The 100 mph Austin-Healey 100
We’re quite excited about this very early example of the Austin-Healey 100, which got its name thanks to the designer, legendary British rally driver and speed record holder Donald Healey, who sought to shift his small company from making expensive performance cars to something more affordable yet still fast. Mr. Healey partnered with Austin, which at the time was part of the conglomerated British Motor Corporation (BMC), to manufacture a little over 10,000 units of the BN1 between 1953 and 1955, and another 4,000 or so BM2s between 1955 and 1956.
This particular example was assembled in September of 1953, very early in the production run, for the North American market. It has since seen an almost bewildering array of performance parts added in a three-year refurbishment from 2016 to 2018. Highlights include a strip-down of the hull to the bare metal, repainted from grey to green, reupholstered and restored interior, and a new transmission added, but that’s really only the beginning of the work that has been done.
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Grey or gray? The answer was green all along
The original Healey Grey color was stripped away to the bare metal, and a lovely Spruce Green was applied in its place sometime between 2016 and 2018. The refurbishment also saw the hood and trunk lid replaced with aluminum ones. Up front, both the headlights as well as the driving lights below them are Lucas aftermarket units.
The hood features a leather strap to help hold it down, while the round side mirrors are mounted very forward on the fenders, and the windshield is of an adjustable-rake design. There is no bumper on the front, and only two tiny bumperettes adorn the rear, with a single offside exhaust on the driver’s side rear. A replaced black soft top with a matching tonneau cover can be raised in inclement weather. Rounding out the exterior are the Minator 15” eight-spoke alloy wheels shod with Vredestein Sprint Classic 165HR15 tires.
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Clean and green
Much like the outside, the interior has been reupholstered and repainted in green, with the pair of bucket seats redone in green leather with pleats for style, while the dash is the same Spruce Green as the bodywork, and fairly minimalist. The door paneling and carpeting are both black. There is a central armrest shared by both driver and passenger, as well as a grab handle for the passenger only. Lap belts are included for safety, and a dash-mounted rearview mirror has been installed for the same reason.
Map pockets are fitted to the door panels as well. Both the center medallion of the wood-clad steering wheel and the shifter knob invoke Saint Christopher in their iconography. The gauge cluster is done by Smiths, with a large 0-140 mph speedometer and a tachometer that redlines at 6,000 rpm, with a combo water and oil gauge on the left, and battery amperage and fuel gauges off to the right. The dash is otherwise minimal and austere.
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More upgrades than we can list
There truly is an extensive set of upgraded performance parts installed from the original. We start with the 2.7L (165ci) inline-four engine, which appears to be the original, albeit with so many new parts and add-ons as to be nearly unrecognizable. Dual SU carburetors, new aftermarket cylinder heads, crankshaft, connecting rods, camshaft, and high-volume oil pump have all been affixed. There’s also a negative-ground electrical system with a 55-amp alternator at the heart. The starter is also aftermarket and tuned for higher torque.
There’s also a new Mallory distributor, a PerTronix electronic ignition, and a Wizard Cooling aluminum radiator. Not only is there an aftermarket cooling fan, but a secondary one has also been installed. The flywheel has been lightened, there’s an extra fuel cell in the trunk with a Facet pump, and the exhaust system is also aftermarket.
The transmission is actually not British at all, but a W58 five-speed manual transmission sourced from Toyota, which sends power to the rear wheels and is paired with a hydraulic clutch system. Braking is handled by Austin-Healey 3000 disc brakes up front, and drums in the rear. An anti-roll bar is fitted at the front, with stiffer shocks added as well. The true mileage is unknown, but the odometer reads 28,000 miles, of which only 50 or so have been added by the current owner.
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Final thoughts: One of the first 100s ever built
While the Austin-Healey 100 isn’t an especially rare car, with an estimated 14,000 plus manufactured across the BN1 and BN2 designations, this particular example is one of the first ever made, and that alone makes it a curiosity. The fact that it has been so thoroughly restored and retrofitted with so many performance parts added makes it an impressive driving experience despite its age. If you love British motorsports and would like a chance to pick up this double-hitter of a collectible, with both the history and the performance aspects on lock, you should check out the auction before it’s gone!
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