Austin-Healey 100/4 BN1

Launched at the 1952 London Motor Show, the Healey 100 sports car was developed by Donald Healey and was based on the mechanicals of the Austin A90 Atlantic. 

The design so impressed Leonard Lord, managing director of Austin, that a deal was struck with Healey to build it in quantity at Austin's Longbridge factory. The car was immediately renamed the Austin-Healey 100 and was finished alongside the A90 at Longbridge based on fully trimmed and painted body/chassis units produced by Jensen in West Bromwich.

The first 100s (series BN1) were equipped with the same 2.6-litre four-cylinder engines as the stock A90, but the gearbox was modified to be a three-speed unit with overdrive on second and top. Braking was by Girling 11-inch drums all round with independent front suspension using coil springs and a rigid rear axle with semi elliptic leaf springs. The steering was by a cam and lever system. These were built from May 1953 but were replaced by the BN2 model in mid-1955, now with a four-speed overdrive gearbox, slightly larger front wheel arches, a different rear axle and optional two-tone paint.

The BN2 was in turn replaced by the longer and heavier six-cylinder 100/6 in 1956, but many enthusiasts believe that the earlier four-cylinder car is a better balanced machine. A stock BN1 tested by The Motor magazine in 1953 had a top speed of 106mph and could accelerate from 0-60 in 11.2 seconds with fuel consumption of 22.5mpg. A total of 10,688 BN1s were built and are perhaps the most desirable of the Healey models being the purest and the most fun to drive, not to mention being eligible for many historic events including the Mille Miglia.

First registered in Hertfordshire in July 1955, this particular Healey has been in the current ownership since 1980. Although it may look a little shabby it was in regular use by the owner and his daughter right up until 1996 when it was driven into storage.

Since then it has barely turned a wheel but just before our visit to take these photos the vendor put some fresh fuel in, connected up a battery and reports that it started easily and ran well with good oil pressure, although he does advise that there is no coolant in the engine because the water pump gasket has perished during storage and will need to be replaced before the engine is run for any length of time.

The front left wing has also recently been bent out of shape when two ‘helpers’ attempted to move the car by lifting on the wing with the result that it has bent upwards and caused a nasty panel gap between itself and the passenger door. However, a judicious bit of pressure may quite easily push it back into place.

Altogether a very straightforward restoration project that could be returned to the road with very little effort and gradually improved over time as desired.