Austin-Healey 3000
Encyclopedia
The Austin-Healey 3000 is a British sports car
built from 1959 to 1967, and is the best known of the "big" Healey models. The car's bodywork was made by Jensen Motors
, and the vehicles were assembled at the BMC
Abingdon works.
The 3000 was a successful car which won its class in many European rallies in its heyday, and is still used in competition by enthusiasts today.
engine, with twin SU carburetors and Girling front disc brake
s. It was only referred to as the Mark I after the Mark II was released, previously only being known as the 3000. Wire wheels, overdrive gearbox, a laminated windscreen, a heater, an adjustable steering column, a detachable hard top and two tone paint were all available as options.
The original 3000 was built from March 1959 to March 1961 and has model designation BT7 MkI (4-seat version) and BN7 MkI (2-seater).
13,650 were made (2,825 BN7 MkI, and 10,825 BT7 MkI).
A BT7 3000 with hardtop and overdrive tested by The Motor
magazine in 1960 had a top speed of 115 mph (185.1 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 11.7 seconds. A fuel consumption of 21.6 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1326 including taxes.
A 3000 MkII BT7 with hardtop and overdrive tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1961 had a top speed of 112.9 mph (181.7 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 10.9 seconds. A fuel consumption of 23.5 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1362 including taxes.
11,564 were made (355 BN7 MkII, 5,096 BT7 MkII, and 6,113 BJ7).
-veneer dash, wind-up windows, and a 150 hp engine. Improvements to the engine included a new camshaft and valve springs, and twin SU 2" HD8 carburetors, together with a new design of exhaust system. Servo-assisted brakes were now fitted as standard. Only 2+2 seat versions were made. Option extras were similar to those offered for the MkII, the main change being that the standard interior trim was now Ambla vinyl, with leather seats being added to the list of options.
In May 1964 the Phase II version of the MkIII was released, which had a modified rear chassis to allow rear ground clearance to be increased, and subsequently, in March 1965 the car also gained separate indicators.
17,712 were made.
(USA
), Le Mans
(France), and Mount Panorama Circuit
, Bathurst
(Australia). The BMC competitions department successfully rallied the 3000 from its introduction, but the development of the works cars effectively ended in 1965, mainly because of the success of the Mini Cooper 'S'.
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
built from 1959 to 1967, and is the best known of the "big" Healey models. The car's bodywork was made by Jensen Motors
Jensen Motors
Jensen Motors Ltd was a British manufacturer of sports cars and commercial vehicles, based in the Lyng – West Bromwich...
, and the vehicles were assembled at the BMC
British Motor Corporation
The British Motor Corporation, or commonly known as BMC was a vehicle manufacturer from United Kingdom, formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation in 1952...
Abingdon works.
The 3000 was a successful car which won its class in many European rallies in its heyday, and is still used in competition by enthusiasts today.
Mk I
The original Austin Healey 3000 has a 2912 cc I6Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
engine, with twin SU carburetors and Girling front disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s. It was only referred to as the Mark I after the Mark II was released, previously only being known as the 3000. Wire wheels, overdrive gearbox, a laminated windscreen, a heater, an adjustable steering column, a detachable hard top and two tone paint were all available as options.
The original 3000 was built from March 1959 to March 1961 and has model designation BT7 MkI (4-seat version) and BN7 MkI (2-seater).
13,650 were made (2,825 BN7 MkI, and 10,825 BT7 MkI).
A BT7 3000 with hardtop and overdrive tested by The Motor
The Motor (magazine)
The Motor was a British weekly car magazine founded on 28 January 1903....
magazine in 1960 had a top speed of 115 mph (185.1 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 11.7 seconds. A fuel consumption of 21.6 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1326 including taxes.
MkII
Introduced in March 1961, the 3000 Mk II came with three SU HS4 carburettors and an improved camshaft, designated the BT7 MkII (4-seat version) and BN7 MkII (2-seat version). However, upon the introduction of the BJ7 (2+2 seats) model in January 1962, the number of carburettors was reduced to two, (SU type HS6) because of the problems experienced with balancing three carburettors. As a result of the introduction of the BJ7, the BN7 MkII was discontinued in March 1962, and the BT7 MkII followed in June 1962. Externally, the main changes introduced with the BJ7 were a vertical barred front grille, wind-up windows rather than side curtains, an improved hood, and a wrap-around windscreen. Optional extras were similar to the MkI, although the option of a factory hardtop was not available from the BJ7's introduction. From August 1961 a brake servo was also available as an optional extra, which greatly improved braking performance. The BJ7 was discontinued in October 1963 with the introduction of the 3000 MkIII.A 3000 MkII BT7 with hardtop and overdrive tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1961 had a top speed of 112.9 mph (181.7 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 10.9 seconds. A fuel consumption of 23.5 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1362 including taxes.
11,564 were made (355 BN7 MkII, 5,096 BT7 MkII, and 6,113 BJ7).
MkIII
The 3000 Mk III was launched in October 1963, and remained in production until the end of 1967 when production of Austin-Healeys ceased. (One further car was built in March 1968.) Classified as the BJ8, the new model was the most powerful and luxurious of the big Healeys, with a walnutWalnut
Juglans is a plant genus of the family Juglandaceae, the seeds of which are known as walnuts. They are deciduous trees, 10–40 meters tall , with pinnate leaves 200–900 millimetres long , with 5–25 leaflets; the shoots have chambered pith, a character shared with the wingnuts , but not the hickories...
-veneer dash, wind-up windows, and a 150 hp engine. Improvements to the engine included a new camshaft and valve springs, and twin SU 2" HD8 carburetors, together with a new design of exhaust system. Servo-assisted brakes were now fitted as standard. Only 2+2 seat versions were made. Option extras were similar to those offered for the MkII, the main change being that the standard interior trim was now Ambla vinyl, with leather seats being added to the list of options.
In May 1964 the Phase II version of the MkIII was released, which had a modified rear chassis to allow rear ground clearance to be increased, and subsequently, in March 1965 the car also gained separate indicators.
17,712 were made.
Competition
Austin Healey 3000's have a long competition history, and raced at most major racing circuits around the world, including Sebring12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
(France), and Mount Panorama Circuit
Mount Panorama Circuit
Mount Panorama Circuit is a motor racing track located in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. It is the home of the Bathurst 12 Hour motor race, held each February, and the Bathurst 1000 motor race, held each October...
, Bathurst
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
(Australia). The BMC competitions department successfully rallied the 3000 from its introduction, but the development of the works cars effectively ended in 1965, mainly because of the success of the Mini Cooper 'S'.
External links
- Austin Memories—History of Austin and Longbridge
- Volunteer register with records and photos of the 3000
- Austin Healey 3000 MkI-MkIII— specifications and technical data in automobile-catalog.com