• Full 'Le Mans Specification’ built engine

• Gorgeous Primrose paintwork

• A real head-turner of a classic

Perhaps one of the most well-known cars to come out of early post-war Britain, the Austin-Healey was produced in various guises between 1953 and 1967, with the diminutive and characterful Austin-Healey Sprite joining the lineup between 1958 and 1971. 

The early Austin-Healey 100’s were all built as two-seater ‘Roadsters’ with minimal weather protection, whilst later cars were a mixture of two-seat roadsters and 2+2 convertibles.

The ‘100’ model designation cars were the first of the ‘Big’ Healeys, produced after Donald Healey impressed the managing director of Austin Motors, Leonard Lord, who was looking for a replacement for the ageing and unsuccessful Austin A90. 

A deal was struck, with AH-100 shells produced by Jensen Motors being delivered to Austin’s Longbridge plant, where it was married to Austin underpinnings and christened the ‘Austin-Healey 100’ thanks to its ability to reach 100mph.

Introduced in 1955, the ‘100M’ is perhaps the most desirable model from the driver’s standpoint, being marketed as a performance or ‘motorsport’ variant of the Healey. Fitted with larger carburettors, a cold air intake box, high-lift camshaft and 8.1:1 compression pistons, these M-Spec cars were good for 110bhp and are easily identifiable by the louvred bonnet and belt.

Interestingly, these modifications were also available as part of a ‘Le Mans Engine Modification’ kit, which allowed existing Healey owners to convert their cars to full M-Specification without requiring the purchase of an entirely new vehicle.

This particular 1956-registered ‘100’ BN2 started out lift in Healey Blue over a blue interior, and was outshopped with a laminated windscreen and optional heater, being sent to local dealer Charles Clark & Son limited of Wolverhampton. 

Latterly, the car enjoyed the company of two prior owners, before coming into the ownership of the vendor’s father during August 2005, forming part of their modest but high-quality collection of classic British and German cars. 

Of particular note is the fitment of the aforementioned ‘Le Mans’ engine kit, which takes pride of place in the engine bay - complete with accompanying plaque - and the louvred bare aluminium bonnet dispelling any doubt that this Healey is a true performance icon.

Interestingly, the car has been repainted into Primrose Yellow during the vendor’s late fathers’ ownership, with the work having been carried out to a very high standard. So much so, in fact, that during the photo shoot we didn’t pick up any traces of the car having been painted until the vendor told us.

Unfortunately, since the vendor’s father - the owner of the car - passed in 2017, this ‘Big Healey’ has seen very little use, but has been subject of extensive care and attention by one of the best-regarded specialists for the marque, JME Healey of Leamington Spa, with a significant level of expenditure bestowed upon this classic icon to bring it back to its best, ready for the next owner to enjoy.

Included with the car is the V5 Registered Keeper form showing two prior owners, a set of keys, numerous old MOT certificates, and a few more interesting documents.

The first of those ‘interesting’ documents is the British Motor Heritage Certificate, which confirms the original specification and colour of the car, whilst the second is an extensive invoice from JME Healey, showing over £12,000 in expenditure to bring this Healey back to top condition throughout. 

On the inside, this two-seater roadster is in great shape, and shows plenty of signs of having been cherished throughout its lifetime. 

There is the usual wear and scuffing to the outer edges of the snug racing bucket seats, along with some light creasing and marking to the leather, but that is all part of the character and appeal of long-term ownership cars - they tell a story!

Elsewhere, the carpets are in good condition, as are the dashboard, Moto-Lita steering wheel and sparse door cards, with both doors opening and closing with a reassuring thunk and no sign of any stuck catches or hinges. The dashboard itself shows some light patina in the usual high-traffic areas, but nothing that isn’t commensurate with the car’s age.

The seats are fitted with four-point competition racing harnesses, and, whilst there is some staining or marking to the driver’s harness, both sets are in excellent condition and are ‘in date’ until 2022.

In the rear, the luggage compartment is in good condition with no noted staining or water ingress issues, whilst the spare wheel is present and correct. 

To the best of the vendor’s knowledge, and as far as we could see, all of the gauges and systems inside the car are working exactly as they should.

As with the interior, it is evident that this Healey has seen plenty of car and pride during the owner’s tenure with the car, and has subsequently been cared for fantastically by the vendor, being kept within a garage AND inside a ‘carcoon’ for optimal preservation, hooked up to a battery tender. 

The bodywork is wonderfully straight throughout, and whilst it may not be in its original colour, there is no denying that the Primrose Yellow paintwork looks absolutely stunning and certainly suits the lines of the 100 very well indeed.

There are a few marks and stone chips here-and-there as you’d expect, whilst some of the chrome work displays light pitting and patina, commensurate with the age of the car. 

The standard wheels have been upgraded to a wider set of period-correct wire wheels which give the car an impressively aggressive stance, whilst the fold-down windscreen is in excellent condition with no sign of any damage to the glass.

Fitted with the desirable Le Mans kit to bring this Healey up to ‘M’ specification, the car produces around 110bhp according to the vendor, and also benefits from an uprated distributor and larger carburettors for additional performance gains.

During our shoot, the car would start and idle, but as soon as the accelerator was depressed, it would ‘flood’ itself and cut out, suggesting that the carburettors need additional adjustment and fine-tuning, though when fired up there were no signs of excessive smoke or other notable issues. 

Looking in the engine bay, there are signs of a light oil leak or misting around the rocker cover, and the vendor notes there is the usual light leak as you’d expect from a British car of this era, but nothing more untoward than that.

Given that the car has been extensively overhauled by JME Healey (with invoices attached below) we’d suggest once the nagging fuelling problem is rectified, this M-Spec 100 should be an absolute riot to drive, and it even boasts a recent clean MOT test, which took place on 01 April 2021, despite being exempt on account of its age.

Meticulously cared for and boasting numerous period-correct and desirable upgrades, this 1956 Austin Healey 100 ‘M-Spec’ is an engaging and head-turning classic sports car for the distinguished and experienced driver who wants the style and sophistication of a classic British sports car, but with the increased performance offered by a highly-tuned example.

Presented in excellent condition throughout and benefitting from significant recent expenditure, this example would be a fantastic addition to any collection of classic sports cars, and is sure to surprise a few unsuspecting motorists out on the road.