1953 | Austin-Healey 100/4 (BN1)

Austin Healey 100/4 BN1, year 1953. Chassis number BN1L144648, engine number 1B221720M, body number 381. Colour Old English white over dark blue combined with a blue leather interior trimmed with white piping.  Dark blue soft-top, side-screens, and tonneau cover. The first Healey 100 ‘FOUR’ BN1 was produced in May 1953, and the BN1 was replaced by the BN2 in September 1955, this is an early example which left the factory on 28 September 1953.

This magnificent Austin Healey was sold new in the Netherlands by importer Stokvis & Zonen in Rotterdam. Later in 1953, the car was shipped to Texas in the USA. In the USA this Austin Healey was used as a racing car until 1962. After its racing career the car was garaged in a barn in Columbia for 32 years. Old photos of the car in racing guise are still present in the documentation, as are photos of the car after it was taken out of the barn decades later. In the year 2010 the Austin Healey was sold to Germany where the car was fully and beautifully restored and overhauled to perfection.

The car was restored back to the racing specifications visible in the old photographs, except for the streamline ‘bulge’ behind the driver. This original part is still present with the car, as ore the old original lap safety belts. The car shows wonderful original details like the special cooling vents in the bonnet and in the front wings. The car is fitted with the original aluminium drum brakes, and cold air box. Furthermore, is fitted with the 3-speed gearbox with overdrive (on second and third), an aluminium radiator, wire wheels, and an original Halda trip master.

The car was painted in the original colours and the 1950s racing team logo was wonderfully reproduced on the half of the doors. Costs nor effort were spared to reach perfection! This very special and fast racing Healey is in a superb top condition and the car drives and handles perfectly. This very special Austin Healey 100-FOUR comes with a FIVA card and a thick history file with a wealth of historic information, invoices, photos and much more. All the previous owners are known. This is a rare opportunity to buy a unique Austin Healey 100-FOUR which has raced in the 1950s. A top condition specimen!