1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III BJ8 Sports Convertible

With its brawny inline-six powerplant and fully enclosed cabin with roll-up windows, the later Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III models are among the most sought after of these distinctive British sports cars. - this 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III BJ8 Sports Convertible was the subject of an intensive rotisserie restoration that included a new, significantly upgraded frame, new sheetmetal, engine work, and a professional rebuild of the carburetors. The car appears to be in outstanding condition inside and out.- that the 2.9-liter inline-six was examined during the restoration, and the shop reported that the bottom end was found to be in good condition. The cylinder head was reportedly rebuilt. The SU carburetors were sent out to British Superior to be rebuilt by noted expert Joe Curto.- that the engine now idles smoothly and emits no smoke on startup, but notes there is a slight leak at the rear main seal. The transmission is a four-speed manual with overdrive, which the seller indicates is functioning properly. During the restoration by Showroom Restorations in Lilitz, Pennsylvania, the car reportedly had extensive metalwork to repair any rust or damage. After the body was restored, the seller reports that the entire body was primed, sealed, and painted in its current black-and red paint scheme. The paintwork appears to be excellent, with no blemishes evident in the surface. The brightwork'grille, bumpers, door handles, door top trim, windshield frame'appears to be in excellent condition with no damage visible in the photos.- that the lighting is all functional. The Austin-Healey's top appears to be in excellent condition, with a tight fit, no obvious damage, and only slight scratches visible in the clear plastic rear window. The top also features a black boot, which appears to be in excellent shape - - the seat upholstery is original to the car, and the leather appears to be in excellent condition, with no cracks or damage in the surface visible in photos. The silver piping on the passenger's seat appears to have oxidized a bit, and looks to be a slightly different color than the driver's side. The padded console shows no damage or wear. The dash pad appears to be in excellent shape with no cracks in the surface. The wood dash appears to have none of the cracked varnish that many of these cars tend to exhibit.- that the gauges are all functional. He also thinks that the carpet was replaced during the car's restoration, because of its excellent condition. - - that when the car was being restored, the original frame was swapped out for a replacement'from Jule Enterprises in Ontario, Canada'that is 1/8-inch steel, intended to be significantly stronger and less prone to flex than the original. These $4,000 frames come with a five-year warranty against failure. The frame was painted to match the red exterior, and appears to be in excellent condition with no visible signs of rust or damage. - that the manual steering box was rebuilt, and the Big Healey tracks straight and steers with precision. The seller added a 1-inch anti-roll bar up front.- that no other service, other than lubrication, has occurred on the suspension since the restoration, and that all the bushings and shocks are in good shape. The brakes have been recently updated with a new brake booster, and the seller notes that the pedal feels fine. The Dunlop wire wheels are new to the car, , and are mounted with a set of Vredestein Sprint S80 tires, sized 165R15. The seller is unaware of their age, but notes that they have no cracking and estimates they have about 80-percent tread remaining. Austin-Healeys were not known for frame strength and, even with low miles, could be found with cracked engine mounts, crossmembers, shock mounts, and frame rails. With this solid replacement frame underneath what appears to be a very thorough restoration, this 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III BJ8 Sports Convertible would seem poised to be enjoyed on the road with dramatically reduced cowl shake, and doors that open and close with ease.