1963 AUSTIN-HEALEY 3000 MKIIA - LIGHTWEIGHT WORKS REPLICA

KEY FACTS

• A fantastic lightweight ‘Works’ rally replica, built in the 1980s by John Chatham, one of the leading experts in Austin-Healey competition cars.
• It is powered by a tuned 2.9-litre C-series straight-six, said to produce up to 260bhp, coupled to a four-speed manual transmission.
• Raced by John Chatham, the car was purposely modified at the front to match ‘GRX 884D’, as it was one of two cars campaigned using this registration.
• Acquired by the vendor nine years ago, it has since completed the LE JOG rally, and was even chosen as the ‘star car’ for the Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation’s (HERO) marketing campaign in 2015.
• Since it was built and raced by Chatham in the 1980s, the car has only had two owners prior to the vendor, and has not seen any serious competition use - so it remains in his competition specification.

EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES

• An original UK-delivered MkIIA - one of just 455 right-hand drive BJ7 models - this ‘Big Healey’ was initially a company car for the legendary Healey racer, builder, and tuner John Chatham.
• Used by Chatham’s workshop manager, the car was later put through a comprehensive nut-and-bolt rebuild to competition specification in the 1980s when classic rallying was rapidly rising in popularity.
• While Chatham is well known for racing a Healey registered ‘GRX 884D’, the reality is that two cars actually raced under this plate - and 274 NTA was that second car.
• Conceived and built to late ‘Works’ specification, this included fitting aluminium front and rear wings, and a competition boot lid, all fabricated by Rod Jolley Coachbuilding; fitment of a motorsport-grade engine with triple Weber carburettors; an uprated gearbox with straight-cut tulip gears; deep core radiator; and fully revised suspension. It is also fitted with a ‘Works’ hard top.
• Its rebuilt engine included a Supersprint cam, roller rocker gear, competition valve springs, vernier camshaft sprocket, competition timing chain, baffled sump, and a fully balanced bottom end with a ported and polished head.
• The six-branch exhaust manifold leads to a side-exit exhaust and race silencer
• During the Chatham competition build, the oil pump and oil cooler were also upgraded, and twin fuel pumps were fitted, along with an 18-gallon foam-filled alloy fuel tank.
• Its gearbox was rebuilt with straight-cut gears, competition overdrive and an uprated clutch, coupled to a rear axle with a limited-slip differential. The wheels are magnesium Minilite alloys as fitted by Chatham.
• The chassis has been stiffened, and its suspension includes upgraded shock absorbers, heavy duty front springs, a more robust anti-roll bar, and rose-jointed links.
• Braking is via discs on all four corners and Jaguar callipers. There is also a brake bias adjuster valve.
• In the cabn, there is a plumbed-in fire extinguisher system, a roll over bar, Corbeau bucket seats with four-point harnesses, and an adjustable steering column linked to a high-ratio steering box.
• The electrical system includes alternator charging, Halogen headlamps, electric cooling fan, twin-speed wipers, battery cut-off switch, and internally routed cables, fuses and control boxes.
• Accompanying the car is a BMIHT certificate of the factory record, a copy of ‘Mr Big Healey’ (the biography of John Chatham, which features this car), and a lever arch file of paperwork from the current and previous owners, going back to 2008. There are MOT certificates on file from 2000 onwards.
• Also present is a copy of the Christmas 2015 issue of Austin-Healey Club magazine ‘Rev Counter’, showing 274 NTA on the cover competing in the LE JOG event, plus the 2015 HERO marketing literature.

CONDITION

• With only two owners after John Chatham and prior to purchase by the vendor, 274 NTA presents very much as he rallied the car.
• There is no known accident damage to any of the bodywork, and the car remains structurally very solid, having clearly been cherished and carefully stored when not in use since Chatham’s build.
• Its paintwork is reported to be in good condition, with only minor marks that you would expect from considerate competition use.
• Likewise, the interior presents very well, with only modest signs of use having been driven relatively sparingly since the 1980s rebuild.
• There are no known mechanical or electrical faults.
• The most recent MOT test was on 4 June 2016 at an indicated 18,119 miles, when it achieved a clean pass with no advisories or defects. It has exemption from mandatory MOT tests given its age.

SERVICE HISTORY

• During the current ownership, this 3000 MkIIA has been looked after by JME Healey, Denis Welch Motorsport, and latterly by John Chatham Cars.
• In June 2019, the Healey was seen by Chatham and had a brake calliper freed off, while in 2015 the same workshop also carried out adjustment of the points. Denis Welch also carried out post-rally servicing and preparation in the same year.
• Since being acquired by the vendor, the car has had a full gearbox and overdrive rebuild carried out by Denis Welch, as well as recommissioning works upon purchase carried out by JME Healey.
• While the vendor considers '274 NTA' is in no worse shape than when he completed LE JOG, and he considers the car still perfect for social events, he does wish to point out that he is far from the most mechanically demanding on his cars. The gearbox and overdrive are fresh from a Denis Welch rebuild, but the vendor feels that if the next owner wishes to set the car up on a rolling road, or engage in hard competitive driving, they should consider an engine rebuild.

SUMMARY

This Austin Healey 3000 MkIIA is a superb ‘works’ replica, built to an exacting specification by John Chatham in the 1980s, and remaining in ‘as rallied’ condition. Used as intended by this legendary Healey racer, it has been driven sparingly since, with occasional road rally and regularity events. In sought-after MkIIA specification, it combines the curved windscreen and wind-up windows with the original and more elegant dashboard layout. This ‘Big Healey’ is ready to be enjoyed on the road as a sprightly weekend classic or show car for its next owner.

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