Austin Healey 3000 Mk III: Autoblog classic driving test and video
Posted on 17-05-2014 at 18:00 by CasperH – 24 Comments”
Four wheels, six cylinders and a steering wheel, what does a man actually have?
Nowadays, when you have a sports car, buy you actually nowhere to think about. You can with virtually all new sports cars heading to the gym in the town, with power steering and an arsenal of parkeerhulpen is a breeze to get in the tightest of spots to park. The biggest challenge may be finding a parking space where Jan Modal the door of his Scénic is not against your car can ram. In the past that was a bit more difficult, a sports car was really a sports car: you had a bit of a fit at all the basic skills (steering, shifting, pedals) to perform. By the time you’re in the city centre, had ingeparkeerd, you had your workout already had.
A good example of this is the car we’re testing here today: the Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III. A bit of history to start: the Austin Healey was in 1959, the production, the carriage was made by Jensen Motors, and the assembly was by the BMC done. It was the replacement for the Austin Healey 100-6. The Austin Healey Mk I had a 2.9 six cylinder in-line dual carburetors and disc brakes on the front. The options that were available: wire wheels, a manual transmission with overdrive, hard top, two-tone paint and heating (!). The 3000 was available as a 2+2 or as two-seater and there were a total of 13.650 pieces were built of the Mk I before, in 1961, the Mk II came on the market.
The Mk II had three SU carburetors and an improved camshaft at launch but a year later became the 3000 Mk II equipped with two carburetors because three pieces to be difficult to balance. Also standard were glass panes, on the Mk I you had it to do with softwindows. Another important change was to be found on the list of options: brakes could now be ticked, and there was the Healey 3000 it a lot more enjoyable. Appearance there were also some changes such as a grille with vertical bars and a windshield that is more round than the straight version on the Mk I. The Mk II was a total 11.564 rolled out.
In October 1963 the Mk III on the market. This was the most powerful, but above all the most luxurious of all the Austin Healey 3000’s. The six-cylinder engine produced 150 horsepower, thanks to improved elements such as other SU carburettors, a different exhaust system improved camshaft and valve springs. Brake servo was now standard, as well as a walnut wooden interior. The Mk III was only available as 2+2 are provided and special Ambla vinyl upholstery with a chroomlook piping was now standard. That line is particularly difficult to make, making it relatively certain is that, with an unrestored interior and the edge have come across in a 3000. The car was successful in rallies and endurance races and is also today still used a lot in klassiekerraces and rallies. In 1967, the Austin Healey 3000 at the bottom of the success of Austin’s other car: the Mini. Because Austin is concentrated on the sell of this success to the common man, there is little attention for a sporty model á la the Healey.
The Healey 3000 is everything you’d expect from a British sports car in terms of looks: beautiful, simple but elegant lines, no fuss but just classic beauty. This copy is beautifully done in British Racing Green, as it should be, I would almost say. The interior is unrestored but in superb condition, so I’m careful to sit to me to marvel at the walnut and the other details. The lightning-like badge on the centre console stands really out in this quiet and upscale interior. To come back to the sportschoolverhaal: an Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III is perhaps the most luxurious version, it is still a spartan car. When pulling away, turns out though, I’ve got a bit of stitches and to rotate the showroom of Gina Classics, and that goes hand in hand with a lot of sighs and grunts I did. The huge (42,5 cm in diameter) steering wheel is de-energized and the tray is not easily in the reverse. Combine that with the inconvenience of a not too spacious of seating, and you will understand that it is not very easy to get this trick of stitches and turning to run.
Once on the road, life becomes a little easier, at speed everything more relaxed, the manual controlled gearbox is pleasant to establishing the right to oppose it and the steering is also wonderfully direct; a lot lighter when the carriage is in motion. The suspension is definitely on sportsmanship focused: short and stiff. That helps however, you have to be particularly fast and precise turn around, to come and to understand what is happening under the wheels happens. A car of this age use not to drift, but if he myself had been, I had at least once tried to get the ass to get in a sharp turn. I think it can and that it is fairly simple would also. The car is very nice in balance and the ferocious beats sound of the six cylinder is a mildly addictive, my heaven, what sounds this thing delicious!
The one we had is one from 1967 with only 28.500 miles on the clock. The car is virtually unrestored but still in a beautiful condition and is for 80% in the original British Racing Green, which is also on the car was when he came to the factory rolled. Equipped with wire wheels, overdrive, gelaaagde windscreen, adjustable steering wheel, tonneau cover, Road Speed tires, and -yes – heating, this was a particularly luxurious one. Originally delivered in America but still fully matching numbers and great to send along.
Yes it is heavy and I feel it literally in my arms as I Austin after a few hours return, but if you have this car know how to drive, it is a very rewarding experience. This car was perhaps not intended as a shopping cart but the “sport” in sports car deserves this classic ten times more than any modern sports car that I know of. Have? For just no 79.750 euros, you can pick him up at our friends of Gina Classics in Drachten.
Gallery: Austin Healey 3000 Mk III
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