Classic Car Reviews 1967 Austin Healey Bj

The 1967 Austin Healey 3000 BJ-8 is the final version of this classic car, the most luxurious of the big Healeys, a pleasure to look at and rewarding to drive. Listening to the rumble of the 2912 cc overhead valve six cylinder engine with its twin two inch SU carbs and dual exhaust system, shifting through the four speed manual gearbox, enjoying the greater comfort of this version with its higher rear suspension and softer rear springs and the security offered by its stronger wheel hubs, oversized front disc brakes and rear drums, the driver knows that this is an Austin Healey which for all its increased comfort truly reflected its competitive as well as its grand touring heritage. An engine tweaked to provide 150 horsepower and new gear ratios contribute to this Austin Healey 3000’s impressive performance. The whole car is slung low, and inside the driver and passenger sit, legs extended in classic sportscar style, on either side of a comfortably padded armrest. The 2+2 version has some passenger space, but it takes a small passenger to fit into these rear seats with any comfort. The engine starts with a turn of the key — no more button start — and the wood-rimmed steering wheel fits comfortably in the hands. From the driver’s seat, a glance at the walnut facia dashboard and its simple black-faced instruments, including the 140 MPH speedometer and electric tachometer, tells the driver all he needs to know to keep this beauty purring along. Whether it is the two-seater or the 2+2, comfortable faux-leather seats in basic black or a choice of colors and wind-up windows meeting a well-designed cloth or hard top make for a comfortable ride rain or shine. Despite the exterior improvements from earlier models — the larger amber turn signals with their separate lenses, the push-button door handles, the curved windshield — the lines are unmistakably those of the classic Austin Healey 3000. The long rounded sweep of the hood, the flash of the oval chrome grill and the matching chrome on the air scoop on the hood above it, the round lights, the chrome bumpers, the wire wheels, the bullet shaped door mirrors — all are unmistakable. The choice of single or two-tone paint job — from the traditional British racing green beloved by one owner to the rich beige and gold preferred by another — says something about the individual owners.The big Healeys, the Austin-Healey 3000s, were designed for drivers who appreciated both the car’s rugged good looks and its ability to be driven hard and fast on race track or road. Donald Healey combined his love for rallying and racing with his abilities as a consultant engineer and designer to create the kind of car which would excel at the things he enjoyed. And when the Austin-Healey marque came into production under a licensing agreement with BMC beginning in 1959, it , not surprisingly, went on to do well in racing and rallying, be driven by the likes of Stirling Moss and Timo Makinen, and to continue to compete on race tracks and in rallies around the world today. Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil