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  • Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III (1963-1968)
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Austin-Healey
Sports Cars
1960s
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History

Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III

Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III
Manufacturer Austin-Healey
Production 1963 to 1968
Assembly Abingdon, England
Class Sports car
Body style 2-door roadster
Layout FR layout
Engine 2,912 cc (2.9 L) C-Series I6
Wheelbase 91.70 in, 2,329 mm
Length 157.50 in, 4,000 mm
Width 60 in, 1,524 mm
Height 50.75 in, 1,289 mm
Dry weight 2,335 1b, 1,059 kg

 

The Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III  is a British sports car built from 1963 to 1968, The 3000 Mk III (BJ8) was launched in October 1963 and remained in production until the end of 1967 although some cars were also completed in 1968 .

History

 

The Mk III will also be the last Austin-Healey of large displacement: the continuous mergers between the British car groups meant that the Austin-Healey brand had "in-house" rivals, such as MG and Triumph . To replace the 3000 Donald Healey proposed to mount a 4-liter Rolls-Royce engine and Borg-Warner automatic transmission on a chassis and an enlarged Mk III body by 15.24 cm . However, this solution proved costly to implement and inadequate for the American market due to the safety regulations that would be introduced in 1968 . Without American customers, the Healey -Rolls-Royce operationit would certainly have been a failure and so the 3000 legacy was taken up by the MG C , an MG B adapted to accommodate the Austin-Healey six-cylinder engine.

The Mk III was the most powerful and luxurious of all the Big Healeys. In fact, it has a 148hp engine and a new walnut-veneered dashboard, black-bottomed instruments, center console, key start, drop-down windows, and a new folding rear seat. The power of the engine (type 29K) was increased thanks to a new design of the camshaft and valve springs, 2 SU HD8 carburetors, and a new exhaust system; thanks to these measures 148 HP at 5250 rpm and 22 Kgm of torque at 3500 rpm were reached and the car reached 194 Km / h. The brake booster became standard and the price increased slightly, distribution of the  weight was  49.8% at front axle, and 50.2% to rear axle.

Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III (1963-1968)

PERFORMANCE

  • engine capacity: 177.69 cu in, 2,912 cu cm
  • fuel consumption:19.9 mlimp gal, 16.6 mlUS gal, 14.2 1 x 100 km
  • max speed:123 mph, 198 km/h
  • max power (DIN): 150 hp at 5,250 rpm
  • max torque (DIN): 173 lbft,23.9 kg m at 3,000 rpm
  • max engine specific power: 51.5 hp
  • power-weight ratio: 15.6 lb/hp, 7.1 kg/hp
  • acceleration: standing 1/4 mile 17 sec, 0—50 mph (0—80 km/h) 7 sec
  • max speeds: 47 mph, 75.7 km/h in 1st gear; 60 mph, 96.6 km/h in 2nd gear; 96 mph, 154.6 km/h in 3rd gear; 123 mph, 198 km/h in 4th gear

The options remained the same except for the leather upholstery of the seats and the brake booster, which became standard. In May 1964 the set-up was changed, which gained height from the ground thanks to new rear springs with six coils.wire wheels and knock-on hubs; hardtop; Laycock.de Normanville overdrive on 3rd (1.075 ratio) and IV (0.822 ratio). 3.910 axle ratio, speed In overdrlve/top at 1,000 rpm 23 mph, 37 km/h, max speed in overdrive/top 122 mph, 196.4 km/h.

Austin Healey 3000 MkIII

In March 1965 the MK III "Phase II" was launched with separate direction indicators.

In total 17,712 Mark III (BJ8) were produced between Phase I and I

The 3000 was an unrivalled export success: of the 51,315 cars built (including some 100/6) between 1957 and 1968, 45,596, or 88.8%, crossed the Atlantic and ended up in the United States.

