・Garaged and only used occasionally since

・Original RHD Abingdon car

・Last owner for 15 years

Launched in 1956, the Austin-Healey 100/6 was the second of the ‘Big’ Healeys and the first to feature the BMC C-Series six-cylinder engine in place of the original Healey 100’s four-cylinder unit.

The 2.6-litre motor developed 102bhp, but was increased to 117bhp in 1957 at the same time as production was moved to the MG factory in Abingdon. 

It was a well-received car, albeit one that was a bit of a handful to drive with heavy steering and a mechanical gearshift that needed to be driven properly – the Big Healey wasn’t a car from wimps! Indeed, its raw sports car appeal made it a more desirable car than the Jaguar E-Type to the type of person who valued the thrills that the Healey could offer. 

It was a successful competition car, too, in both circuit racing and rallying, in part due to its rugged reliability and also because of its highly tuneable engine and ability to be stripped back and made lighter. 

This example is an unmodified road car, restored in the 1990s to factory standard – or arguably better. It’s rare in that it’s a right-hand-drive Abingdon-built car (one of only a handful of RHD 100/6s built there) and that it’s an original UK car rather than a repatriated export. 

TYJ 267 was one of only 14 RHD UK market Healey 100/6s made in Abingdon in 1957, and was originally supplied as a company vehicle to the Nyla Knitting Company in Long Eaton, Notts, by the Atkeys dealership in Nottingham. 

It was specified in Primrose Yellow over Ivory White, with options including a heater, overdrive, laminated windscreen, adjustable steering column and a black tonneau cover. 

It was restored in the 1990s by Merlin Classic Cars in Stockport, Cheshire, and went from there to Northern Ireland, where it had two owners, the most recent keeping it in a museum among his collection of Minis. The current owner bought the car from Ballywater and brought it to the UK with her when she moved here in 2006. 

The present owner has used the car for local events and occasional pleasure use and absolutely loves it, but is selling the car to realise some extra retirement funds. 

The car has been in storage for the past two years and has always been kept undercover but has just been returned to the road with a substantial service and a new MOT, even though it is MOT exempt. 

According to the V5C, the Healey was first registered in 2006 and has no previous keepers. This is simply because it was ‘exported’ to Northern Ireland and then returned. It was manufactured in 1957 and still retains its original registration number – TYJ 267 – which is backed up by a British Motor Heritage certificate document supplied with it, which also confirms the build date as December 12, 1957. 

Even though there’s very little early history with the car, images of its rebuild can be seen at www.merlinclassics.co.uk under the ‘previous restorations’ tab. 

Although the car is MOT exempt, it is supplied with an MOT certificate valid until June 2022, as proof of its fitness for the road. There was one advisory for slightly perished tyres. 

There are few cars as pretty as a Big Healey, especially when finished in such an iconic colour scheme as this. Primrose Yellow over Ivory White was an all-time classic livery for the Big Healeys and it still looks great today.

Although an older restoration, the Healey is still in lovely order, with a small chip beneath the offside rear taillight being the only blemish of any note. There are other tiny marks and scratches in the paint, but barely any and the car looks amazing from every angle.

That includes underneath, as on a ramp you can see that the metal on the underside is just as good as it is on top. When Merlin Classics carried out the original restoration, they did a high quality job.

The Healey comes with side screen, a black hood and also a full black leather tonneau cover, all of which are in excellent order. 

Inside, the Healey is very pretty indeed. This one is set up in 2+2 configuration with the optional ‘occasional’ seats behind the driver and passenger, though they really are only suitable for smaller people. 

The seats themselves have been re-trimmed in black leather with white piping and look superb, while the black crackle finish dash and rose gold dials are in excellent condition. The switches and dials have some signs of wear but nothing more than a charming patina. 

Following its extraction from storage, the Healey has seen some recent recommissioning work to make it ready for sale. 

It has had a full oil service and spark plugs, the SU carbs have been rebuilt with new needles and jet tubes, it has had new top and bottom hoses and a coolant flush. 

The vendor has also greased all of the key suspension and steering components, and cleaned up and adjusted the braking system along with a brake fluid change. 

It has also had some electrical work including a new horn, a new battery cut-out switch, and indicator and stop light relay and a recent battery. 

The seller reports that the car drives exactly as it should. It fires up first time and both smells and sounds fantastic.

Big Healeys are beautiful cars and the six-cylinder models are the ones to have. This example is absolutely stunning despite being an older restoration and is in fabulous order structurally, cosmetically and mechanically. 

It’s a wonderful example of one of the seminal Fifties classics, made even rarer by being both a genuine UK car and an Abingdon build from 1957. As a fantastic classic to cherish and show or as an investment for the future (or both) it’s a wonderful thing.

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