Descrizione
H&H Classic Auction @Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire
29th November, 2023 13:00
1954 Austin Healey 100/ 4 BN1
Estimate
£33, 000 - £37, 000
Registration No: 180 UYG
Chassis No: BN1- L/ 156438
MOT: Exempt
Supplied to the USA in left-hand drive configuration and converted to RHD
Finished in desirable 'Ice Metallic Blue'
Subject to much recent expenditure including replacement chassis outriggers
Fully registered for UK road use
Donald Healey's eponymous company built a prototype two-seater sports car for display at the 1952 London Motor Show. It was based on Austin A90 Atlantic mechanicals and sported a notably sleek body designed by Gerry Coker and built by Tickford. It was dubbed the 'Healey Hundred' (a moniker chosen to reflect the car's ability to reach the magic 100mph), and, subject to a suitably encouraging response, Healey planned to build production versions in-house at his factory in Warwick. As things transpired, not only did the Ice Blue prototype more than impress the public, but also so excited Austin's Managing Director, Leonard Lord, that he struck a deal to build the car in volume at Longbridge. The newcomer was renamed the Austin-Healey 100/ 4. The rest, as they say, is history. The early examples (code-named BN1s) were equipped with the same 90bhp 2660cc engines and manual four-speed transmissions as the A90 though, in an unusual move, Austin modified the gearbox so it operated as a three-speed unit with overdrive on the top two ratios. A 1953 BN1 tested by Motor magazine returned a top speed of 106mph and achieved the 0-60mph dash in 11. 2 seconds. A total of 10, 688 BN1s are believed to have been produced between January 1953 and 1955 (the vast majority of which went overseas), when the model was superseded by the BN2.
This particular example of the 100/ 4 is understood to have been first delivered to Nebraska, USA as a left-hand drive car back in 1954. Much of the early history is unaccounted for but the car does have titles from Nebraska dated to 2014. There has also been some correspondence with one of the previous owners in the USA which is in the history file and he believed the car may have been used for circuit racing around that time. There is much evidence to suggest that Austin-Healey 100s were used for this purpose, but this is unconfirmed. The car was imported to the UK and road registered in 2014. The vendor has spent over £17, 500 on works to the car in that time with marque specialist Orchard Restorations in East Sussex. This included converting the car from left to right-hand drive, new rear springs, rear shock absorbers and rear wheel cylinders, engine maintenance work and welding in of chassis repair sections.
The vendor has advised that the engine runs very well and that the Big Healey has been used for many trips including to Goodwood, with the transmission appearing smooth, including the overdrive. The paintwork is patinated and the interior again has aged seats, however, it very much adds to the charm of this great sports car. There is also an original-type mat in the boot.