A Austin Healey 3000 MkIII in Heartbeat, TV Series (ITV)

 Austin Healey 3000 MkIII in Heartbeat

Technical

  • Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III Technical details and specifications (1963-1968)

    DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
    wheel base: 91.70 in, 2,329 mm
    front track: 49 in, 1,245 mm
    rear track: 50 in, 1,270 mm
    overall length: 157.50 in, 4,000 mm
    overall width: 60 in, 1,524 mm
    overall height: 50.75 in, 1,289 mm
    ground clearance: 4.60 in, 117 mm
    dry weight: 2,335 1b, 1,059 kg
    distribution of weight: 49.8% front axle, 50.2% rear axle

    ENGINE
    location front
    4 stroke; cylinders: 6, in line
    bore and stroke: 3.28 x 3.25 in, 83.4 x 89 mm
    engine capacity: 177.69 cu in, 2,912 cu cm
    compression ratio: 9
    cylinder block: cast iron
    cylinder head: cast iron
    crankshaft bearings: 4
    valves: 2 per cylinder, overhead, push-rods and rockers
    camshafts: 1, side
    lubrication: eccentric pump, full flow filter
    lubricating system capacity: 13.50 imp pt, 16.28 US pt
    carburation: 2 SU type HD 8 semi-downdraught carburettors
    fuel feed: electric pump
    cooling system: water

    TRANSMISSION
    driving wheels: rear
    clutch: single dry plate
    gearbox: mechcanical
    gearbox ratios : 1st 2.637 2nd 2.071, 3rd 1.306, 4th 1, rev 3.391
    gear lever location: central
    final drive: hypoid bevel
    axle ratio: 3.545

    CHASSIS
    type integral
    front suspension: independent, wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar, lever dampers as upper arms
    rear suspension: rigid axle, semi- elliptic leafsprings, torque arms, lever dampers.

    STEERING
    cam and peg
    turns of steering wheel lock to lock: 3.
    turning circle (between walls): 36 ft, 11 m

    BRAKES
    front disc (diameter 11.25 in, 286 mm), rear drum, servo
    area rubbed by linings: front 228 sq in, 1,470.60 sq cm
    area rubbed by linings: rear 155.50 sq in, 1,002.97 sq cm
    area rubbed by linings: total 383.50 sq in, 2,473.57 sq cm.

    ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
    voltage: 12 V
    battery: 58 Ah
    generator type: dynamo, 30 Ah
    ignition distributor: Lucas

    © Motor car History

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Advanced Maintenance and Service Guides to download and save

Service

  • Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III Maintenance and Service Guide (1963-1968)

    Fuel type: 98-100 oct petrol
    Engine oil change: 12 imp pt. 14.37 US pt, 6.81, SAE 1OW-30 (winter) 20W-40 (summer), change every 6,000 miles, 9,700 km
    Total lubricating system capacity: 13.50 imp pt, 16.28 US pt
    Cooling system capacity: 20 imp pt. 24.10 US pt, 11.4 1.
    Gearbox oil: 4.50 imp pt. 5.50 US pt, 2.6 1, SAE 20W-40, change every 6,000 miles, 9,700 km
    Final drive oil: 3 imp pt, 3.59 US pt. 1.7 1, SAE 90, change every 6,000 miles, 9,700 km
    Greasing: every 3,000 miles, 4,800 km, 11 points
    Tappet clearances: inlet 0.012 in, 0.30 mm check hot, exhaust 0.012 in, 0.30 mm check hot
    Valve timing: inlet opens 16° before tdc and closes 56° after bdc, exhaust opens 51° before bdc and closes 21° after tdc
    Normal tyre pressure: front 20 psi, 1.4 atm, rear 25 psi, 1.8 atm
    Tyres: 5.90 x 15
    Fuel tank capacity: 12 imp gal, 14.3 US gal
    Carrying capacity: 706 1b, 320 kg

    © Motor car History

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British Automotive 1960s | British Sports cars | Sports Cars | Roadster

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