Survivor, DRIVER tri-carb with documentation and as-delivered details

1962 Austin Healey 3000 HBT7 Additional Info:

1962 Austin Healey 3000 MkII HBT7 Tri-Carb

One-owner driver and complete survivor

This 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 BT7 was born in September of 1961 and sold in December of ’62 for $3,300. Imported by Motor Sales Company of Detroit Michigan, it was delivered to Falvey Motor Sales Company for a young navy lieutenant and his wife. She later said the car was the equivalent to a year of her pay. In 1964 the couple moved to Virginia and then Houston in 1969, where it has stayed.

Tri-carbs are a “one year” model with three SU HS4 carburetors, vertical slates in the engine bay scoop & grill and 132 bhp. 5,451 Mk IIs were produced.

Parked in 1986 after a neighbor backed into it, she was spared 33 years of cut-corner repairs and wear and tear. Odometer shows 44,323. It was disconnected when found and I believe is not far off.

Today the car runs and drives. Close to 50 lbs. oil pressure at start and settles to 35# after 15 minutes. You can enjoy it now and tackle whatever you want over the winter.

There are a lot of pictures in a drop box folder:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/llgtoryitjqtc6p/AABUrBGpNDqofNKwJkvnGZvaa?dl=0

She matches the included factory window card, sales documentation and BMC maintenance covenant: Colorado Red over red interior, four-speed manual transmission, side shifter, Laycock overdrive, 60-spoke wheels, tonneau cover, black soft top and side curtains with bag.

Extreme effort was taken to preserve originality and serviceable parts. It’s a driving barn find. Because of the emphasis on correctness and completeness, this car is a top-pick for restoration and its condition is unusually sound. The only missing pieces are the spark plug spanner and tommy-bar. Tool bag and battery covers are original vinyl.

Lights, gauges, switches, parking brake, + earth and overdrive work. Literally the only needed repair is a leaky heater core and the + battery cable has a modern pinch-clamp instead of the lead "helmet" with screw that taps into the battery post.

She has a dent in the left front fender and some rust. Documented in pictures, rust is in the areas in front of both rear wheels—around the pillar, sill and triangular gussets. Pans are solid and many pictures document condition.

The original paint is very worn and hides no surprises. Primer I assume is pre-'85.If any major body repair was made along the way, surely, it would be popping-out by now. I believe the paint condition is a big plus for someone looking for the right Healy to restore to his standards.

In 1971 an aftermarket hardtop was ordered; correspondence with Parrish Plastics is included. Original owner was the president of the regional AH club and active in national events. A file drawer of documentation, receipts, old catalogues, magazines and fun stuff comes with this Healey. Plus a small mountain of parts and spares.

Nearly 150 pictures available. They accurately represent this car and its details. Healey owners will find this car a valuable documentation resource. Please let me know if additional pictures are desired; tell me precisely what you are exploring. Lift shots difficult at this point.

Documentation, bringing car back to life and known condition/issues:

Engine

· Engine number matches sales documentation; no signs of being out of the car

· Pan dropped, cleaned and gasket replaced before first start

· Harmonic balancer re-built by Dampner Dudes; new Woodruff key installed

· Cylinders lubricated and hand-turned for two weeks before starting

· Oil flushed multiple times

· Distributor cleaned and greased

· New and correct spark plugs, wires, condenser and distributor cap

· New valve cover gasket

· Original oil filter housing retained

· Exhaust down-pipes replaced; new exhaust gaskets installed; copper nuts used

· New upper and lower motor mount bushings

· Valves set to factory specifications

· Not a rebuilt engine - engine rear seal leaks and oil pressure drops to 35 at operating temperature.

Fuel

· New gas tank

· New sending unit

· New tank seal to floor (poor quality reproduction)

· Original 12V pump rebuilt by SU Fuel Pump

· Inline fuel filter added before carbs; adapter made, original fittings remain intact.

Carbs

· Rebuilt, re-plated and bench tuned; worth the $1,000 as it started like it should

· Correct linkage pieces refurbished – all linkage pieces are present

· Correct air cleaners refurbished and painted in hammertone

· Pivot busing replaced

· Tuned like they should be

· Includes the three rare carb vent tubes, although one is heat damaged

· Tri-carbs are warm natured; cold starts are not crisp.

Cooling

· Cooling passages flushed extensively

· Radiator cleaned

· New water pump and gasket installed

· New fan belt

· New hoses

· Correct wire-type hose clamps; I hate el-cheapo clamps!

· By-passed the heater as the core leaks; easy winter project

· Two heater taps included – one sealed in the open position and one sealed closed.

Transmission

· Replaced transmission master cylinder, original retained

· New slave cylinder, original retained

· New slave cylinder hose

· New transmission mounts

· Fluid flushed several times

· Overdrive works; 60 mph is about 2,400 in fourth gear

· Not rebuilt transmission – leaks and first gear/second gear synchros worn; these boxes were not designed for speed shifting.

Brakes

· Replaced brake master cylinder, original retained

· Cleaned and resealed brake fluid reservoir

· Changed brake fluid with Dot 3; flushed several times

· Rebuilt original calipers

· New brake pads

· New front brake hoses

· New rear brake hose

· Replaced rear brake cylinders, originals retained

· Replaced brake shoes

· Backing plates removed, cleaned and painted

· Adjusted rear brakes

· Adjusted parking brake

· Brakes are so-so – new shoes are not bedded and need more miles; original rotors are glazed and could use a clean-up turn.

