Austin Healey 3000 mk3 - a British 60s sports car (Big Healey)
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2023
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Austin Healey 3000
The Austin Atlantic was the car designed to wow America, but with 90% of this model, the MK3, going to the States, I’d wager this was a big hit with Americans in a way that Austin could’ve only dreamed of for the lovely little Atlantic.
With 17,000 of these made and less than 10% staying in the UK, you might be forgiven for not having seen one recently. In fact, I’ve been led to believe this particular example is an American car which has had the steering switched to opposite side.
With this being an American car, I hunted down an American brochure for the MK3 to see what we got as standard, because sometimes countries vary in what they offer as standard or as a usual extra. Minis getting air con in Japan is a great example!
Anyway, advertised in the brochure for this model was:
- Vacuum servo assisted brakes
- Overdrive
- Heater and demister
- Wire wheels with knock on hubs
- Adjustable steering column
- Master switch on the battery
- Dunlop road speed tyres
- And bizarrely, wind screen washers
It doesn’t mention the twin carbs, but if you spot those as we go poking around under the bonnet, they’re standard. I believe these were updated for the MK2, which is partially why it has a bit more poke than the earlier cars, amongst other improvements.
It also boasts of a wraparound screen for max visibility - which is quite useful when you’ve got the hood up!
One of the many brochures for these says across the front ‘for going places, the best people choose Austin Healey’ and these are people who clearly expecting the wind beneath their wings because the car is advertised in some UK brochures as doing ‘over 100mph’ or in excess of and in American brochures capable of hitting 125mph.
Even your MK1 launched in 1959 was boasting of doing 0 to 60 in 11 seconds, so by this point in production it was under 10 seconds. A little like top speed, I’ve got 2 or 3 different figures, so to err on side of caution, we’ll say under 10 seconds!
The engine by the way is the six cylinder OHV 2912cc engine - which I’ll talk to you a little more about once we’re in the driving seat.
I should probably mention you’ll sometimes hear this referred to as the Big Healey and the reason for that is, is you also had your Austin Healey Sprite. I did a test of a later one of those earlier this year which you can find in my video listings if you fancy watching that afterwards.
The British Motor Corporation, in my opinion, slightly knocked the good fortune out the window from this car because it replaced it with the MGC rather than keeping the Austin name on a quality, sporting vehicle.
With competition wins and major races like Le Mans, great feedback from journalists and buyers alike; it seems slightly short sighted to replace a well regarded car with another sports car badged as something totally different.
But hey, who am I to knock it? The MGC is still a dream garage car, but for me, the 3000 is something special. - Авто та транспорт
The Austin-Healey, one of my all-time favorites and Steph looks smashing behind the wheel !
And mine. A type I've always wanted to own but never managed.
Pat Moss (Stirling's sister) was a very successful rally driver. She drove Triumphs and Minis and she won the Liege Rome Liege rally in a Big Healey.
She married Eric Carlsson too, another rally driver who drove Saabs
Many cars did not have windscreen washers or reverse light or radio and were fitted by owners
Open top 1960s sports car , hood down in the beautiful New Forest , what’s not to like. Wonderful, Steph .
The Mark III may have been the ultimate development of this model, but in terms of tech, it was - like most (but certainly not all) British cars brought to America, a bit too firmly rooted in the past by the mid-late 60's. Whereas the 100 was more current for its time and if a bit more raw, also rather more satisfactory. Let alone the 100M if you were lucky enough to have found and afforded one.
"A world of bloated SUVs" - Well said. Mind you as the owner of a Frogeye, I think the 3000 is bloated. Steering wise, the Frogeye has rack and pinion (from the Morris Minor) and there is zero play in it at all.
Blasphemy! The Big Healey's are the only Healey's lol
Straight off, it's a beautiful machine.
What a glorious sound it makes!
Why would you want a stereo with that glorious engine note to listen to?
