Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
Donald Mitchell Healey was born in 1898. He apprenticed with Sopwith and he served in World War I as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps. When the war came to a close, he set up his own garage business in Cornwall, and early successes in rallying led to a role with Riley. Among his victories included a win in the 1931 Monte Carlo Rally with an Invicta S-Type Low Chassis Tourer.
In 1933 Donald Healey moved to Triumph as Development Engineer and later Technical Director. Stints with Claudel-Hobson and Humber during World War II helped shape his future and in the post-War era, he became a sporting car designer and manufacturer. His company would achieve international success with circuit and road racing, as well as rallying. The cars that carried his name would hold earn multiple titles as a speed and endurance record breaker.
At the Earls Court Motor Show in London in 1952, the Healey 100s made their international debut. These were low-cost, high-performance, limited-production sports car primarily aimed at the United States market. The Healey 100 sourced many of its components from the Austin A90 Atlantic saloon. After Austin boss Leonard Lord negotiated the rights to the design with DMN on the launch day, the car was re-badged as the 'Austin-Healey 100'.
The four-cylinder Atlantic 2660cc engine offered 90 horsepower but when installed in the lighter Austin-Healey 100, it was a genuine 100 mph-plus car capable of racing from zero-to-sixty in under 11 seconds.
Part of the agreement stated that Austin would support a development and test program by Donald Healey. The early result of this agreement were two lightly tuned Special Test Cars that achieved 12th and 14th at the 1953 LeMans 24 Hour Race. Following this success, a team of drivers led by Donald Healey and George Eyston set several national and international AAA speed records at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats driving stock and modified versions of the 100. Their accomplishments included a maximum speed of 142.626 mph and 1,000 kilometers at 127.00 mph achieved by the modified 100. An AAA selected stock example averaged 104.3 mph over 24 hours.
The Healey 100 earned its name for its top-speed capability. They frame was comprised of a pair of steel rails that ran the length of the chassis about 17 inches apart, passing beneath the live rear axle and below the front lower wishbones. The body was comprised of alloy and steel, and was supported by brackets extending outward from the main rails. The Austin 90 long-stroke four-cylinder engine offered 90 horsepower at 4000 RPM and 144 foot-pounds of torque at 2000 RPM. The engine was backed by a three-speed manual unit with floor shift, enhanced by a Laycock de Normanville overdrive on second and third gears.
This particular example is the 68th Austin Healey built. It was constructed on June 30th, 1953. It left the factory finished in Healey Grey over blue leather with a blue dashboard, and was delivered new to J.R. Hawkins of Willoughby, Ohio, in September 1953. This car was among the first 25 BN1s imported into the United States.
Mr. Hawkins retained the car for only a short period of time, selling it to Charles Irish Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio on June 21, 1954, for $2,590.95. Mr. Irish would keep the car for nearly six decades.
In 2011, the car was given a comprehensive restoration. The work was completed in 2014. It has been driven fewer than 400 miles since the work was completed. The current owner acquired the car in 2015.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2016
In 1933 Donald Healey moved to Triumph as Development Engineer and later Technical Director. Stints with Claudel-Hobson and Humber during World War II helped shape his future and in the post-War era, he became a sporting car designer and manufacturer. His company would achieve international success with circuit and road racing, as well as rallying. The cars that carried his name would hold earn multiple titles as a speed and endurance record breaker.
At the Earls Court Motor Show in London in 1952, the Healey 100s made their international debut. These were low-cost, high-performance, limited-production sports car primarily aimed at the United States market. The Healey 100 sourced many of its components from the Austin A90 Atlantic saloon. After Austin boss Leonard Lord negotiated the rights to the design with DMN on the launch day, the car was re-badged as the 'Austin-Healey 100'.
The four-cylinder Atlantic 2660cc engine offered 90 horsepower but when installed in the lighter Austin-Healey 100, it was a genuine 100 mph-plus car capable of racing from zero-to-sixty in under 11 seconds.
Part of the agreement stated that Austin would support a development and test program by Donald Healey. The early result of this agreement were two lightly tuned Special Test Cars that achieved 12th and 14th at the 1953 LeMans 24 Hour Race. Following this success, a team of drivers led by Donald Healey and George Eyston set several national and international AAA speed records at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats driving stock and modified versions of the 100. Their accomplishments included a maximum speed of 142.626 mph and 1,000 kilometers at 127.00 mph achieved by the modified 100. An AAA selected stock example averaged 104.3 mph over 24 hours.
The Healey 100 earned its name for its top-speed capability. They frame was comprised of a pair of steel rails that ran the length of the chassis about 17 inches apart, passing beneath the live rear axle and below the front lower wishbones. The body was comprised of alloy and steel, and was supported by brackets extending outward from the main rails. The Austin 90 long-stroke four-cylinder engine offered 90 horsepower at 4000 RPM and 144 foot-pounds of torque at 2000 RPM. The engine was backed by a three-speed manual unit with floor shift, enhanced by a Laycock de Normanville overdrive on second and third gears.
