1961 Austin Healey 3000

This 1961 tri-carb Mark 2 imported from the USA for restoration and sale by Warwickshire Healey specialist JME Healeys is a rare car. Built in November 1961, it is one of only 150 two-seaters built with the improved centre-change gearshift before production shifted to 2+2s the following March.

“It was a car we had to have when it was offered to us,” says JME’s Dan Everard, who, together with brother Chris, runs the company started by his father Jonathan. “We jumped at the chance to have such a rare car in amazing condition.”

The BN7 underwent a ground-up restoration at JME, though much of the original metalwork was in excellent order.

“The restoration process doesn’t change even if a car, like this one, requires less work,” explains Everard. “We had to replace the floor, the B-posts and the sills, but the all the outer panels required only minor repairs because it had spent its life in a dry climate.”

The car has matching numbers throughout, from the chassis and body down to the distributor and instruments. Original parts were used in the restoration wherever possible.

“It is the originality and the rarity that makes it one of the nicest Healeys we’ve seen,” says Everard. “I’d describe it as the best Healey 3000 on the market anywhere in the world.”

Offered at £125,000 in its original left-hand-drive specification, it can be converted to RHD at the buyer’s request at no additional cost.

JME Healeys, Warwick, Warwickshire. Tel: 01926 499000, jmehealeys.co.uk