Back in the early to mid 60s, my Dad had a 60 or 61 that had this very same color combination. I was a youngster at the time and could fit in the little seats in the back during road trips. A pillow and a blanket was all I needed for a comfy ride to Grandma's house. We lived in Wichita, Kansas at the time which had quite a growing sports car movement going on. But we were the odd family on our block. Everyone else had big American family cars. I loved riding along in the front seat next to my Dad when he would get the Healey out on the highway to "blow the carbs out" and break a few speed limits! Sadly, he sold it just before I was getting ready to learn to drive. I loved that car!!
Nothing beats classic wind in the hair driving
One of my favourite sports cars of all time ,but I have never driven one and from your description it sounds like it lives up to its reputation.
I owned a 1959 model, 100-6 back in the late 1960s...This model shown was the last of the Big Healeys...I prefer the older-style dash, with the larger Smith gauges. But the 64-67 years did have more power 150hp was decent for the day. My older model only had 120 hp...but it still had that rorty, masculine sounding exhaust note! I am old now, but still remember how cool my 59 was!
Wonderful! The 3000 mk3 has always been one of my favourite British sports cars. Thank you for the great review.
The mk11a is better and the best of the bunch.
@@bertiewooster3326 Yes, Iv'e got one.
It’s actually a 1950s car, the first edition of the big Healey (BN1?) was produced around 1953 I believe. They continued to be manufactured into the 1960s. Still quite interesting cars nevertheless, although not technically up to the minute. Most chassis and engine components came from more humble BMC models.
It’s so relaxing watching your uploads, a rare reality in the world of UA-cam 🙌🏼
I think the donkey wanted a bigger role in your video.
😂
Lovely car - best colour scheme for a Healey too.
OMG what an amazing video this is Steph! The big Healey is such an icon...❤..and you look absolutely stunning on such an open top classy motorcar!
Impressive driving, Steph. Great road test and I loved your face image in the mirror.
I've done a fair bit of driving in a similar Big Healey. Overdrive wasn't standard and the car I drove didn't have it. I think it would be nice to have OD as it can feel a bit fussy at speed. I don't recall "my" Healey having as much play in the steering, so maybe that car needs a little adjustment? For all its reputation as a hairy-chested sports car, I've always thought that the 3000 was very easy to drive. It's definitely one of my favourite cars.
Love the big Healeys, and you are great at giving us the details of these cars.
Windshield (windscreen) washers on 1960's American cars were usually not found or else an option on low priced cars, and standard only on more expensive "luxury" cars. Got to test drive a used RHD 3000 mk3 once when I was a young man. It was black with red inserts and 100% absolutely gorgeous, of course I couldn't afford to buy it, but at least got to test drive it a little bit. Love your classic car videos, thanks so much.
What a really fantastic car . It sounds great
Windscreen washers were not fitted to many cars in the sixties or even seventies. Many accessory manufacturers sold after market kits to add them to your car, some were a manual pump some luxury ones were electric.
I agree with Steph's views on leaving animals be in the New Forest, and everywhere actually
My favorite .British sports car after the E Type Jaguar! Great review, Ms Stephanie!
Very informative and relaxing to watch. Thanks Steph.
Always loved these.. the proportions are gorgeous...and that engine is one of the best this side of Jags tge same era...
In 1971 I bought a used '69 Porsche 912 and a friend bought one of these.. My car handled better, was better constructed and was faster, but I couldn't take my eyes off his car. It was simply beautiful.
I enjoyed this refresher with such a pretty British lady. The horses were fun, too.
Lovely car with a lovely color scheme. It suits you, Steph.
I have always had a soft spot for the Heally.
It sounds fantastic Steph.
Hello Steph, I grew up in New York City in the 1960's. To answer you question about windshield (windscreen) washers in America before the mid-1960's: No, they were not a standard feature/fitment on American cars until well into the 1960's. So it makes sense that Austin Healey would mention that feature in their brochures. Just to give a flavor to the times, many American cars had vacuum operated windshield/screen wipers until well into the 1960's, and the brochures for those made sure to mention that electric wipers were available as options. When electric wipers eventually became standard, this was touted as a major new feature on those cars ! So, at least as far as these features are concerned, Europe was ahead of America at that time.
Nice car set in nice surroundings. Another matching outfit success too Steph.
A bit of time goes into the outfit coordination.
Here for the exhaust note. Not disappointed.
