2007-10-28 07:55:30 | pauls writes:

Ebay item 10/28/07
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Austin-Healey-3000-MKII-BT7-1962-Austin-Healey-3000-MKII ...
Current bid $20,100, no reserve, 4 bids, 6 days left in auction.

Sellers description:
1962 Austin Healey 3000 MK II, BT7 Rust Free Desert Dweller!!

This fine example of the Great partnership between the Donald Healey Motor Company and Austin motorworks appears to have spent most of it’s 45 years in the Western US.

The British Motor Industry Heritage certificate notes the car was built 22 December 1961-- 10 January 1962, (one of 5096 BT7’s built between 6/61 and 6/62) and was dispatched to Los Angeles, USA on 30 January 1962. The certificate also confirms that the original numbers assigned to the automobile are still in existence today—i.e. all numbers match. Unfortunately, the certificate is silent on the matter of carburetion, but many BT7’s were Tri-Carbs, and we suspect this one was as well. It is also known that Dealers sometimes would switch intake manifolds from tri-carb to dual carbs if a customer requested.

It lived in El Paso, TX for at least 10-15 years before it was purchased in 2002, and moved 50 miles north to Las Cruces, NM. We know, therefore that it has lived in the high desert of West Texas /Southern NM for at least the past 20 years. Cars generally don’t deteriorate due to rust in this area of the world, as we complain of any relative humidity reading of more than 20% as a “humid “Day. The Sun, on the other hand is murder on paint, and interiors, which is why it is important to relate that the car has been garaged for it’s known history in this area.

I will attempt to describe the car as if I were a prospective buyer, looking at the flaws as well as the good points, and have included pictures of some of the details that I would want to see if I were looking to buy.

Now, with apologies to Clint Eastwood, here’s the Good, The Bad, and the Ugly:

I would describe the overall condition as a Rust-Free driver—Total Mileage is unknown, and Paint is fair to good, looks good from 10 ft, but is at least 10 years old, and has some chips and flaws. Body panels and frame rails are straight, door gaps are good, no evidence of collision damage, only one dent is evident—on top of left front wing. Engine runs Strong—no smoke or mechanical noises. Compression readings are 130 lbs in all cylinders except #4 and 6, which read 140 lbs. Here is the list of items replaced or rebuilt in past couple of years: Generator, Water pump, Carburetor kits, Radiator, Front seat upholstery, new Stainless steel Exhaust system, spin-on oil filter adapter, plastic flex fan, and new brakes. Finally, the rear differential ratio was changed a couple of years ago, from the factory 3.9:1 to it’s current 3.54:1—this is a major improvement to the Healeys for touring—drops the engine RPM by 700-900 at cruising speeds (70 to 80).

The Overdrive engages fine 95% of the time, but occasionally does not unless switch is cycled a few times. Given the symptoms, I suspect electrical problem, but have not traced or repaired. The original trafficator/horn assembly has parts missing, and is inoperable. The previous owner installed a directional switch and aftermarket horn button under dash, so signals and horn work, but not through the steering wheel assembly. Included with the car is a complete trafficator/horn assembly and wiring harness, which I procured, intending to install in a new wooden steering wheel----never got around to it. Speedometer is inoperable —Cable turns, so speedometer needs cleaning/refurbishing. As you can see from pictures, the soft top is in very good shape, the side curtains have all required hardware, the plexiglass is clear, and the Tonneau is also in very good condition. Included with the car is The original 3.9:1 Ring and Pinion Differential Gears, The Original canister oil filter housing, and the trafficator/horn button and wiring harness previously mentioned.

Finally, to answer the burning question, why are we selling? Because I recently purchased a 66 BJ8, which in some respects, is not in as good condition as this car, but does have the added “creature” comforts of roll-up windows, and convertible top that stays on the car. Can’t afford to keep both, even though I would like to. Repair and restoration $$ get spread too thin over too many cars.

The only other information I need to add is that the car is titled as a 1967 rather than 62---all other numbers match, so I don’t know why, but would guess that a near-sighted Motor vehicles clerk somewhere along the way typed 67 instead of 62. When I transferred title from Texas to NM, I did not attempt to correct this, even though we have the British Motor Industry Heritage “Birth Certificate” for the car, clearly showing it’s build and export dates in 1961-62. I would think it would be a simple matter for the new owner to get this corrected when transferring title, by submitting a copy of the British Heritage certificate.

Original color was "Healey blue" with Blue interior--as documented on the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate.