1964 Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII BJ8 Review and Performance Comparison

Austin-Healey 3000 Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII BJ8 is a powered by a Petrol Straight 6. This variant of the Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII BJ8 is the 4 speed / Manual version and was first brought out around 1964. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965 and the 1964 Jaguar XJ 13 5.0 V12.

This particular Austin-Healey 3000 has a 2912cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant driven by the Austin-Healey Rear Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol Straight 6's include the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965

The 3000 shares its Petrol Straight 6 engine configuration with the likes of the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965 and the 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo S 991.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the 3000's Rear Wheel Drive, Cabriolet combination then how about the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce or the earlier 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1077 kgs (2374 lbs) places the Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII BJ8 in a similar weight category as the 2018 Lotus Exige Cup 430 Type 25 and the excellent 2018 Abarth 695 XSR Yamaha Automated, give or take 50kg.

The Austin-Healey 3000 shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 2912cc 12 valve, Straight 6 engine produces around 150 bhp (111 kW) @ 5250 rpm which is comparable to the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (134 bhp) and also the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated Straight 6 throws out 173 lb-ft (234.5 Nm) @ 3000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (184 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 2002 Renault Clio 3.0 V6 230 (164.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Austin-Healey 3000.

The Austin-Healey 3000 has a power to weight ratio of 139.2 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 1964 3000 MKIII BJ8 means you're competing with the 2002 Renault Clio 3.0 V6 230 (164.2 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 1996 Porsche Boxster 2.5 Roadster (164.2 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII BJ8 generates around 160.6 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 2007 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 D-4D (185.6 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 1985 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 Convertible (185.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII BJ8 can accelerate 0–60mph in 9.80 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 10.1 secs. Acceleration rivals to the Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII BJ8 include the 2012 Lexus CT 200h 1.8L (9.80 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 1980 Ford Mustang M81 Mclaren 2.3 Turbo (9.80 secs).

The Straight 6 engine of the Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII BJ8 ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2001 Citroen C5 2.2 HDi 16v (9.90 secs) and the 1997 Citroen Saxo 1.6i VTR (9.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII BJ8 and the Audi TT 2.0TDI Quattro

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 15.79 secs with a trap speed around 86.2 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the Audi TT 2.0TDI Quattro (15.80 seconds @ 86.2 mph) and a close race between the Audi TT 2.0 TDi Coupe Quattro (15.80 seconds @ 86.2 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 1964 version of the Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII BJ8 has a maximum speed of 122mph.

Top Speed of the 1964 3000 equals the Vauxhall-Opel Corsa 1.6 GSi 16V (121 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 MKIII BJ8 then there's the slightly slower the Vauxhall-Opel Corsa 1.6 GSi 16V (121 mph) or how about the impressive Jaguar XK 120 SE FHC (121 mph).

— AutoSnout

Figures & Specs Summary:

Related Links:

• 1964 3000 Rivals List.
• 1964 3000: Full Review and Comparisons.
• A Brief History of Austin-Healey
• Compare the 1964 Austin-Healey 3000