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After 30 years, going back to a 3000

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Fairview

Jedi Hopeful
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Hi All,

Well, I said yes, and I will be a 3000 owner again, after a 30 year hiatus. It is a tidy example, and should be delivered in the next week or two.

It is hard to believe my 1960 3000, Healey Blue, with factory hardtop, was only 12 years old (and I was 17) when I bought it in 1972. It got really rusty in that short period of time! I guess that is why I only had to pay $300 for it, which at the time seemed to be a vast sum. And after a lengthy restoration, and commuting to both college and law school, the faithful 3000 became the downpayment on my first house, in 1981.

So I'm back. It will be interesting to experience how the 3000 compares to a long list of varied sports cars that have come and gone from my garage in the past 3 decades.

I'll be sure to post pictures when the "new" one arrives.

Best to all, Jeff
 
Welcome back, good choice.
In my case its like getting back in time and feeling like a student again
Even my Jaguar X-type can't equal that

Hans
 
I hope you are luckier than I was. I owned a new BN6 back in 1960 and abused it for a year and a half then traded it in for a new Corvette. A few years ago I had an opportunity to pick up a partially restored '59 BN6 almost identical to my original. I finished the pseudo-restoration, drove it a few hundred miles and sold it. A very pretty car but sadly a mechanical disappointment. My rose colored anticipation was crushed by reality. Bob
 
Jeff

I've just done much the same thing! Way back in the sixties I had a MKI, my Dad a MK2A and my girlfriend a MK2a too. She like them so much she traded her Triumph Herald for one and got me deeply in the s--t with what became the mother in law.

Here is her car in late '71 after we were married:

4356902444_48ddef3628_o.jpg


We sold it for an E Type a year later.

Earlier this year I went to an old car show because it was raining and I was bored and there I saw for the first time in forty years, John Chatham. He was a very well known racer in his day and my wife had bought her car from him. He had another for sale and I bought it!

It's quite sound, an older restoration and obviously hasn't been used for ages because I've had a succession of problems with it as I use it more. However, despite being apprehensive about a car that was old fashioned in its day, I'm delighted with it. It's an absolute joy to potter round at speeds that I wouldn't have considered using way back when. Then I remember doing three figures in London! As a fast sports car it isn't, it makes a lovely noise, but it's not fast and it doesn't have much cornering or braking grip, but if you drive it accordingly, it's a lovely old car and I look forward to getting it as I want it.

I'm very happy for you and look forward to hearing how you get on. Please also let's see some photos.

Ash
 
Thank you all- your replies are certainly appreciated. It makes me anxious for the transporter to arrive. And Ash, your post is a real gem.

Like you, Ash, my next car after the 3000 was an E-type, and then another, and then on to several early and late Porsches, some Mercedes, a Riley, a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud, back to Porsche, presently a Ferrari 308 and a very late TR3B.

At least 20 cars have come and gone in those 30 years, but I still remember driving the Healey here on the mountain roads of Virginia as my favorite. It is inexplicable, but true.

Jeff
 
Jeff

I have a TR3A that I've completely restored and I have a Mark VI Bentley, I've had it for years. After the E Type we had a DB5 and then, because English roads began to get more and more congested and slow, I bought a Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn and then an S1 Continental. I loathed the latter and loved the Dawn, but it was gutless, so many years later as the bills for the kids subsided, I bought a Silver Spirit, then a Shadow, neither appealed, so I found a MKVI and loved it as much as any car I've owned. now it's part of the family and it takes us all over Europe and the the UK.

My next worry is persuading the wife to sacrifice absolute comfort and near silence for a Healey trip to Southern France. I'll keep you posted!

6237457756_3809db9e43_b.jpg


Let's see some pictures of yours.

Ash
 
I am love with Healey's. That is all I have to say.
 
Today was the day- the Big Healey was delivered. It has been sitting for quite some time, but it lit up after some light tinkering and charging the battery. You know it couldn't have been too much trouble- I still was dressed in my shirt and tie from the office, and didn't ruin the shirt in the attempt.

As promised, I took some photos. My apologies for the poor quality- it was dark and I was just using my phone. Plus I was too wound up...

This link will take you to my smugmug photos, 3 or 4 of my "new" 3000:

1963 Austin Healey 3000 Mk II

Here's one picture from the link above:

IMAG0313-M.jpg


Thanks for your encouraging messages the other day.

Jeff

p.s. Following the link above, there is a shot of my instrument panel, shows the choke fairly well, to answer another pending thread.
 
Bob_Spidell said:
Looks very clean.

Is that your C190/195? If so, you got some darn fine toys!
Click to expand...

Thanks Bob. And the 195 is no toy, it is a business tool, as confirmed by my income tax return depreciation schedule :wink:...

I'm going to get some better photos of the 3000 and post them. I'd like to get some questions answered about what's original, what's not. I'm an originality freak.

Jeff
 
Fairview said:
Bob_Spidell said:
Looks very clean.

Is that your C190/195? If so, you got some darn fine toys!
Click to expand...

Thanks Bob. And the 195 is no toy, it is a business tool, as confirmed by my income tax return depreciation schedule :wink:...
Click to expand...


Well, if you ask me an Austin-Healey makes an excellent business tool (hmmmm ... how do you depreciate a car that's appreciating?).
 
Very nice Jeff. If it runs as well as it looks, you're going to be a happy camper.

BTW is the eyewear an option and if so, how much?

P.S. Agatha likes a blue guy.
 
judow said:
Very nice Jeff. If it runs as well as it looks, you're going to be a happy camper.

BTW is the eyewear an option and if so, how much?

P.S. Agatha likes a blue guy.
Click to expand...

Yes, thank you, I was wondering where the heck I left those glasses! Makes sense doesn't it- reading glasses and going back to a 3000 after <span style="font-weight: bold">30</span> years? I just don't know if my walker will fit in the trunk.
 
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