1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II BJ7 project with hardtop
West Coast BJ7 project with overdrive, hardtop and CA title, priced under recent project sales; engine is seized.
Why we picked it
This BJ7 is a 1963 3000 Mk II convertible with roll-up windows, the wrap-around windshield, front disc brakes and a four-speed overdrive gearbox. It is still in its original Olde English White with red trim and comes with both a soft top and a factory-style hardtop. The seller says it came from California and Oregon, the panels have no filler and the car is mostly complete, with original chrome and good glass.
The engine is the correct BJ7 unit, but it is stuck from sitting, so treat it as a full restoration. It has a clear California title and correct body tags. The dealer's headline price is $10,900, down from the $11,900 in the description, and the listing has been up since about June 2026. The dealer asks for a $2,000 non-refundable deposit, offers no warranty and posts a walk-around video.
The value check
The seller is asking $10,900. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $12,500–$18,250, so the middle of the market is about $15,375. That put this car 29% under.
Recent Big Healey project sales on Bring a Trailer were $12,500 (1967 BJ8, Jul 2026) and $18,250 (1962 BT7, Jan 2026), while running BJ7s brought $27,250 to $34,000. At $10,900 this car is about 29% under the $15,375 project midpoint.
- 1967 3000 BJ8 project, $12,500 (BaT, Jul 2026)
- 1962 3000 BT7 project, $18,250 (BaT, Jan 2026)
- 1963 3000 BJ7, $27,250 (BaT, Sep 2026)
What to check
- The engine is seized; budget for a full rebuild. Big Healey blocks can crack and liners can be pitted after long storage
- Check the chassis outriggers, the rear spring hangers, the floors and the sills, plus the bottoms of the inner and outer sills and the A-post area; Big Healeys rot from the inside even when the panels look straight
- Look for frame damage under the gearbox crossmember and the low-hanging exhaust, where the frame often gets grounded
- Verify the HBJ7L chassis number against the body tag and get a British Motor Heritage certificate to confirm the original color and specification
- The deposit is non-refundable; watch the video and get an independent inspection first
- Price mismatch on the listing: headline $10,900, description $11,900; confirm the current figure in writing (at $11,900 it is still about 23% under the comp midpoint)
Making it drive like new
Big Healeys respond well to a five-speed conversion, an aluminum radiator with an electric fan, a gear-reduction starter, electronic ignition, upgraded front brake calipers, and telescopic rear shocks in place of the lever arms. Raising the exhaust and adding a skid plate helps ground clearance without changing the look.
