1961 Austin Healey 3000

1961 AUSTIN HEALEY 3000 MK1 BT-7 ROADSTER

RESTORED BY MARQUE SPECIALIST KURT TANNER

FACTORY CORRECT HEALEY ICE BLUE COACHWORK

NAVY BLUE INTERIOR TRIM PIPED CREAM

4-SPEED WITH OVERDRIVE

72-SPOKE DAYTON PAINTED WIRE WHEELS AND BLOCKLY TIRES

HEATER. ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL.

MATCHING NUMBERS VERIFIED BY BMIHT CERTIFICATE

CURRENT ODOMETER READING: 60,640 miles





Offered for sale is this exceptional, freshly restored 1961 Austin Healey 3000 BT-7 MK1 by marque specialist, Kurt Tanner. Tanner set out to restore this example as his personal car, after purchasing it from the long-term owner in Indiana, where it had been garaged for the past 30+ years. Upon inspection, Tanner noted that it was extremely well-preserved, with a remarkable accident and corrosion free body.



The 3000 was completely stripped down to its bare rolling superstructure with panels fitted, then aggressively cleaned with a 4000-psi steam-cleaning unit. Minimal bodywork was required, and the car was primed, sat for a while, blocked, re-primed, and sat again. The car was able to “air out” and cure for a couple of months at a time between coats, to ensure the highest quality finish, finally being completed ten months later with absolutely stunning show-ready coachwork in correct Healey Ice Blue.



Restoration details include a completely rebuilt drive train, including a fully balanced engine, ported cylinder head, BJ8 specification camshaft, resulting in an engine producing approximately 148hp. Additional restoration work included a new clutch, rebuilt gearbox with a 28% overdrive unit, rebuilt driveshaft, all engine ancillaries, new shock absorbers, bushes, steel brake lines, wiring harness, fuel tank, pump and lines, new Dayton 72 spoke painted wire wheels, and new Blockley 185vr 15 radial tires, hubs, knock-offs, and entire braking system.



The car was renewed cosmetically, including the original cadmium plated hardware, new leather interior, front seat foam kit, carpet kit, panel kit, Armacord trunk kit, windshield glass, rubber kit, new or re-plated original chrome work, dark blue Robbins soft top and tonneau cover, powder-coated convertible frame, and new side-screens with bag.



This 1961 Austin Healey was built on October 24th through 26th, 1960, and dispatched on November 9th, 1960. Exported to Hambro Trading Inc, in San Francisco, California and sold to its original caretaker, who owned it until May 1977. The second owner drove it for a few years only to park it in his garage until Tanner purchased it in 2014.

I entered into contract to purchase this BT-7 Roadster from Kurt Tanner shortly after he had completed restoring and painting the substructure and body. Kurt explained that this was to be his 150th Austin-Healey restoration and was completed in July of 2018. The included British Industry Heritage Trust Certificate confirms factory specifications, matching body and engine numbers, and coachwork in Austin Healey Ice Blue.

Since delivery, the car has been driven on weekends over the past three years with approximately 900 miles added to the odometer, including British Car Rally’s in Northern California, and attending concours events during Monterey Car Week.

This Austin-Healey 3000 is a highly sorted, compulsively maintained example, that is extremely enjoyable to drive with confidence over multiple-day events. The overdrive operates flawlessly, allowing for effortless high-speed driving, and all instrumentation, windshield wipers, signals, horn, heater, electrical switches, lighting, and telescopic steering wheel adjustment work as intended.

The condition of the underside of the car presents as well kept and detailed as the top side. I am meticulous with my cars, and routinely enjoy spending time jacking the car up and cleaning the underside as much as I do polishing the paint and chrome. All maintenance is up to date, including all fluids changed, and a recent tune up. The interior was restored to its orig