The Austin Healey 100 was originally developed by Donald Healey as a small production vehicle for his Healey car company. Donald founded the company in 1945 with Achille Sampietro and Ben Bowden after discussing plans for the company whilst they all worked for Humber during the second world war.
Based in an old RAF hanger in Warwick, the first cars to roll out of the hanger doors were very expensive, and very successful cars, winning on road and off-road rallies. The second offering to come from Healey motors, the Silverstone, was so good it raised the attention of American motor group Nash to enter the 1952 Le Mans 24 hours race.
With such extraordinary initial success with his highly expensive and developed cars, Healey wanted to create a relatively inexpensive and accessible sports car whilst still utilising the same skills and engineering. The idea was a sports car that wouldn’t break the bank but could still reach 100mph, a target that would inspire the model’s name, the 100.
Based on Austin A90 mechanicals, Healey created one 100 for the 1952 London Motor show and managed to win over the approval of Austin managing director Leonard Lord who was looking to replace the unsuccessful A90. A deal was struck, and the Austin-Healey 100 was put into production at the Longbridge plant with 14,634 being produced.
This car was restored by the current owner whose day job is restoring Rolls Royce’s and Bentleys. It has had every section stripped back, fixed and restored, given new hardware and lovingly put back together, it really is a nut and bolt build.
It’s a UK car which is worth noting as many of the big Healey’s were apparently set for export, it’s also been kept in its standard factory spec according to its heritage certificate, which the owner tells me is also rare as many of these models are converted into the racing specs of the day. Seeing as the current owner specialises in body work, the engine work was carried out by ‘Orchard Restorations’ in East Sussex and the gearbox work was completed by Hardy Engineering.
This car is a factory right hand drive model which is again a bit special considering out of the 14,634 100’s that were made, only 850 were right hand drive. As previously mentioned, many of that number were exported to other countries, making this Austin Healey just that bit more of a rarity on the UK roads.
The backstory before the restoration gets a little hazy as there wasn’t much spoken about the car before its restoration with us and the owner, but from the incredible condition it’s in now, we’d say it’s in even better form than from the factory due to modern work practices and restorative procedures.
As previously mentioned, the paperwork for the Healey is not as comprehensive some might like, with every receipt and MOT certificate recorded, but that’s not really what this car is about. Saying that however, the current owner has done very well to track down what they can with a vehicle history from the DVLA and a British Motor Industry Heritage trust factory record of the production of this particular car.
On the authenticity and paperwork front this should be more than enough to verify the legitimacy of this Healey, but the more sentimental history might be a bit more difficult to track down if you were inclined to de-shroud the details of who bought it and owned it before its rebirth.
The red leather interior is stunning, not too ‘in your face’ and just spot on for this car, unsure if it was a factory option or a special request, either way it’s a touch of genius for this make and model.
The fit and finish is absolutely second to none as well, so much so that we didn’t want to touch it for fear of getting fingerprints on it. It really is amazing to see something restored so well, that when you sit in it and experience it, it transports you back to what it must have been like to drive it off the factory production line. Being a fully restored two-seater there isn’t much to the interior, the spectacular gloss black dash is a sublime design feature with its curve resembling a World War two fighter’s propeller and even the clocks giving the feeling of an aviation cockpit.
The steering wheel, pedal box, gearstick, handbrake, overdrive, door pulls everything comes with a quality feel to it, almost as if it were a modern-day bespoke luxury take on the classic styling from the 50’s. The anodised aluminium trim (with body number stamped on the underside) framing the interior completes the ‘cockpit’ look whilst you gaze back over the black soft top, perfectly contrasting the paintwork.
Talking of paintwork, this car must have been something to behold once it was finished, with the Carmine red and red interior standing out for miles against the green landscape of the British countryside. Having been cared for so expertly during its time with the current owner there is not a blemish, paint chip, scratch or dent to be spoken of, only a mirror-like finish perfectly accentuated by the silver of the aluminium trim and chrome work.
The 72 spoke alloys are just some of the brand-new parts for the exterior, along with new side screens, tonneau cover, hood and an aluminium fuel tank. The windscreen is in superb condition also, with the tilt mechanism working perfectly and giving the car its deserved sporty looks.
The Chrome accents around the car really bring out the shine in the red paintwork and contrast the colour really nicely. The owner did mention some pitting on the surround for the front grille, which we have tried to show in the gallery, but it’s so minor, you’d be hard pushed to notice it.
With the engine and gearbox both being professionally restored and looking amazing in their original shade of metallic green paintwork, you can bank on them living up to Donald Healey’s initial vision for the 100. Twin carbs and three speeds with overdrive sounds so delectably 50's-ish and we can confirm the noise this car makes whilst pootling down the backroads is just intoxicating; it would certainly encourage a heavy right foot.
With the mechanics fully restored, the only thing left for the new owner to do is regular maintenance and to drive the car as it was designed, to ensure everything is flowing and working to the best of its ability (perfect excuse for taking the long way round then).
The ‘big Healey’s’, a term used to distinguish from the smaller sprites, have always pulled a premium price due to their immense popularity and cult-like following from enthusiasts the world over.
This car is a rarity, being a UK, right hand drive example, restored to its factory specification following its Heritage certificate. Coming from someone well versed in the art of high-end luxury bodywork whilst the engine and drivetrain have been professionally and expertly put together to create an Austin Healey 100 that is just as good, if not better than original. Being in right-hand drive configuration, this car is the definition of a rare collectible, and something that would certainly be worth investing in for the future, although we’d suggest you use it as much as you can, as we’d like to see it out on the roads.
This car has so much racing heritage from its brand’s history and it’s easy to see why as in the 1950’s this must have been one of the prettiest and most desirable cars on the road.
In term of design, this model is as the designer intended it and is a Healey in its purest form, likened to the series 1 E type Jag. With so many drab, emotionless grocery getters taking up the majority of daily transportation duties, driving this car around would almost certainly brighten everyone’s day including yours.
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1955 Austin Healey 100/4
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