1960 Austin-Healey 3000 BT7 — Chevrolet 350 V8 Restomod

A Purpose-Built Big Healey With Serious Character

There are Austin-Healey 3000s that are restored to factory specification—and then there are cars like HBT7L2005.

Recently completed comprehensive refurbishment and now offered through our boutique dealership. This 1960 Austin-Healey 3000 BT7 has been transformed into a purpose-built V8-powered Big Healey, combining the unmistakable character and proportions of the original BT7 with modernized performance, braking, stance, and drivability. Finished in black over a freshly trimmed red leather interior, it has the presence of a genuine vintage sports car with the attitude of a carefully executed hot rod. At the heart of this Healey is a Chevrolet 350 V8, fed by an Edelbrock carburetor and paired with a four-speed manual transmission. The original six-cylinder engine has been replaced, making no pretense of being an original or numbers-matching example—and that is precisely the point. This car was built for someone who wants to drive and enjoy a Big Healey, rather than simply preserve one. The chassis has been substantially upgraded to complement the V8 power, including four-wheel disc brakes, while 17-inch Vöxx wheels and Toyo tires give the car a considerably more aggressive stance. Flared bodywork, side-exit dual exhaust, and the black exterior complete the purposeful look. Inside, the car features a beautifully contrasting red leather interior with black piping, complemented by Stewart-Warner instrumentation and a cockpit that feels every bit as sporting as the exterior suggests. It is also important to be clear about what this car is—and what it is not. It is not a concours restoration. It is not an original, numbers-matching BT7. It is a custom V8 conversion. And for the enthusiast who wants a dramatic, usable Big Healey with substantially more performance than the original 2.9-liter six-cylinder could provide, that is exactly what makes this car appealing. The Big Healey has always been about more than specifications. It is about the experience—the long hood, open cockpit, mechanical feel, and unmistakable British sports-car character. HBT7L2005 takes that experience in a decidedly American direction. For the enthusiast who has always wanted a Big Healey but wants V8 power, upgraded braking, a more aggressive stance, and the freedom to actually enjoy the car, this is an unusually compelling example.