1955 Austin-Healey 100/4 BN2 Roadster
Chassis no. BN2-L/228627
Engine no. 1B/228627

Donald Healey's stylish Austin-Healey 100 caused a sensation when it debuted at the 1952 London Motor Show. Intended as a low-cost, high-performance, limited production sports car and aimed at the US market, which took almost 100% of production initially, the Austin-Healey 100 sourced its major components from the Austin Atlantic saloon. In fact, the car first appeared at Earls Court badged as a 'Healey Hundred' and was re-badged 'Austin-Healey' while still on its stand after Austin boss Leonard Lord bought the rights to the design. It was just as well that he did, for Healey would take over 3,000 orders during the Show yet his company had never made more than 200 cars in a single year!

Lord had been happy to agree to supply Austin Atlantic components as the model had not been selling well in its intended market - the USA - and was scheduled for deletion. Low-revving and torquey, the Atlantic's 2,660cc four-cylinder engine produced an unremarkable 90bhp, but when installed in the lighter and more streamlined Healey the result was a genuine 100mph-plus car capable of reaching 60mph in under 11 seconds. A three-speed gearbox equipped with overdrive on the top two ratios was an unusual feature of the original BN1, which was superseded by the short-lived, conventional four-speed BN2 for 1956. In 1953 a team of drivers including Donald Healey and George Eyston set a host of international and AMA speed records at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats driving two Healey 100s. Highlights including a maximum speed of 143.626mph and 1,000 kilometres at an average of 127.00mph achieved by the tuned car and 24 hours at an average of 104.3mph set by the AMA-selected 'off-the-showroom-floor' example. A muscular sports car to delight the purist, the 100 was not bettered by its six-cylinder successors in terms of outright performance until the introduction of the Austin-Healey 3000 in 1959.

This car has been built as a tribute to the various speed records set by Donald Healey with the first-of-the-line four-cylinder Austin-Healey 100. A matching-numbers example, the car has been painstakingly restored and improved upon by its enthusiast owner, yet with respect its originality. The car has a BMIHT Certificate and has been restored accordingly red with a black leather interior.

More than 1,600 hours were needed to get the bodywork in perfect shape, while the interior carpeting has been hand-stitched in order to ensure the best possible fit. Nappa leather was used for the seats. The hood has been hand-stitched from Sonnenland fabric and lined with the same high quality woollen material used for the interior. A trickle charger, circuit breaker and a custom made bag to hold the side screens have been added. Because the original Austin-Healey 100s used Jaguar D-type wheels for their speed record attempts, this car has been fitted with the same period-correct custom-made 16" Jaguar D-type wheels.

The heart of this car is the utterly wonderful engine, which was built by Dutch specialist Wim Janzen to the highest possible specification, producing 170bhp and 259Nm torque on the dynamometer (invoices available). Needless to say, even by modern standards, this is a fast car. Cooling has been upgraded by installing a heavy-duty radiator together with an electric fan. Other upgrades include period-correct disc brakes and a Quaife limited-slip differential. The gearbox has been completely rebuilt and has a functioning overdrive on 3rd and 4th gears. A glorious sounding side exhaust is another delightful feature. For the enthusiast driver, a fully removable aluminium panel carrying rally equipment (Brantz counter and clocks) has been installed. In short: this one-of-a-kind car has been treated to a no-expense-spared restoration that will allow the future owner to participate in classic rallies. The car is EU taxes paid and comes with an old US title.