History of a 1962 Austin Healey BT7 Mk II Restoration
By John Seaman
I have always been impressed with Austin Healeys. My cousin had a green 1967 3000 MK III when I graduated from high school. In college I bought a new 1969 MK IV Sprite, and kept it running for 155,000 miles, retiring it in 1989. I always wanted a "tri-carb" Austin Healey 3000 BT7. The Austin Healey / British Motor Corporation built 5,095 model BT7 four-seaters, and 355 two-seaters in 1961 -1962. Power was 132 bhp at 4,750 rpm. The use of the three carburettors was for competition purposes, since regulations allowed a change in the size, but not the number fitted to the production model. This allowed the Austin Healey factory race cars to run three Weber carburettors. Donald Healey was the genius behind these special cars, and is well-known in automotive circles. With his son Geoffrey, their competition success was the result of rigorous preparation, and a dedicated team that set speed records in the 1950's and competed in the Mille Miglia, Le Mans 24- Hour and Sebring races in the 1960's.
I found this car advertized in the North Texas Austin Healey Club newsletter, in November 1983. I was President of the Wisconsin Chapter of the Austin Healey Club of America, and the different chapters had a newsletter exchange. It was offered as a basket case, being sold to help pay for the owner's purchase of a rare 1955 Austin Healey 100S race car.
|
|
After evaluating photos of the car and all the parts, the car was purchased in May 1984 for $2,300, delivered from Texas. A factory hardtop was also included in the deal.
'62 Austin Healey restoration, Part Two
'62 Austin Healey restoration, Part Three
'62 Austin Healey restoration, Part Four
'62 Austin Healey restoration, Part Five
Return to Austin Healey 3000 |
|