Description
Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire
Viewing: Tues 8th April from 12pm
Auction: Wed 9th April from 9am
Location: IWM Duxford Airfield, Cambridge CB22 4QR
1954 Austin-Healey 100/ 4
Estimate
£38, 000 - £45, 000
Registration No: GWH 497
Chassis No: BN1-155273
MOT: Exempt
Finished in Red complemented to a Black leather interior
1 of just c. 1, 030 right-hand drive examples made
Subject to an older comprehensive restoration with a full repaint in 2010
Various upgrades including 4-speed with overdrive gearbox, front disc brakes & fast road cylinder head
Large history file including lots of invoices & the original buff log book
Donald Healey's eponymous company built a prototype two-seater sports car for display at the 1952 London Motor Show. It was based on Austin A90 Atlantic mechanicals and sported a notably sleek body designed by Gerry Coker and built by Tickford. It was dubbed the 'Healey Hundred' (a moniker chosen to reflect the car's ability to reach the magic 100mph), and, subject to a suitably encouraging response, Healey planned to build production versions in-house at his factory in Warwick. As things transpired, not only did the Ice Blue prototype more than impress the public, but also got the attention of Austin's Managing Director, Leonard Lord, that he struck a deal to build the car in volume at Longbridge. The newcomer was renamed the Austin-Healey 100/ 4. The rest, as they say, is history. The early examples (code-named BN1s) were equipped with the same 90bhp 2660cc engines and manual four-speed transmissions as the A90 though, in an unusual move, Austin modified the gearbox so it operated as a three-speed unit with overdrive on the top two ratios. A 1953 BN1 tested by Motor magazine returned a top speed of 106mph and achieved the 0-60mph dash in 11. 2 seconds. A total of 10, 688 BN1s are believed to have been produced between January 1953 and 1955 (the vast majority of which went overseas), when the model was superseded by the BN2.
More information to follow:
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Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
Catalogues can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people).
