This stunning Austin-Healey 3000 Mk I Two-Seater (BN7) is an original UK right-hand-drive example, supplied new to D.J. Shepherd & Co. of Enfield, Middlesex on 15th February 1960, wearing the registration 9885 AR, which it retains to this day. Now finished in the elegant shade of Porsche Slate Grey, famously seen on Steve McQueen’s 911 in Le Mans, paired with a black interior. This must rank among the finest-driving and best-presented Healeys on the market.

The ownership history is equally impressive. Prior to 2010, the car had been in single ownership since the 1970s. It was then acquired by Roger Byford, former chairman of the Austin-Healey Club, who undertook a comprehensive restoration. A collector, racer, rally driver and concours judge, Byford’s expertise is evident in the thoughtful and well-executed modifications applied throughout. From the outset in 2012, it was clear this was not to be a standard restoration back to original specification, but rather the creation of a highly capable and refined fast-road car.

Under the bonnet sits a superb Mk III fast-road specification engine, featuring an unleaded conversion, high-lift camshaft, upgraded pistons, and fully balanced crankshaft and internals. Further enhancements include a lightened and balanced flywheel, harmonic crankshaft damper, upgraded rear main oil seal with aluminium backplate, fast-road fuel pump, 123 electronic ignition, larger 2” Mk III carburettors, six-branch manifold and large-bore exhaust, uprated radiator, alternator conversion, and high-torque starter motor. The result is an engine that delivers strong performance with a notably broader power band, combined with impressive smoothness thanks to the careful balancing. Power is transmitted via a modern five-speed gearbox, offering a more precise and effortless shift while retaining a suitably period feel.

To complement this increased performance, the car benefits from upgraded Mk III brakes, fully polybushed suspension, wider chrome centre-lock wire wheels, and modern radial tyres, ensuring confident and composed handling.

Externally, the purposeful mechanical specification is matched by a series of tasteful, works-inspired styling enhancements. These include a beautifully executed works-style front grille with air scoops and colour-coded mesh inserts, lightweight composite wings, Lucas twin spotlamps mounted on Denis Welch aluminium brackets, a de-bumpered body, and a lockable Monza fuel cap.

Inside, the cabin has been subtly reimagined with a more sporting aesthetic. The dashboard features Smiths black-dial gauges, favoured on works cars to reduce glare, alongside a Moto-Lita Derrington wooden steering wheel and an additional battery gauge. The cockpit remains comfortable for longer journeys, with retrimmed seating and thoughtful additions such as removable seatbelts, a hazard switch, USB power points, and Maserati air horns.

Following the initial restoration, subsequent owners have continued to maintain the car to an exceptional standard. In 2022, the current custodian acquired the car from Healey specialists Rawles Motorsport and commissioned an extensive refresh. This included an almost complete repaint again in Slate Grey, along with a full interior retrim in black leather with matching carpets. Attention to detail extended beyond the seats to the dashboard top, door cards, and rear trim panels. The seats themselves were upgraded to later BJ8 items, offering improved support more in keeping with the car’s fast-road character. To complete the package, a brand-new mohair hood set was commissioned, including hood, side screens, frame, and a beautifully tailored tonneau cover.

Having recently driven the car, it serves as a vivid reminder of just how engaging a properly sorted classic can be. Among the many Healeys I have experienced, this is undoubtedly one of the very best. The colour remains strikingly contemporary (although first introduced in 1964), while the quality of fit and finish is immediately apparent, particularly in the door alignment and shut lines, an area so often overlooked. The car starts readily on all six cylinders and delivers a wonderfully responsive driving experience, with sharp throttle response, strong braking, precise steering, as well as the added usability of the five-speed gearbox. It is rare to encounter a restoration of this calibre and rarer still to find one that drives as well as it presents. As ever, it is far more cost-effective to buy a car of this quality than to attempt to replicate it.

The car is supplied with a comprehensive history file, Heritage Certificate of Authenticity, Thor hammer, and jack. This is a Healey that truly deserves to be seen and, more importantly, driven.