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Austin Healey 3000 Hardtop SFO NFI

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Its not a factory top. Doesn't have the aluminum around the door openings. Also no rear window support bars. Good price though
 
healeyblue said:
Its not a factory top. Doesn't have the aluminum around the door openings. Also no rear window support bars. Good price though
Click to expand...

Actually, it looks like it might be a rare factory BJ7 / BJ8 top! Below is the link to an article written by the late Ron Phillips. (The last three paragraphs specifically talk about the convertible hardtops.)

https://www.mossmotoring.com/factory-hardtops-big-healeys/

BJ7 / BJ8 Hardtop
healey.jpg



Thanks,
Duane
 
Is it strange that the price has dropped $1000 in less than 3 weeks?

For such a rare (and potentially valuable) item, it seems odd to drop the price so quickly.
 
Yes, but scams usually discourage local pickup. They usually want to get a deposit or offer the rare "free" shipping or freight to lure you in. He could have had no takers at all in since January and decided to offer it at a much lower price for a quick sale.
 
it really did not look like a factory hardtop to me. the rear window seemed way out of proportion.
 
maxwedge5281 said:
it really did not look like a factory hardtop to me. the rear window seemed way out of proportion.
Click to expand...

Max,

The convertible tops look much different than the roadster tops. I've attached a few images of an original BJ7 / BJ8 convertible top. In comparison the roadster top the window looks very different. I like the look of a roadster top much better!

Thanks,
Duane


3504019.jpg


3504021.jpg


3504005.jpg
 
The roadster tops don't require "fitting" like the convertible tops do. The convertible tops are unique to the car they were fitted to. It is possible to get lucky on a used convertible top that fits on more than one car.
convertible tops - BJ7/8 Healeys
 
I was one of the too late people to find it was sold. Not many were made by the factory.

So the question is: Does anyone have one of the reproductions from either Pete Farmer or Nical that they may want to part with, for a BJ8?

Thanks.
 
RA_Healey said:
I was one of the too late people to find it was sold. Not many were made by the factory.

So the question is: Does anyone have one of the reproductions from either Pete Farmer or Nical that they may want to part with, for a BJ8?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Nical is still making them.
 
In his brochure Nick says that Austin-Healeys were "selectively assembled". Never having heard that term I googled it and came to this page:https://www.slideshare.net/kumarchirra/interchangeability-selective-assembly which gives examples of the interchangeability of parts. While Healeys were certainly not bespoke cars there is enough variation in the body panels and the assembly of them to make the mounting of certain items, such as hardtops, challenging to say the least. The NICAL top I purchased for my 100 was hardly a bolt-on item and the same is probably true for the 3000 tops Freeman sells.

I had a similar experience with the factory top I purchased for my ex-wife's BN7: It fit quite well on the car of the fellow from whom I purchased it but there were large gaps between the top and the back deck of hers and a good fit would have required total disassembly of the top and reshaping of the aluminum pieces.

Bottomline hardtops are not universal and unless one is very fortunate he should be willing to either tolerate some gaps or invest a considerable amount of work in fitting one.
 
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Re: Austin Healey 3000 Hardtop BN&qu

I own a 1960 Austin Healey BN7 in excellent condition. I have a hard top purchased after receiving my car. This hard top is an okay fit. It would need to be re-fabricated from the frame for a secure fit. The good news is that I have a wonderful rag top and side curtains that fits perfect. A wonderful gift from my ex-husband ,now put into the hands of an excellent caregiver (ME, Daughter of a Mechanic) who keeps this car in excellent condition to purchase for a person who wants a wonderful touring car. SHEhealey ...is not a trailer queen, however she has been kept off salted roads and in excellent condition...... SOON to be on the Market.... All in inquires...please sent requests for further information to Orbittor@gmail.com. She is HERBN7 forever to match to HISBN1.
 
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