Description
- Mille Miglia eligible
- Highly sought and rare genuine factory Austin-Healey 100 M ‘Le Mans’
- One of only 640 examples produced
- Benefits from recent nut and bolt German restoration in original color scheme
- Accompanied by BMIHT certificate
- Listed in the 100M Le Mans Registry, approximately 170 examples from the original 640 have ben authenticated by 100 M ‘Le Mans’ Registry
- This car presents a rare opportunity to acquire one of few fully documented and factory-built 100 M “Le Mans” examples that survive today
- Presented in its original colors
Austin-Healey would shock the sports car world in 1953 when their two largely factory specification cars finished the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2nd and 3rd in their class, coming home in 12th and 14th place overall, outpacing and outlasting many purpose-built competitors.
Following the race, customers naturally wanted to increase their car’s performance to the specification of those Le Mans entrants, which resulted in the creation of the factory-approved “Le Mans Engine Modification Kit.”
During the 1955 Earls Court Motor Show, Austin-Healey would launch the 100 M, a higher-performance production model of the Austin-Healey BN2.
These cars received a louvered hood secured with a leather strap, high-compression pistons, larger sway bars, and uniquely valved shock absorbers.
Sold alongside the standard Austin-Healey 100, just 640 genuine factory-built 100 Ms would be produced, with many BN2s being retrofitted with performance parts to obtain 100 M-like performance.
ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE
This specific example is an extraordinary genuine example of the increasingly popular and rare, factory 100M Le Mans Healey, eligible for some of the most prominent motoring events around the world including Mille Miglia.
According to its Heritage Trust Certificate, this fine Austin-Healey 100 M “Le Mans” was completed at the Longbridge Austin-Healey works on October 31, 1955 and delivered new to the United States.
This left-hand-drive 100 M “Le Mans” was equipped with a heater, louvered hood, a laminated windscreen and Miles-per-hour speedometer from the factory.
It was finished in Old English White, over Red upholstery and weather equipment.
Like most of these iconic British roadsters, this Left-Hand Drive 100M was destined for the North American market.
In 2013, the Healey was bought by a Dutch dealer who is very well known to be a trader in restoration projects of rare cars. He sold the project to a German collector in 2013 who carried out a complete nut and bolt restoration.
A very impressive and ground up/ complete nut and bolt restoration has been carried . Some pictures are available showing the intense restoration.
The car is in every aspect extremely nice restored with perfect attention to details.
Because details are making a Healey 100M.
Quite often one can find cars which are upgraded to Healey 100M specification but an original factory built Healey 100M is recognizable on numbers which are on hidden places throughout the car.
We would therefore advice you to be extremely careful in buying a factory M Le Mans.
During the restoration, the Healey has been finished in it’s original color scheme as it left the factory.
Since the restoration the Healey drove a relative small amount of kilometers.
Documented history includes vehicle registrations, British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, 100 M “Le Mans” Registry Certificate, documentation throughout multiple owners, irestoration photographs. Approximately 170 examples from the original 640 have been authenticated by 100 M ‘Le Mans’ Registry.
CONDITION EXTERIOR
This Austin Healey has been completely nut and bolt restored whereby the body has been completely restored as well. Every single part of the car has been taken apart and has been restored with keeping an eye to the specific 100M details.
The car is restored with German pünktlichkeit.
The goal of the former owner wasn’t to make the Healey nicer then new so one could still feel the originality of the car.
Once in a while we see over restored cars which have lost their emotion but this car has kept it’s history by using for example the original windscreen.
The chrome work on the Healey can be described as excellent as well as the paint.
The louvred bonnet shows it’s correct body number on the left side which is a specific detail for a 100M Le Mans.
Also the rear boot lid prop shows the body number.
All details which can be found just on an original 100M Le Mans.
CONDITION INTERIOR
The car’s interior presents very nicely with a matching painted dashboard and red leather seats as was original when the car was newly delivered.
The leather is slightly upgraded to a higher quality then standard.
The roof and tonneau cover are in mohair which is also an upgrade in comparison to the original plastic version.
As the exterior, the entire interior is in as new conditions, all components are very nice in presentation and condition overall – beautifully designed and faithfully restored.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
This particular 100M runs extremely well having been described as resembling a brand-new car.
The car drives excellently with good power, good suspension and an overall tight feel.
The overdrive is very adequate and oil-pressure is very good along with the car’s brakes and clutch.
As mentioned earlier, the factory-built Austin Healey 100M ‘Le Mans’ models are the most rare of any of the 100 models.
Factory-built 100M examples are considered much more desirable and command at the higher range of prices.
Fully and properly restored factory-built examples like this 1955 Austin Healey 100M ‘Le Mans’ fall within that category.
The lower priced “100M” examples you may come across, are most likely to be (the much less sought after) dealer-installed versions.
As mentioned earlier, dealer-installed versions are not part of the count which determined that only 640 units of Le Mans versions were ever built from the factory.
Further more a wonderful and rare opportunity to own a well-documented piece of mid-century British craftsmanship—one that can even be enjoyed in the prestigious and exclusive Mille Miglia.
Disclaimer
The information provided on this website has been compiled by The Houtkamp Collection with the utmost care. The information contained within this advert is provided ‘as-is’, without warranties as to its accuracy whether expressed or implied and is intended for informational purposes only. The Houtkamp Collection is not liable for any errors or mistakes.
