
Gregor Wenner
Specialist Consultant
LOT 143
1954 Austin-Healey 100/4 BN1 Roadster Chassis no. BN1-L/157181 Engine no. 1B/213892
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, limited production sports car and aimed at the US market, which took almost 100% of production initially, the Austin-Healey 100 sourced its major components from the Austin Atlantic saloon. In fact, the car first appeared at Earls Court badged as a 'Healey Hundred' and was re-badged 'Austin-Healey' while still on its stand after Austin boss Leonard Lord bought the rights to the design. It was just as well that he did, for Healey would take over 3,000 orders during the Show yet his company had never made more than 200 cars in a single year!
Lord had been happy to agree to supply Austin Atlantic components as the model had not been selling well in its intended market - the USA - and was scheduled for deletion. Low-revving and torquey, the Atlantic'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three-speed gearbox equipped with overdrive on the top two ratios was an unusual feature of the original BN1, which was superseded by the short-lived, conventional four-speed BN2 for 1956. In 1953 a team of drivers including Donald Healey and George Eyston set a host of international and AMA speed records at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats driving two Healey 100s. Highlights including a maximum speed of 143.626mph and 1,000 kilometres at an average of 127.00mph achieved by the tuned car and 24 hours at an average of 104.3mph set by the AMA-selected 'off-the-showroom-floor' example. A muscular sports car to delight the purist, the 100 was not bettered by its six-cylinder successors in terms of outright performance until the introduction of the Austin-Healey 3000 in 1959.
This Austin-Healey 100 BN1 was built on 10th June 1954 and has the three-speed manual gearbox with overdrive. Its original colour scheme was 'Carmine Red' with a black interior and black soft top, as confirmed on the BMIHT certificate, which is exactly how it is presented today. Like most Healeys this example was exported to the USA where it resided for most of its life.
In 2013 the car was brought back from the USA as 'barn find' in need of restoration, and came to The Netherlands where it would be treated to a painstaking full 'last nut and bolt' restoration by the current owner. It took many years to complete the BN1's restoration, which was only finished in 2022. The aim was to rebuild the Healey as close to original specification as possible, retaining as many original parts as was practicable rather than opt for any of the popular 'Le Mans' upgrades. The car therefore retains SU carburettors of correct type and its original power output, as from the factory. There is a full photographic restoration file of over 900 images with the car, recording the rebuild's progress. Today the car is presented fresh from restoration with only a few shake-down kilometres on the odometer. Offered with its old US title, 'EU-taxes paid' document and the aforementioned BMIHT Certificate, this stunning Austin-Healey 100 is ready to be used and enjoyed this summer and is worthy of inclusion in any important private collection.


































































































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