For those who love their classic British sports cars, there’s no doubt that this 1961 Austin-Healey 3000 will seem pretty attractive. It presents superbly, with few visible faults or problems. It appears to be ready to be enjoyed by a lucky new owner, and with summer just around the corner, now could be the time to park this gem in your garage. Located in West Los Angeles, California, you will find the Healey listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set an asking price of $44,500, and once you’ve examined this beauty closely, you will probably feel that it is worth the price of admission.

This Healey presents impressively in Colorado Red, although there is evidence that it has undergone a partial repaint at some point. While the exterior paint is shiny and consistent, there is some peeling around the edge of the hood close. It is difficult to assess how bad this is from the photos, but it is worth investigating. The panels are as straight as an arrow, with no problems or issues. Most of the gaps are tight and consistent, although the trunk lid does sit up a little bit on the outer edges. One of the most significant issues to consider with classics like this is rust. The usually prone exterior surfaces like the lower quarter panels, doglegs, and rockers look clean. The owner provides no information on the state of the vehicle’s underside, but if it has lived most of its life in California, there is cause to be quietly optimistic. The black soft-top is in excellent condition, with no rips or tears. It fits tightly and should provide effective wet weather protection. The chrome shines beautifully, and the redline tires on the spotless wire wheels add the perfect finishing touch to this classy classic.

Lifting the hood reveals a 2,912cc BMC C-Series six-cylinder engine capable of producing 130hp. Bolted to this six is an overdrive manual transmission, and this combination should allow the 3000 to cover the ¼ mile in 17.3 seconds before winding its way to 114mph. While those figures don’t sound that impressive, it is worth noting that the low seating position makes everything feel faster in a Healey than in your average pony or muscle car. The engine bay is spotlessly clean, with no evidence of long-term fluid leaks or other problems. In this case, it doesn’t flatter to deceive. The owner says that the Austin runs and drives perfectly, meaning that some top-down cruising will be on the agenda once the weather becomes warm once again. Personally, I can’t think of many better ways to while away a sunny Saturday than from behind the wheel of this beauty.

When we turn our attention to the interior, there is little of which to be critical. The seats are upholstered in a stunning combination of sumptuous black leather with red piping. These appear to be in excellent condition, with no evidence of physical damage or other problems. The remaining trim and the dash pad present nicely, while there are no obvious wear issues with the carpet. The dash looks impressively clean, while the beautiful woodgrain steering wheel is perfect. The buyer will be able to drive this classic with their head held high because there’s nothing to be ashamed of inside this stunning gem.

While there are a couple of small areas that raise questions with this 1961 Austin-Healey 3000, the overall impression is positive. The evidence of peeling paint around the hood close will bear investigation, but the rest of the car presents beautifully. It is possible to find some tidy Healeys for less than the $44,500 that the owner of this car is asking, but the price on this one is not unprecedented. If an in-person inspection reveals no significant problems, it could be worth pursuing further.