1960 Austin Healey 3000 Roadster

1960 Austin Healey 3000
When I Graduated Intermediate School (Now Middle School) Back in the Early 1980s, I Started Showing Interest in Cars and Mechanics. My Father Would Tell Me Stories When He was in High School. A Friend of His Named George and Him, Both Drove Austin Healey 100/4s Back When They Were Younger. My Father’s Healey Had the Stock 100/4 Austin Straight 4 Cylinder Engine, But George’s Healey Had a Transplanted Chevrolet Small Block V8 283 in it. From the Stories I Recall, George’s Healey With the Chevy Small Block Was Quite a Competitor at Lion’s Drag Strip In Long Beach, California.
In Late Summer/ Early Fall of 1981, My Father and I Started Our Search For My First Car. The Pre Internet Days of the 1980’s Afforded Someone Looking For a 20 Something Old English Sports Car Hemming's Magazine, The Recycler Classified Newspaper Which was Distributed Every Thursday at the Local Convenience Stores in Southern California, or the Los Angeles Times Classified Ads. Like Most Young Pre Drivers, Initial Cost and an Estimated Parts Expenditure to Get the Future Project Back on the Road was Top on the Priority List. In My Case, Hemmings Was Out of the Question Just For Initial Costs of the Vehicles, and the Los Angeles Times Classified Ads Didn’t Seem to Be In Our Price Budget Either. So Every Thursday, I Would Wait For My Dad to Bring Home the Recycler Classifieds. We Started Looking in the South Bay Recycler. After Approximately 2-3 Months Looking Though, He Decided to Invest in the San Fernando, San Gabriel, and Orange County Edition Classifieds Every Thursday Too. After Speaking to Numerous People on the Phone (I Had a List of What to Ask Sellers Dictated to Me By My Father) and Viewing Approximately 20-30 Healey Project Cars in Person, My Dad and I Chose This 1960 BT7. The Former Owner Was A Gentleman Named John From Long Beach. The Original 0 Miles Rebuilt Austin 3 Litre Straight 6 Engine Was All Machined, Assembled With New Gaskets and Sitting in the Engine Bay. He Was In the Process of Restoring the Healey When Hard Times Came Upon Him. He Recently Lost His Job and the Healey Sat in His Garage. Soon, His Focus Became Coming Up With Money to Pay His Bills, Rather Than Restoring the Car of His Dreams. After John and My Dad Agreed Upon a Price, We Purchased the Healey and Brought It Home.
For the Next 15 Months My Dad and I Worked on the Healey. I Learned How Mechanics, Interaction of Parts Performed Together, and Learned a Fraction of My Dad’s Vast Knowledge of Automotive Ingenuity. He Was an Aerospace Mechanical Engineer By Day, and an Automotive Shop Instructor at Night.
The Healey Saw Numerous Homecoming Parades on the Football Field, the Local City Parade, Cruising Southern California Beaches After School, and Taught Me to Love Roadsters/ Convertibles For the Rest of My Life.
After 37 Years of Ownership, I Still Contemplate Not Parting With My Healey, But Ive Come to the Conclusion My Son, Unlike My Father and Me, Is Not a Car Guy. I Have Owned Numerous Cars Since the Healey and Never Set the Time Aside to Work or Drive It Again, and I Would Rather See Someone Else Enjoy It Than Letting It Sit In Storage. This 1960 Austin Healey 3000 Would Make a Great Father/Son Classic Project, Weekend Cruiser, or Wonderful Christmas Gift! Classic Austin Healey 3000’s are Quickly Climbing in Value. If Your Looking to Purchase a Classic Austin Healey 3000, Not Considering This Example Would Be a Missed Opportunity. If You Have Any Further Questions, Please Call Cindy at (909) 844-8677.



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