Footnotes

• Donald Healey's stylish Austin-Healey 100 caused a sensation when it debuted at the 1952 London Motor Show. Intended as a low-cost high-performance sports car and aimed at the US market, which took almost 100% of production initially, the Austin-Healey 100 sourced its major components from the Austin Atlantic saloon. Low-revving and torquey, the latter's 2,660cc four-cylinder engine produced an unremarkable 90bhp, but when installed in the lighter and more streamlined Healey the result was a genuine 100mph-plus car capable of reaching 60mph in under 11 seconds. A three-speed gearbox equipped with overdrive on the top two ratios was an unusual feature of the original BN1, which was superseded by the short-lived, conventional four-speed BN2 for 1956. In 1953 a team of drivers including Donald Healey and George Eyston set a host of international and AMA speed records at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats driving two Healey 100s. Highlights including a maximum speed of 143.626mph and 1,000 kilometres at an average of 127.00mph achieved by the tuned car and 24 hours at an average of 104.3mph set by the AMA-selected 'off-the-showroom-floor' example. A muscular sports car to delight the purist, the 100 was not bettered by its six-cylinder successors in terms of outright performance until the introduction of the Austin-Healey 3000 in 1959.
  Originally a left-hand drive model, this Austin-Healey 100 was purchased by the previous owner in 1988 and restored between 1990 and 1992 by Simon Gibson at Belper Car Centre, with interior re-trimming undertaken by D J Grove Ltd (see photographic record on file). The previous owner stated that a full mechanical rebuild had been carried out prior to his ownership but there is no record of this. Works undertaken during the vendor's ownership include fitting a stainless steel exhaust system, alloy fuel tank, four new hub extensions, new rear shock absorbers, new hood and tonneau cover, and a cartridge-type oil filter (original retained) while all four wheels bearings and seals have been replaced. Eligible for the Le Mans Classic and many other prestigious historic motoring events, '385 BMF' is offered with sundry restoration invoices, BMIHT certificate, old-style logbook, current MoT/tax and Swansea V5.
  

Auction Notices

• Please note this car was built as a home market right hand drive car. There is a BMIHT Certificate on file recording a build date of 7th April 1954. The chassis number should read BN1/154432.

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Category: Motoring / Motor Cars

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