Description
This 1956 Austin-Healey 100M BN2 roadster is one of 640 factory-built 100M “Le Mans” examples produced over a 10-month span in 1955 and 1956. Built on the 18th May 1956, it was dispatched to New York. The car returned to the UK in 2002 where it was subjected to a ground up restoration by a previous marque specialist where it was converted to RHD and completed in 2004. The car is in its original factory colour scheme of Reno Red over black with red interior. The original shade of Reno Red was found beneath the RHD column aperture blanking plate which ensured the correct colour when repainted. There is a large 100 page photo album record of the restoration.
The car is registered with the Worldwide 100M Registry on Gold Level FC car 218 with certificate present and British motor heritage certificate also present.
Spec:
1956 Austin Healey 100M UXG 881
Chassis Number BN2 -L/ 232493
Engine Number 1B/ 232493M (Replaced with block 1B/ 214994M)
Body Number 13908
Batch Number 5821
Denis Welch aluminium cylinder head
Denis Welch DWR1 (100M) camshaft
Denis Welch 100M tubular side exit exhaust system (Which sounds fantastic)
Denis Welch carburettor heat shield and inlet extensions
Denis Welch split steering column
Horn and indicator switch on dash
Gerry Coker 100M wood rimmed steering wheel with original horn push(just visually correct not wired/ connected)
New 6v batteries
Carburettors fitted with "super dry" seals
Lightened flywheel and balanced crankshaft
Crankshaft rear seal conversion - never entirely successful.
A Bosch spin on oil filter has been fitted (original in spares box)
A plastic five blade fan has been fitted to reduce noise (original in spares box)
Extensive heat insulation
Alternator instead of dynamo
Kenlowe thermostatic fan and large radiator (recently re-cored with new thermostat)
Alloy rocker cover and sump
Lap and diagonal seat belts
60 spoke wheels with 5x(including spare in boot) 180 HR15 Michelin XAS tyres in excellent condition with plenty of tread remaining, no damage or cracking.
3. 9:1 rear axle ratio
The original engine block was replaced at some point in the cars life prior to 2000. After fitting of the new pistons and aluminium cylinder head from Denis Welch with the steel faced head gasket the compression ratio is at 8. 68:1 compared to the 8. 1:1 as originally stated for the 100M and 7. 5;1 for the standard 100.
Other than the engine block all other 100M parts and features are original, the cockpit surrounds, boot lid, louvred bonnet, anti roll bar, 6047 and 6053 numbered carbs, bent strut in the engine bay, and distributor.
I do have a correctly stamped engine tag with the correct engine number 1B232493M if the next owner would like to fit it for completeness.
Attention was given and significant expenditure has been spent on the car to make it a usable, reliable and practical fast road tourer. It has been driven by different Healey specialists and has been described by them as one of the best driving Healeys they have driven. As the car was for road use and not for competition it has Girling M16 front disc brakes and uprated front springs to 3000 spec and good heat insulation.
A 3. 9:1 rear axle ratio was fitted when it was found that the original 4. 1:1 crown wheel and pinion were severely worn. The speedometer has not been recalibrated but can be easily fixed, at 50mph it underreads by about 8mph but the mileage is corrected in the maintenance record. Since restoration in 2004 the car has covered 21, 000 miles. In the past 4 years the car has covered roughly 1000 miles.
The car has full maintenance and service history for the past 25 years and has been very well looked after and cared for. Any major work has been done by Denis Welch Motors or John Chatham Cars. It’s just had a fresh oil and filter change using Castrol Classic XL 20w50 and has covered less than 100 miles since.
The car has always been garaged and only driven on sunny dry days and only run on Shell V power petrol.
Many books and manuals are also included which can be seen in the photos. The car was also featured on the cover of the Austin Healey Club USA magazine 70th anniversary of the 100M edition from September 2025.
In summary, this is a car you can use and enjoy, its not a concours numbers matching museum piece that doesn’t see the light of day. It strikes the balance of presenting very well with some only some small scratches and dents here and there from normal use, but also being a car that drives incredibly well and is mechanically sound. It is a blast to drive, it handles and pulls very well, the overdrive system is working as originally intended and changes down on the throttle. SPARE PARTS
Original four bladed cooling fan
Original oil filter housing
Spare wheel retaining bar, strap and wedge(large wheels do not fit in original wheel space in the boot)
Original manifold to distributor advance vacuum pipe
2 off original 100M SU carburettor overflow pipes which connect to the air box to balance air pressure across the main jets
Bonnet retaining catch (removed as it rattles and serves no useful purpose)
Original windscreen pivot bolts (replaced with custom made extended bolts to enable fitting of rear view mirrors)
One original rear spring grease nipple
Set of RHD windscreen wiper arms
Steering idler dust seal
Air duct clamp
8 new NGK BP6ES spark plugs
Two rear light glasses
One front side light glass'
One side light chrome rim
Steering side rod assembly
Two sets of SU Carburettor super dry seals
Four star washers for carburettor choke lever spigots
Two rear brake cylinder rubber seal kits
Spare dipstick seals
Distributor O rings
Various flexible exhaust mountings
Various jubilee clips, stainless straps and two cable/ pipe clips
Two front sidelight bulbs
Various O rings and rubber washers
Castrol Classic XL 20w50 oil
Two spring nuts
Can of engine green paint
Pair of gear lever ball end collets
Selection of light bulbs
Gear box overdrive sump plug washer
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT
Car Jack
Tool roll
Special tool for overdrive sump plug
Two fire extinguishers
Wheel hammer and wooden spinner saver
Side screen bag
One hood rain cover
One Classic Additions lightweight outdoor car cover
One Classic Additions Super soft stretch indoor car cover
One indoor Carcoon with battery charger