Lovely car and nice safe driving round my part of the world!
I remember seeing that in the background a few weeks ago and wondering when the video would show up!
We had the Windshield Washers at extra cost . You needed them with this diverse American Weather.
Totally spot-on comments about modern cars.
Hello Steph, what a great review of this iconic car!! Great place to do a test run! best wishes from Lincolnshire.
Minor Traveller to AH 3000. ;-) Great variety on this channel. Cheers
Fantastic video Steph, great review and the car really suits you
I like it. Sounds incredible.
That was a great video. The rear view mirror position that shows you talking whilst you drive was excellent.
An excellent review Steph as always.
Looking glamorous driving this Steph.
My! What a nice motor sound!
Although that was a '60s example it is really a '50s car. The Austin Healey 100 was introduced in 1953.
Its i classicly beautiful in design and appearance.
Keep it up, nice video I'm looking forward to next Sunday to see what you show us then
woo hoo , Steph video ...
Great video, Enjoy the style. Thx Steph.
Amazing car thanks Steph!
Great video Steph I will bump into you one day lol I’m always cycling around the beauliea area
Great review 😊
The big Healeys always sound great, almost as good as a V8! The two tone paint looks so good on this one and a nice colour too. I would think that it would be fairly easy to swap the steering from LHD to RHD as the centre of the dashboard is symmetrical so just get a different glove box front and clock panel. Thanks for a great review Steph.
You really suit that car!
lovely car reported on by possibly the loveliest lady on you tube today.
😀
Great video, Steph 👍
We love our Healy 3000s here in 🇺🇸
Lovely car 😊👍
Stunning
Wow, that car is as impressive as Stephs wardrobe 🙂
Lovely review of a great British car. And how quintessential English to have donkeys in the car park.
It's the New Forest, donkeys and horses roaming free.
Wow, beautiful car. Fab presentation, thank you Steph.
(Can we get Rich to dress as elegantly and sympathetically as you do?)
The intake setup on that doesn't look standard, the C series originally fitted to the Healey had carbs bolted directly to the head, but that engine has an alloy inlet manifold. The engine is more like the last version of the C series, as fitted to the MGC, although many aspects do look like Healey, such as the rocker cover. I wonder how much of that has to do with it being a US spec vehicle originally?
The 'Big' Healey's should have been fitted with the preferable rack and pinion steering.
Cruising with the top down and the wind in your hair, is definitely something you can't experience in an over bloated suv. That is a beautiful car.
Great video Steph! I love the Austin Healey 3000, they're such stunning little roadsters. Full confession, I was so excited to see the donkey too because I love them as well!
Donkey - "its a classic"
Hello Steph!
Good Sunday morning ya'll. Betrer weather foe this one. Dream car 😉
Without doubt my favourite British sportscar of that era.
Excellent video as always thank you. I wonder too if the top speed varies due to being a US export and using taller or shorter rear end gear ratios. I did find though there are two different rear end ratios depending on which transmission you got. The 4 speed cars received 3.545:1 and the ones with electric overdrive by Normanville was 3.909:1.
Class Steph Total Class.
This is a true story. A friend I used to work with had a 3.0 Healey as his 1st car, his dad drove it back , he followed in a Minor, completely left behind by miles by his Dad! Back home he had a grumble at driving his car at 80+ mph etc… he looked surprised and said…I never exceeded 40..! After a few exchanges it was determined that his dad was reading the speed from the revcounter, something he hadn’t been used to on a dashboard 🤣🤣🤣
I had a similar experience when I bought a Honda C.B.R 1,000 as I was riding it home doing 70 down the motorway in top gear and I thought the rev counter was broken bimbleing around at the low end of it's scale I opened the throttle wide at 70 it gripped the road, tried to pull my arms off and the world went backwards. It's amazing when you get your first taste of real power.
Fantastic episode Steph!
A back-to-back with an AC Ace would have been an interesting comparison 😊
Its called the big Healey because its the 100/6 3000 the 100/4 2.6 was the smaller I think.
Overstating the 2912cc motor as a 3000 and as a 3.0 in the comments is puzzling how they got away with it. Weights ans measures had standards for most things purchased.
