1962 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark II; Tri-carb, center-shift, 2-seater; the rarest of the rare. Original Arizona survivor, carefully restored. Runs perfectly; no bugs left. Factory hardtop included. Accident-free with 47,623 original miles. The car has an original factory hardtop, new dark blue Heritage leather interior, stainless steel exhaust, 5 new Kumho tires, Derrington steering wheel, tonneau cover, British Heritage certificate, handbook, parts catalog, service manual, original generator and starter, both rebuilt. There can hardly be a more complete, original, mostly unmolested, rust-free example of this rare triple-carb 2-seater BN7 anywhere in the world. The car has lived in Tucson, Arizona for 47 years.

See: www.euroconferences.org/healey for more photos and complete history. Please email me with any questions. I will give you my phone number by email if you want to speak about the car.

History

   This is an incredibly original Mark II BN7 2 seater; one of only 355 made. Of the 355 Mark II BN7s produced, 214 were made in 1961, including side and top shift transmissions, and 141 were made in 1962, all top shift transmissions. Of these 141 most desirable cars, 125 were left hand drive for North American export. This car is one of these 125 rarest of all regular production cars, completed in late January, 1962, and probably the only one to be delivered originally in Arizona, and to have lived here ever since.  This one is too hard to believe, leading me to suspect that it is a onetime celestial reward for something good that I did, although I don't actually remember doing anything good. I took my 1949 Plymouth to my mechanic to fix, and told him that what I was really looking for was an Austin Healey 3000, since I had one in 1967 for less than a year and had missed it ever since. He said that I ought to buy the one that has been "sitting in storage next door for the last 18 years." According to his recollections, it had been brought in to be serviced, and the owner never picked up the car, and was presumed dead. It was in good running order, with new oil and silicon brake fluid, and virtually rust-free when it was parked in 1983. It was never touched again until 2001, after I bought it.

  At that time, I did not realize it was the rare triple carburetor 2-seater. I also did not know its history until I took it to the local Tucson British car expert and Moss distributor, who looked at it and immediately said, "hey, that was my Professor's car in college!" He knew the entire history of the car because there could only be one 1962 triple carb, Ivory White/red interior BN7 two-seater in Tucson. He knew the man's name and I tracked down his wife, who told me that he had died 2 years ago. Amazingly, she works where I work and his daughter was in my son's class. His wife confirmed that he had lost the Healey long ago and was never able to find it.

  His grandparents bought it for him new in Phoenix in 1962. When I found it, it was a one owner, completely original car, with 45,000 miles and it had the original exhaust system. The owner had apparently stored the car at a friend's garage, and this friend took this car and two others to the garage where my mechanic worked at the time to get them running and serviced. He apparently picked up the other two cars but died before picking up the Healey. It became an abandoned car under a mechanic's lien. I now have a clear Arizona title.

Body: entirely original (repainted in 2006; base plus clearcoat; no plastic filler anywhere).

All original: engine (original engine rebuilt), transmission, overdrive, rear end, brakes, suspension, radiator, generator, starter, 5 original wire wheels, carburetors, all gauges, shock absorbers, steering components, electrical system, wiring harness, all emblems, side curtains, factory BN7 hardtop, original jack.

New parts: clutch, clutch master, brake master, stainless steel exhaust, brake hoses, radiator hoses, engine mounts, sway bar bushings, thermostat, chrome headlamp rims, all rubber parts renewed, new black AMCO soft top.

New Heritage interior (non-original blue leather), including seats, carpets, dashboard, back deck and trunk.
New Heritage tonneau cover
New Derrington wood steering wheel (Cape International, UK)
New water pump
New tires (Kumho, 2008)
New OEM brass carburetor floats (Joe Curto SU rebuilder)
New fuel tank (Moss; June, 2008)
New rear engine seal to stop leaks (British Car Specialists)

Modifications (all original parts can be reinstalled):

Negative ground
Pertronix electronic ignition
Screw-on oil filter
Alternator
Hi-torque starter motor
Universal Facet fuel pump
BJ8 cam and modified head for unleaded fuel
12V Optima battery (replacing two 6V batteries)
Coolant overflow system (Cape International, UK)
Overdrive switch on shift knob (Cape International, UK)
Rear view side mirror that screws into windscreen pillar (Cape
International- this is great)
Grose jets in carburetor float chambers
Seat belts

The philosophy behind the restoration:

This is not a show car. It was restored to be driven, and all of the bugs are out. The car was repainted in its original exterior color (Ivory White), but I didn't like the original red interior color. Therefore, I installed a dark blue leather interior from Heritage.

With regard to the originality issue, I purposely did not replace original parts that were functioning perfectly, including the shocks and springs, and the brake calipers. Nor did I paint the frame or underside. The car is a rust-free Arizona original, and I kept it as close to that as possible. However, my overriding consideration was to make it a reliable car. It has never been in an accident, and it now has 47,623 original miles. Sold "as is" with no warranty.

Please note: the new spare wheel cover that inserts into the car from the trunk has not been installed because I don't like having the spare tire covering the battery hatch, plus the spare tire easily fits into the trunk. This gives a cleaner look. However, the spare tire cover comes with the car.

Seller strongly recommends that the buyer inspect the car, as the seller only wants to sell the car if the buyer is entirely happy with the transaction. All cars have imperfections, both known and unknown, and my opinion of any aspect of the car may be different from yours. I will facilitate any inspection, and I will do whatever is necessary to facilitate domestic or international shipment.

I doubt that this opportunity (an original, number-matching, tri-carb, 2 seater, Arizona survivor) will ever present itself again, all at a very realistic price.