2013-02-01 16:47:34 | Lofty writes:

For sale on e-bay: cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/

Found it in my barn , it is an authentic original 1959 Austin Healey 3000 BT7 sports car. I bought it from the original owner in South Carolina about 35 years ago and put it in storage. Years ago when storing these cars I sprayed most of the corrosive prone parts and surfaces for rust/corrosion protection with a sticky wax like substance called Cosmoline, an old time commercial brown/black colored preservative. Quite an ugly picture but the Cosmoline is an effective protective coating that comes off fairly easy with mineral spirits. The first few photos shown of the car are just as it was removed from storage a few days ago. The other photos show the car as it is now with some of the cosmoline removed and the car semi cleaned up for better visability and a few parts hung back on it.

FEATURES: The Motor Industry Trust Heritage Certificate confirms the car as being a 1959 Austin Healey Mark 1 3000 BT7 4 seater. Car chassis number HBT7L2074.- (original serial plate still attached to the firewall confirms this). Engine number 29ERUH2693 (original engine number was 29DRUH2459). Body number 2136. Left hand drive, North American Export, original color is Ivory white with black interior. Built June 17-18, 1959. Sent to Mobile Alabama on June 30, 1959. Original equipment was wire wheels, overdrive transmission, heater, laminated windscreen and road speed tyres. Has the original factory fiberglass hardtop.

ENGINE: Original engine was removed and replaced with a period correct 3 litre engine, serial number 29ERUH2693. The engine starts and runs like a Swiss watch. It is silent with no noises, has excellent oil pressure and does not smoke one bit. All of the fuel lines from the fuel tank to the carburetors and the fuel tank look good but may have problems we can't see (clogging, etc)- so we just decided to run the engine from an external gas tank source - saved a lot of time that way. The SU carburetors look excellent (the entire engine compartment has been protected with Cosmoline). Carbs show no wear and look to be nice and tight with no damage. Nice and original. The original aluminum triangular tags are still in the correct position on the carburetor bowl covers.

TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH: The original Laycock DeNormanville overdrive transmission has been replaced with a standard factory period correct Austin Healey non overdrive 4 speed unit. The original overdrive supporting parts are unmolested and intact including all wiring, relays, kickdowns, switches, etc. It shifts solidly and easily through all of the gears including reverse. The car was put on stands, started and run through all of the gears manually one at a time (had to start/stop the engine in each gear for testing due to no hydraulics). Everything worked well, with power being transmitted to the rear wheels correctly in all gears. Driveshaft and rear axle assembly are intact and fully functional. All of the original hydraulics are intact but will need rebuilding including the clutch and brake master cylinders, clutch slave cylinder, front disc brakes and rear wheel cylinders.

ELECTRICAL: The original starter, starter relay, generator, windshield wiper motor are all working and intact. Starter works and starts engine from the original pushbutton switch on the dash. Generator works. All of the original wiper motor mechanism is there and fully functional but the motor itself is missing. The original wiring harness is there and looks completely intact but some of the cloth covering has come off in places. All Lucas relays, fuse panel, switches and controls etc are original and intact and in their correct undisturbed original respective locations. They probably all work but they may not. They all look original and solid with the original wiring intact and not mutilated or modified. The lights all work.

DASH AND INTERIOR: The original dash, gauges, switches, relays and all controls and supporting hardware are there including all switches, relays, kickdowns, etc for the overdrive and all seem to be operable. Nice original gauges and they all work. Gas gauge has been replaced. Speedo and tach were tested with a drill motor. Odometer reads 31392. I cannot guarantee how long these gauges will continue to work, as they are old. The original seats are good but will need recovering, new padding and mounting rails - easily purchased through Moss Motors, etc. The main floors are very useable and probably won't require total replacing but they will need patching in the front and back areas. Smiths heater assembly under the dash is all there and intact. Original parcel shelf is excellent and intact.

BRAKES: The complete braking system and supporting hardware are all there and original but do not work. The front disc brakes and rear drum brakes will need rebuilding hydraulically. The brake master cylinder will need rebuilding. Emergency brake and supporting hardware is all there and intact.

EXHAUST: All there and fairly solid but of course will need replacing with a proper restoration.

COOLING: Original radiator looks excellent and clean with no obvious damage. Drained the old anti freeze, refilled and tested the system while running the engine - no leaks anywhere but still will need proper inspection, cleaning, etc. All hoses will need replacing. Water pump was working. Smiths heater assembly is complete and intact inside of the cockpit but the heater fan in the engine compartment is missing.

MISSING: Tonneau cover, horns, battery, softtop and softtop bows, side curtains, fuel pump, hardtop mounting hardware and rear window vertical struts, heater fan assembly in the engine compartment, seat mounting rails, wiper motor.

BODY/CHASSIS: To review - All body panels and chassis are original steel. The car has not been repainted dozens of times, most of what is left of the paint is the original factory paint - not a pretty sight by now but at least it is mostly all original so you can see the condition of the panels without layers of paint or filler covering anything up. No fiberglass, bondo, etc. Any defects can be plainly seen with no surprises. This is a good original unmolested unmodified car to restore if you are a rust hater like I am. What rust there is is relatively minor which any amateur can repair. The doors are original and good - no rust or filler. The bottoms of the doors have scale rust on the inside but are still solid. The hood and trunk lid are original and good. They have scale rust on the outside surfaces which will require some finishing work. The fenders are original and good with the exception of a few dents and a few small rust holes as seen. The floors are original and good with the exception of needing patching near the front and rear areas as mentioned. The inner and outer sills are original, good and solid, having only minor surface rust. The outriggers are original - good and solid. The frame is original - good and solid, no rust and no damage - straight as an arrow. The front frame horns are original, good and solid with no accident damage. The trunk bottom is original and good but will need patching on both sides. The engine compartment is original and excellent, straight with no damage or rust - very nice. The bumpers are original and solid needing restoration. The factory fiberglass hardtop is very good but needing a new headliner (original headliner is still there in disrepair), mounting hardware, vertical rear window area struts, rubber seals and a rear plexiglass window.

MISCELLANEOUS: Suspension/steering: The front and rear suspension and steering are all original and good and completely intact. Tires/wheels: Tires are good for holding air for loading on/off of a trailer. The wire wheels look to be in very good condition. The spare tire and wire wheel are in good condition.