1954 Austin Healey "100S Prototype" 'NOJ 391' Recreation

2,660cc OHV Inline 4-Cylinder 100S Engine
2 SU HD8 Carburetors
132bhp at 4,700rpm
4-Speed 3000 Mk2 Manual Transmission with Overdrive
Front Independent Suspension – Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Girling Disc Brakes

*Exacting recreation of the famed NOJ 391 using many NOS parts
*Complete with a both a genuine 100S motor and race-proven 100-4 motor modified to better than S-spec
*Built with the blessing and advice of Geoff Healey and Roger Menadue
*A successful competitor on the track and tractable street car on the road


THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Custom-built under the direction of their chief engineer, Geoff Healey, and experimental engineer Roger Menadue in their famous factory at The Cape, Warwick, the 'Special Test Cars' they built would establish the Austin-Healey. These cars were in effect 'silhouette' competition versions of what would become the production 100 – looking essentially identical while in reality being significantly lighter, more carefully built and faster in competition. By February, 1953, Donald Healey had three of his first batch of 20 pre-production Austin-Healey 100 cars ready for publicity purposes including motor shows in Europe and the USA, including his very successful promotional tour of that country.

Four of the pre-production cars were carefully built at Warwick to a detailed competition specification. These 'Special Test Cars' were destined for use in International motor races and world-class distance and speed record attempts. The cars' aluminum-alloy body paneling was painted in a pale metallic green livery. This batch of Special Test Cars comprised chassis serials SPL 224B, 225B, 226B and 227B. The first three were, respectively, road registered 'NOJ 391', '392 and '393 while the fourth car – chassis 227B – remained unregistered as the endurance and speed record car.

Accomplished Austin-Healey expert and restorer Tom Kovacs of Fourintune Garage in Cedarburg, Wisconsin had restored 100Ss before when he decided to build the progenitor to that legendary model. In considering which example to recreate, he decided to go with the one that had taken best-in-class at the 1954 Sebring 12 Hour, ran in the Mille Miglia twice ('53 and '54) as well as LeMans and Goodwood—NOJ 391. When word started to spread of this endeavor in the Healey community, access to information and rare parts started flooding in. In consultation with Geoff Healey, who suggested building the car as it would have become—continually developed—as opposed to when the Works last campaigned it, and Roger Menadue, Healey's longest serving employee who worked on the Works cars when they were new, the process began.

Starting with a 1954 100, chassis BN151958, not much of the original 100 would remain when the project was completed. Reproduction Birmabright aluminum fenders were acquired from an English supplier while a replacement alloy superstructure was obtained from Australia and deliberately drilled for added lightness. A 100S motor was sourced and fitted with a thermostat, late-model oil cooler, and remote-mounted spin-on oil filter. This was mated to 1961 BJ7 gearbox with a 28.6% overdrive unit—effectively giving the transmission an extra gear at the top end. A late model-rear end and Quaife limited slip differential kept things in order out back while the choice of a later unit accommodated a set of 5-stud mount Girling disc brakes that accommodated 15-inch Minilite magnesium wheels—changes that were recommended by Geoff Healey as improvements that would have occurred had evolution of the vehicle continued. Rear shocks were replaced with a set of NOS 100S while little change was required up front. A works anti-sway bar up front and upgraded Panhard rod out back improved both handling and safety.

Out of the box at its first race in the 1993 Chicago Grand Prix at Road America, the car took first place at with Phillip Coombs behind the wheel and Roger Menadue assisting on the crew. In the current ownership for nearly two decades, the 100S motor was removed from the car for a spell with a more powerful upgraded 100-4 block modified to accommodate an aluminum reproduction Westlake 100S head fitted. Reported by the seller to put down 160 ponies at the rear wheels, the 100S motor is back in the car but this race motor accompanies the car (it should be noted that the race motor currently lacks the oil pump and distributor drive and will require some fettling before use). Written up in the September 1993 issue of Chatter, the Austin-Healey owners and enthusiasts magazine, as well as the January-February 2013 issue of Austin-Healey Magazine, the car is offered today as a race and tour proven machine with numerous events under the foot of the current owner. Fitted with 100S-style seats, a 100M windscreen for the option of bug in the teeth or just wind in the hair motoring, and finished in the same livery that NOJ 391 carried at the 1954 running of the Sebring 12 Hour. As a testament to the involvement of Healey and Menadue, their signatures grace the firewall mounted build plate. Whether one wishes to tear up the track or engage in an open road tour, few cars will be as tractable and effective at doing both that this machine!