If you was going to the biggest number it should be 2,9
Beautiful car in a beautiful setting beautifully demonstrated 👏 when you folded the hood down allowing Richard to sit up, did he have an effect on wind resistance? 👍👌
Saw one this morning at Ponderosa Cafe (bike meet near Llangollen, N. Wales). It was red, in great nick. My first car was the family's Austin Cambridge. It had a later, 1622 engine which my father put in (the same engine that went into the MGA with an extra carb). The noises the Healey is making reminds me of the Austin. The 3000 had a lot of rallying success, which suggests they were pretty tuneable. You seem to be sitting very close to the steering wheel, is that through choice or is the cockpit that cramped?
Excellent car. Really one of my absolute favourites. I once rented a cottage and discovered it was on the finishing line of a classic car rally. All makes and models, but, afterwards, most people were crowded round the Healeys'. I took a lot of photos, maxed out three cameras.
Oversteer / understeer was part of the fun of driving these . American Cars were just as bad .
Beautiful Steph. Way more desirable than an MG but probably worth a lot more too.
I think wiindscreen washers were only made mandatory in the UK in the 1960s. I remember as a kid that my parents had to get them retro fitted to a car when the law changed
I like this car a lot as an English classic. But, contrary to the opinion of some here, I think the MGA is a prettier car.
I was lucky enough to get to drive one of these when I worked in a classic car garage and that engine is sublime, so much torque that you could be lazy and let it drive itself. The way to adjust the column is (watch the video), there's a ring behind the wheel with grooves in it, you turn that to free it off and then adjust and lock it into position by turning the opposite way, similar to an E Type Jag. I'm full of random info like that 😁
Real.good..steph.from.australia.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
A luxury sports car and l door like the glove box lid is veneered on both sides classy and your coment you wouldn't drivethe Austin Healy over 70mph l wouldn't either
I had a 1966 300 Mk III. There was one overdrive switch on the dash and another on the gearshift lever so all you had to do to engage or disengage the OD when the dash switch was on was slap the stick. This could be quite satisfying - as an example, when my roommate was driving my car on the Interstate (I’m in the U.S.) in overdrive and an American muscle car pulled up and challenged him, he simply slapped the stick, stepped on the accelerator, and pulled away.
Great video. They could tighten the steering box up a bit. Mine’s not that sloppy.
Lovely car, but the way it's bouncing it may have square tyres!
It's odd that more were not sold in the UK given so many of us would say it is our favourite car of all time.
Probably the best-looking British sports car ever made (the E-Type is a grand tourer).
My father owned one when he met my mom in the early 60s. They were from the Boston area. My father said he could outrun corvettes on windy roads in the area. Dads was blue and white too. The car is long gone but mom talks about it from time to time.
Cars today are tantamount to microchips on wheel's.
Lovely car. And nicely laid out dash as well. The Brits made some fabulous cars back in the day..
Couldn't agree more!
What a glorious car thr is. It looks like the front end needs some attention. It shojld not have that much play in it.
My mother's first car was a 1954 Hillman Mynx. It did not have windscreen washers fitted. Her 1958 Vauxhall Velox did have them. They were not mandated as standard equipment in Canada until 1971! Surprise. Our 72 Dodge Dart had washer activated by a foot pump. Early VWs had them using air presure frim tge spare tire to propel the washer fluid.
I love your show and your opinion, if only you did not fear revving an engine out to its limits. It is so much more fun.
I HAD A 1965 HEALY !! MY FAVORITE CAR !!
The Morgans competed with these in price but not really performance. The Morgan V8 was not produced until some time after the mark 3 was discontinued. Given its lightness that V8 would have been a great swan song for the Healey …. and it was only just around the corner.
British straight sixes have an amazing sound, that burble. Who needs a radio when you've a sountrack like that. Someone asked me does my radio work, never turned it on, sooner listen to the engine and exhaust note. I did say it was an eight track.... six pots and two exhausts.
The Sprigits are fun but the big Healeys are fun in another class. One of my dear old friends has a 100/4 in maroon and a 3000 the same colour.