1966 Austin Healey 3000 Mk3 BJ8 review from North America
"The most charismatic of all the British sports cars"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Obviously, this is a vintage car and was already over 20 years old when I acquired it, but I would say that gave good service.
Overall, the main problem was with oil leaks, oil burning and some electrical problems.
General comments?
What a fantastic car! It had more character than any car I've ever driven! It was a very "hairy chested" kind of car. All very brutal and primitive by modern standards, but truly entertaining to drive.
The first thing you notice when getting in the car is the unusual driving position. Your legs are totally straight to reach the pedals, yet the steering wheel is almost touching your chest. You do get used to it, but it feels bizarre at first.
The huge engine in this tiny car gives a great torquey feeling and it sounds fantastic. The biggest let down is the gearbox. The spacing of the gears is TERRIBLE. 1st and 2nd are almost the same, and there's a huge gap to 3rd. This must be because the gearbox and engine were originally for a truck. The electric overdrive gave 2 extra ratios, so that was a big help.
The handling was surprisingly good, but did tend a bit too much to understeer. It's the monstrously heavy engine up front. But oh, what fun!
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model year | 1966 |
| Year of manufacture | 1966 |
| First year of ownership | 1988 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1995 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.0 Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 50000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 60000 miles |
| Previous car | Triumph TR250 |
| Date of Entry | 31st July, 2006 |