Austin-Healey 100/4 BN1 Two-seater

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Donald Healey's sleek and sporting Austin-Healey 100 caused a sensation when it was unveiled at the 1952 London Motor Show.

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.

Fast, raw and exhilarating to drive, the 100/4 proved a big success with thrill-seeking American consumers, many of whom were war veterans struggling to adapt to the relative boredom of civilian life, and it quickly became the sportscar to own, highly tuned versions acquitting themselves well on race tracks across America.

A total of 10,030 BN1s were built, the vast majority in LHD, 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.

As the accompanying Heritage Certificate confirms, this particular BN1 is an original UK market car that was built at the end of March 1955 in Carmine Red with red interior trim. Little is known of the subsequent history of the car but the number plate would imply that it was first registered in Leicester between April and June 1955. It reputedly had just one owner until the early 1980s when it was exported to Canada where it was discovered by the vendor’s brother a couple of years ago. He shipped it back to the UK where it received a thorough restoration documented in photos in the history file.

Now in stunning condition throughout with superb paintwork, exemplary panel gaps and beautifully preserved red leather seats which look like they may well be original, the car is also said to drive very well and certainly fired up promptly and ran very sweetly as we moved it around for these photos, with a notably slick and easy gearchange and 40psi oilpressure. A battery cut-off switch is fitted in the boot and the car has a soft top and frame, both in good condition.

As nice an example as we have ever offered, this 'matching numbers' machine looks an absolute steal at the modest guide price suggested today, the 100/4 being a model that has soared in value of late, even overtaking the once-more-desirable Austin-Healey 3000. We like it a lot!