1955 Austin Healey 100 BN1
73 years ago, Austin's Leonard Lord needed a new car to replace the A90 and something sporty was needed. At the same time, Donald Healey was looking to get into the high-volume market of sports cars.
The first Healey 100 had been built for the 1952 London Motor Show and it was here that it caught the eye of Lord, managing director of Austin. They struck a deal and production began in 1953. Their coming together resulted in the 100, the first of the so-called "Big Healeys" - named after its ability to reach 100mph.
The Austin-Healey 100 was built from 1953 to 1956, a relatively short production timeframe, with the Austin A90 Atlantic providing many of the mechanics with Jensen building the body before the car was trimmed and painted by Austin at its Longbridge factory. The first 100s were known as the series BN1 and a total of 10,030 were built until being replaced by the BN2 model in 1955.
A high-performance 100M model was also introduced in 1955 with larger carburettors, a cold air box to increase engine airflow, a high-lift camshaft and 8.1:1 compression pistons. 640 100Ms were built by the factory.
Built on the 12th August 1955, 505XVJ was originally dispatched to the Donald Healey motor company in Warwick. The car was subsequently sold and shipped to the USA where it spent its life. The car was returned to the UK in 2014 where the buyer stripped the car to commence a full restoration.
The car was resold with the new buyer commissioning JME Healeys to proceed with a full nut and bolt restoration to the show stopping condition you now see the vehicle. The original chassis, inner structure and outer body were restored. The engine was fully rebuilt, to BN1 production specification. The car was painted in its original colour of Carmine Red. All original components were re-used on the rebuild where possible to keep the car to true BN1 specification other than the fitment of the much-improved BN2 4-speed gearbox. A full re-trim with leather seats & tailored Mohair hood & tonneau cover were also completed. The car is supplied with a documented record of the restoration. Since handover to the customer in February 2020 and as of writing, the car has covered 219miles.
Supplied with current UK V5C registration document, Heritage certificate, and a detailed folder of invoices. The car also retains its original chassis, body and engine plates. The car is also FIVA registered with the identity card and sticker supplied in the document folder.
A recently restored car in superb condition, this car is being sold on behalf of the current owner. An excellent and easy car to drive, It would be difficult to find a better 100/4 for sale on the market at this time and not possible to replicate for the asking price.
£95,000 GBP ono
For further information on this car or to arrange a viewing or test drive, please contact us on our email address at enquiries@jmehealeys.co.uk or call our workshop on +44 01926 499000