, and on Illinois title included with the car):HBJ8L / 28100

Body Number (present on firewall plate – there is a line of numbers of above it, but they are illegible):73019

Engine Number (present on left-hand side of block):29K / RU H2973

SU Carburetor Numbers:AUD 124F, and AUD 124R

Intake Manifold Casting Number:12B810 MOWOG

Cylinder Head Casting Number:AEC 960

Numbers on Radiator:AHB 8946, D 7103, and 646

Smiths Gauge Model Numbers (on faces of each gauge – the suffixes on the fuel and oil/water gauges were tough to read with the gauges mounted and are my best guess):

Speedometer (reads about 71K, worked when last driven at speed 6 years ago):SN 6125/22 1000

Tachometer (working now):RVI 2602/00

Fuel Gauge (working now):FG 2333/0

Oil/Water Gauge (working now):GD 1301/02

Body

Paint is definitely at least a couple of decades old, and fairly dull in spots. There are cracks and scrapes, as well as a few small dents. It looks like the right-hand front fender may be slightly pushed in by the headlight opening. Panel gaps are not great (especially on the driver’s side door).

The outer bodywork does not have rust or filler coming through, but has been painted at least once (it is silver/grey now, and there are signs of British Racing Green in the engine compartment and on the frame). There is not any significant rust showing at the welt/seam lines on the tops of the fenders.

There is a fair amount of surface rust on the undercarriage, and rust holes in the left-hand trunk area, rear of the right-hand rocker, and the left-front corner of the passenger compartment. See photo gallery for shots of the undercarriage detailing the rust situation. Current owner was thinking he would likely have replaced the frame with a reproduction if he had restored the car, but given where the worst of the corrosion seems to be (rockers/floors), this frame might be saveable. It may also be a candidate for patching in select spots if buyer wants it to be a patinated driver with its cosmetics left as-is.

All glass is intact.

Top frame operates as it should and top is intact, but has wear.

Brightwork is also intact with some wear. Front bumper is sitting off-kilter, but this looks more like an issue with one of the brackets than the bumper itself.

Mechanicals

Current owner has no details on any mechanical work the car would have received before he bought it, but the engine was running strong when he drove it for several summers, and still runs well after its seven-year slumber. Paintwork on certain pieces makes it look like the engine compartment probably received a restoration of some kind at some point.

After being started and run for about ten minutes in -20 degree Celsius weather, the engine was idling comfortably at 1,200 RPM with approximately 43 PSI of oil pressure per the gauge. A compression test was done shortly after, and all six cylinders registered consistent readings just below 150 (probably about 145).

Current seller reports that transmission and overdrive unit were shifting and working well when he drove it in the summers, but that was seven years ago. Recently, the transmission has been used to move the car in first gear and reverse gear for its photo shoot, but nobody was brave enough to take it for a test drive in Winnipeg’s winter conditions. Brakes will definitely need a rebuild. Battery may not be the proper spec, but is brand new and will be included with the car.

Interior

Interior is relatively complete and parts of its may be original, but current seller and I are not sure. The seats are relatively serviceable save for a small driver’s bolster tear and an even smaller tear on passenger seat, as are the door cards and dash top. The rear panel of the back seats is missing. All would probably be serviceable for a driver with some careful refurbishing. It would all need recovering/replacement for a restoration. Smiths gauges and original switchgear are all intact, and all gauges but the speedo are tested working. Radio’ speaker may be original, but the head unit looks like a ‘70s-‘80s replacement.

Wheels / Tires

Wire wheels and knockoffs are all present, the current seller did not notice any major vibrations when he drove the car at highway speeds 7+ years ago, and they have been sitting in heated storage since then. Tires were reportedly good to drive on back then, and have held air for the 7 years the car was in storage (albeit with a couple of them getting slightly low).

The fifth wire wheel in the trunk may have its original Michelin spare on it. It is untested, but looks good appearance-wise.

Logistics

Inspection:The car is located in a warehouse in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, a short distance away from the current seller’s home, but he is available to open the building for inspections on relatively short notice. Winnipeg is located about 60 miles north of the US border at Pembina, North Dakota, or if flying in, its international airport is an approximately 20-minute drive from the car’s location.

Payment:A non-refundable deposit of$2,000.00 USD must be made via Paypal within 24 hours of the auction’s close. Full payment via wire transfer or cash on pickup is required within 7 days of the auction’s close.

Shipping:Car will be sold with an Illinois title, a bill of sale from the previous owner to the current seller, all of the documentation from the car’s import to Canada, and a bill of sale from the current seller to you. If the buyer is Canadian and wishes to have a Canadian title, the current seller can also obtain a Manitoba Transfer of Ownership Document in his name and include it. Car needs to be picked up within 60 days of the auction’s close, and all shipping arrangements are the buyer’s responsibility.

Current seller is willing to assist buyer with loading the car if buyer picks the car up, or arranging the car to be flat-decked to a Winnipeg shipper of the buyer’s choosing.

Thanks for looking and good luck. The car is not advertised anywhere else, so as long as it meets its reserve (which is well under $15,000), it will sell on eBay.

On Dec-19-16 at 21:04:53 PST, seller added the following information:

I have heard from the keeper of the BJ8 Registry, who notes the following:
1) He confirms that the car is in the Registry, and notes that the VIN, body and engine numbers are correct for a Phase 2 BJ8. The engine number is actually 29K / RU H2873, as opposed to 29K / RU H2973 as quoted in the ad (I reviewed the engine tag again today, and it does read /H2873).
2) The body has several external pieces/features found on Phase 1 BJ8's(front and rear light configuration, exterior door handles, upper driver's door hinge, both passenger door hinges, and rear view mirror).
3) The nose emblem on the car now is from a pre-3000 Healey.
4) He has suggested I attempt to locate a VIN stamping on the RH front shock absorber mount. I looked at the car today and took a couple of photos of the area; these are now added to the Photobucket album. It looks like the area has been painted, however, and I have been unable to make out any numbers. If anyone would like to come out, I would be happy to arrange in-person inspections before the auction's close.