Electric

· Original Union FP 664 ignition/bonnet key (remember doors did not lock)

· Original generator rebuilt

· Original starter rebuilt

· New 12V battery; car retains + earth

· Long cable has the lead helmet; modern short cable has pinch clamp

· Fabricated battery hold-down mimics stock (el cheapo catalog ones flex)

· Rebuilt cut-off switch; used original knob (secure car with switch in the locked boot)

· Cleaned grounds, fuses and electrical contacts

· Replaced missing ground strap by clutch slave cylinder; amazing how much better she runs!

· Sacrificial offering made to Lucas, Prince of Darkness; wiring harness smoke retained…

· No burns or patches in entire wiring harness

· Original two Lucas fuses remain in faithful service

· Original Lucas Beehive orange front turn signals remain; gaskets replaced

· Original Lucas Beehive red brake lights remain; gaskets replaced

· Dash lights are not of all the same intensity; mismatched bulbs remain; good winter project.

Steering

· Steering wheel replaced

· Original center cap retained

· Steering column filled with oil

· Turn signal switch repaired and works/cancels like it should.

Suspension

· New sway bar bushings

· New end link bushings

· Original front lever shocks rebuilt by World Wide Auto Parts

· Bump stops replaced

· Inner and outer front wheel bearings replaced; tapered bearings used

· Original rear lever shocks rebuilt by World Wide Auto Parts

· One rear suspension travel-stop box replaced

· King pins could stand a rebuild; left one has a 32nd or two of play.

Differential

· New fluid; flushed a few times

· Hub seals replaced

· Rear hubs balanced by Hendrix Wheel

· Not rebuilt differential leaks at the front seal and drain plug; nice winter project.

Wheels

· As-delivered new, original production 60 spoke wheels (these are not new manufacture wheels)

· I bought two complete sets and chose the best five for restoration

· Hendrix Wheel trued wheels.

Tires

· Five B F Goodrich 590-15 by-ply tires and tubes

· Wheels/tires balanced by Hendrix Wheel

· The car works nice on these correct-sized tires; look so much better than Vredesteins…

Interior/upholstery

· Complete interior present, but in rough shape (great for documentation and correct reassembly)

· Seats split and ripped

· Carpet dry rotted; perfect for templates

· Steel transmission tunnel cover present and in great shape

· Drivers’ floor carpet has the Austin rubber foot mat sewn on upside-down; I believe this is as delivered

· Everflex Tonneau cover – seams splitting, but no rips;

· Tonneau cover has original support rail and stiffener set/ribs

· Tonneau cover zipper handle – look for the picture; you’ll like it more than the reproductions

· Original soft top frame – unbent and has nice paint

· Original Everflex soft top cover present with all hardware; was rolled up and stored in an attic for many years

· Original top bow, retaining rail and clamps

· All Tenax fasteners and body studs present

· Complete and original Armacord and cardboard present in the trunk – looks as good as the pictures represent

· Dash pad is dry rotted

· New steering wheel, original center cap retained, turn signals work as they should

· Parrish Plastics hardtop added in 1971; correspondence and shipping paperwork included

· Hardtop has Plexiglas rear window; no scratches, but cloudy. I believe it can be polished.

· Hardtop came with el cheapo hardware; documented in photos

· Hardtop is longer and does not ride on rear cockpit aluminum trim; paint chafing is present.

Body

· Frame show no signs of damage, rust or splitting seams

· Paint has issues, but mostly original

· Extras include an old pint of Colorado Red lacquer – I bet it would spray for touch up and blending! Please keep single stage paint!

· Hood in fantastic shape; all Austin Healey badges and trim present

· Front aluminum shroud in fantastic shape – no signs of shape damage

· Front apron in fantastic shape

· Right front bumper bracket is a reproduction; all other brackets appear original

· Front and rear bumpers are true

· Left front fender has a large dent

· Right front fender has a notable scratch

· Left door is very solid and operates as it should

· Right door is very solid; latch sticks a bit

· Rear fenders have rust in area in front of the rear wheels – well documented in photos

· Rocker panels – rust clearly documented on outside

· Primer is pre-1985; if there were larger issues, it would be popping out by now

· Underside is solid through and through

· Rear shroud is aluminum and is very solid; no signs of notable damage

· Boot lid – solid and operates as it should; all badges and trim present

· Trunk floor – not rusty, but minor damage/stretching where it attaches to the aluminum rear shroud; I suspect bottoming out or a jack slip

· Floor pans – I have found no rust present; documented in pictures and ask me for more pictures.

Extras

· A lot of the original sales paperwork is present

· Original Healey shop manual, service manual and BMC service coupon book – see in photos

· Many receipts from when the car was new

· Lots of small parts and extras

· Several new maintenance parts and items from rejuvenation

· I’m loving/driving it and will change the oil & filter before the sale ends.

OdOdds and Ends

· Test drives available for qualified buyers.

· I expect that both of us will be careful if a sale happens and will use judgement, best practices and legitimate funding.

· No PayPal or credit cards; cash or bank wire must be received before car is delivered.

· I will be accessible for buyer’s checks by you or a third party.

· 10% due within 72 hours of sale by bank check or wire.

· Full payment must be received by bank check or wire within 10 days or 10% forfeited.

· Car must be picked up within two weeks or all payments will be forfeited.

· If we are both being earnest, honest and accommodating, all of these can be updated at my discretion as I understand that life happens, car haulers run behind and everyone is busy.

O

On Sep-18-19 at 20:28:57 PDT, seller added the following information:

9/18/2019 Update - I have had a few questions about matching numbers--she is a numbers matching car. I have collaborating pictures of:

• Original window sheet
• Statement of Motor Vehicle Sale
• Motor Sales Company paperwork
• BMC Maintenance Covenant with details recorded
• Engine tag
• Firewall tag