1965 Austin Healey 3000 Mark III

Description

Everyone's got a Cobra replica, but how about something with the same kind of power-to-weight ratio but skewed a bit more towards the luxury end of the scale? Take a good look at this gorgeous 1965 Austin Healey 3000 Mark III, which, like the Cobras, is filled with an American V8, upgraded brakes and suspension, and that kind of old-world look that makes these Anglo-American hybrids so appealing.

Yes, it's a fiberglass replica, but don't let that stop you, because there's a ton of time and money tied up in this car and it's still half the price of a real one. The entire front clip was reworked to cure some cracking fiberglass and then it was expertly prepped and covered in deep, rich, glittering electric blue paint that's a mile deep. We've gone over this car very carefully and there just aren't many nits to pick. Gaps are excellent, the neat little vents behind the front wheels fit flush, and the finish is so soft and smooth that you can't resist running your fingers over it. The big Healey's shape endures as one of the best to come out of England during the '50s and early '60s, and with the long hood, an American V8 seems natural. The flared fenders are a bit more aggressive, but details like the faired-in taillights, exposed gas cap, and bright trim running the length of the body make it very authentic-looking. And it's still got plenty of chrome in all the right places to make it look like a proper British sports car.

The handsome tan ultra-leather interior with black piping is quite British in execution and helps this Healey really stand out. Aside from the slightly fatter and smaller Momo wood-rimmed wheel, you'd almost swear that it was 1965 all over again. A wide center console houses a stubby shifter for the 5-speed manual transmission and yes, there's Vintage Air A/C, a luxury few Cobras ever offer. Workmanship is just as nice inside as it is outside, so you get beautiful woodwork, a full set of Auto Meter dials, and a great-sounding AM/FM/CD/iPod stereo system, as well as power windows, a nice perk. A roll bar behind the seats is probably a good idea considering how much speed this car can generate, and there's a neat-fitting black canvas convertible top that looks good up or down. You also get a fully finished trunk with a remove-mounted battery, and it's big enough for a road trip just about anywhere.

A Corvette-spec 350 cubic inch LT1 V8 lives under the hood, and it retains fuel injection, so it starts and runs beautifully. Obviously this is a lot of power in a lightweight car, but it's also docile and tractable at any speed and with all the LT1's upgrades, it should be bulletproof reliable, too. A fresh accessory drive uses a serpentine belt to get everything under the sloping Healey hood and it includes a giant aluminum radiator to keep everything cool. The front suspension is a Mustang II setup while out back there's a Mustang 8.8-inch rear end and with this much power on tap, you'll be glad for the four-wheel disc brakes. A dual exhaust system gives it a decidedly un-British sound, but it's never annoying. Beautiful alloy wheels with knock-offs are a great choice (they appear to be from a late-model Mustang) and wear fresh blackwall radials for a very clean look.

The high-quality professional workmanship really shows everywhere you look and the performance is impressive. Take this one to the next Cobra show and see where all the crowds form. Call today!