An Austin-Healey 3000 BT7 that has spent the past quarter of a century in storage is primed to be one of the star lots at the forthcoming Historics at Brooklands sale on 6 June. It’s expected to fetch £35-45,000.
The barn-find Big Healey lay unused for 25 years before recently being recommissioned, and it is now said to be in good working order with a fresh MoT certificate. It also boasts FIA papers from July 1988, which offer some clue to the roadster’s competition history.
Far from being a standard road going model, it seems that the Healey was used in motorsport from relatively early on in its life, after having been converted to rally specification at some point in the early 1970s.
Fascinatingly, there is also the suggestion that the car may have been returned to Donald Healey’s workshop in Warwickshire to receive a number of upgrades in-line with the factory’s competition cars.
All of the 3000’s body panels appear to be aluminium, including the doors and dished boot lid. The engine also enjoyed attention, with the fitting of oversized valves, triple DCOE carburettors, a lightened and balanced flywheel, plus a competition camshaft evident. A straight-cut close-ratio gearbox and a limited slip differential are also desirable options for those wishing to return the car to the track.
