1954 Austin Healey 100 Roadster

Registration no. EJX 48 Chassis no. BN1/156629

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, the Austin-Healey 100 sourced its major components from the Austin Atlantic. 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three-speed gearbox equipped with overdrive on the top two ratios was an unusual feature of the original BN1, which was superseded by the short-lived, four-speed BN2 for 1956. A muscular sports car to delight the purist, the 100 would not be bettered by its six-cylinder successors in terms of outright performance until the introduction of the Austin-Healey 3000 in 1959.

Delivered new to Central Garage, Bradford in June 1954, this BN1 was purchased by the late owner at a UK auction in July 2000. At that time the car was described as fresh from a five-year, body-off, last-nut-and-bolt restoration (undertaken by Healey specialists Perfect Nostalgia) and came with bills totalling in excess of £25,000. The engine, gearbox and overdrive were said to have been rebuilt, and the car also featured new interior, seats, carpets, door trim, and hood. While in the late owner's care the car has been maintained in running order and was driven recently by his executors; it will, nevertheless, require re-commissioning, while the paintwork has deteriorated over the course of the last 19 years and would benefit from refurbishment. Finished in Healey Blue with matching leather interior and hood, the car is offered with a history file including British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Production Certificate, restoration invoices, and photographic record, and a V5 registration document.