1957 | Austin-Healey 100/6 (BN4)

tba

The Austin Healey 100 is a sports car built between 1953 and 1956 by the British Motor Corporation. It was developed by Donald Healey to be produced in-house by Healey's small car company in Warwick and based on Austin A90 Atlantic mechanics. Healey built a single 'Healey Hundred' for the 1952 London Motor Show and the design impressed Leonard Lord, Managing Director of Austin so much that a deal was struck with Healey to build it in quantity at Austin's Longbridge factory. The car was renamed the Austin Healey 100. The '100' name comes from Donald Healey, who selected the name from the car's ability to reach 100mph as opposed to the Austin Healey 3000, which is named for its 3000cc engine. The final '100' models, 1956's 'BN4' (2+2 seats) and 1958's 'BN6' (2 seats) were six-cylinder 100-Six cars. To make room for the occasional seats the wheelbase was increased by 2 inches. The bonnet had a built-in air scoop and the windscreen no longer could be folded down. The cars used a tuned version of the BMC C-Series engine previously fitted to Austin Westminster which at first produced 102bhp increasing to 117bhp in 1957 by fitting a revised manifold and cylinder head. The overdrive unit became an option rather than a standard fitting. In late 1957 production was transferred from Longbridge to the MG plant at Abingdon. A 117bhp BN6 tested by The Motor magazine in 1959 had a top speed of 103.9mph and could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 10.7 seconds - a real performance car in their day.

Originally registered on 24th August 1957 this delightful example was extensively refurbished in 1996 and presents very well today, a testament to the quality of the restoration work. The blue coachwork with white scallops is virtually unblemished as is the black interior. The 2639cc six-cylinder engine is a good reliable unit and runs well, the gearbox operates as it should. Sitting proudly on wire wheels and with a tonneau cover, this quintessentially British built sportscar oozes style and charisma. It comes with a good collection of invoices, together with a V5C registration document and a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate. This genuine UK supplied right hand drive example is ready to be enjoyed by its new custodian. Consigned by Stewart Banks.