This particular example is the 68th Austin Healey built. It was constructed on June 30th, 1953. It left the factory finished in Healey Grey over blue leather with a blue dashboard, and was delivered new to J.R. Hawkins of Willoughby, Ohio, in September 1953. This car was among the first 25 BN1s imported into the United States.
Mr. Hawkins retained the car for only a short period of time, selling it to Charles Irish Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio on June 21, 1954, for $2,590.95. Mr. Irish would keep the car for nearly six decades.
In 2011, the car was given a comprehensive restoration. The work was completed in 2014. It has been driven fewer than 400 miles since the work was completed. The current owner acquired the car in 2015.By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2016
2016 Bonhams : Quail Lodge
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $70,000-USD $90,000
Sale Price :
USD $62,700
1953 Austin-Healey 100 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Austin-Healey 100
(Data based on Model Year 1953 sales)
1953 AUSTIN-HEALEY 100-4 BN1 ROADSTER Chassis#: BN1L157600 Sold for USD$74,800 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1953 Austin-Healey 100-4 BN1 Roadster Sold for USD$42,350 2016 Auctions America : Auburn Fall | |
1953 AUSTIN-HEALEY 100 BN1 Chassis#: BN1L 140217 Sold for USD$62,700 2016 Bonhams : Quail Lodge | |
1953 Austin-Healey 100/'100S' Coupé Chassis#: ONX 113 Sold for USD$965,539 2015 Bonhams : Bond Street Motor Car Sale | |
1953 Austin-Healey 100 BN1 Chassis#: BN1-L/144642 Sold for USD$77,000 2015 RM Sotheby's : Monterey | |
1953 Austin-Healey 100/4 BN1 Roadster Chassis#: BN1-L/140217 Sold for USD$57,200 2015 Bonhams : Greenwich Concours | |
1953 AUSTIN-HEALEY 100/4 BN1 ROADSTER Chassis#: BNH/143726 Sold for USD$133,051 2013 The Zoute Sale | |
1953 Austin-Healey 100 Special Test Car Chassis#: SPL 225B Sold for USD$1,186,370 2013 Bonhams - The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale | |
1953 Austin-Healey 100 BN1 Roadster Chassis#: 138040 Sold for USD$105,110 2012 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor cars and Automobilia at Goodwood | |
1953 Austin Healey 100/4 BN1 Roadster Sold for USD$32,809 2012 Shannons Sydney Summer Classic | |
1953-55 Austin-Healey Special Test Car/100S Prototype Sports-Racing Two-Seater Chassis#: SPL 226/B Sold for USD$1,322,589 2011 Bonhams - The December Sale | |
1953 Austin-Healey 100 Pre-production Prototype Chassis#: BN1L 134370 Sold for USD$161,127 2011 Bonhams - The December Sale | |
1953 Austin-Healey 100 Roadster Chassis#: BN1L-150288 Sold for USD$66,526 2010 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia | |
1953 Austin-Healey 100 BN1 Le Mans Chassis#: BN1L/144642 Sold for USD$77,000 2009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company | |
1953 AUSTIN HEALEY BN 1 ROADSTER Sold for USD$17,000 2002 Kruse Auction - Auburn, IN |
Austin-Healey 100s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1953 Austin-Healey 100's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1953 AUSTIN HEALEY BN 1 ROADSTER | 2002 Kruse Auction Auburn, In | $17,000 | |||
1953 AUSTIN HEALEY BN 1 ROADSTER | 2002 Kruse Auction Auburn, IN | $17,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $292,078 range.
1962 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series II by Pininfarina Chassis#:4043 Sold for $291,000 2024 RM Sothebys : ModaMiami | |
2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series Chassis#:WDBSK79FX9F158342 Sold for $291,000 2024 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE Chassis#:AZ393315 Sold for $293,700 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
2023 AUDI R8 GT Chassis#:WUAGBAFX5P7901212 Sold for $291,500 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1994 Porsche 911 Strosek Mega Speedster Chassis#:wp0cb2966rs465068 Sold for $291,500 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1967 Porsche 911 S 'Soft-Window' Targa Chassis#:500555S Sold for $291,000 2023 RM Sothebys : The White Collection | |
1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet Chassis#:11102712001022 Sold for $291,725 2023 Bonhams : The Zoute Sale | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet Chassis#:111.027.12.003247 Sold for $291,000 2023 Bonhams : Audrain Concours Auction | |
1965 Citroën DS 19 Cabriolet by Chapron Chassis#:4424011 Sold for $291,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1930 Pierce-Arrow Model B Convertible Victoria by Waterhouse Chassis#:2502227 Sold for $291,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet Chassis#:111.027.12.003524 Sold for $291,000 2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center | |
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible Chassis#:js27v0b209752 Sold for $291,500 2023 Mecum : Monterey | |
2008 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 Roadster Chassis#:ZHWBU47S68LA03145 Sold for $291,000 2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center | |
2005 Acura NSX-T Chassis#:JH4NA21665S000001 Sold for $291,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1956 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Chassis#:121.042.6502944 Sold for $291,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
2015 Lagonda Taraf Sports Saloon Chassis#:SCFTMDCS4FGS50011 Sold for $294,025 2023 Bonhams : Festival of Speed | |
1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro Sold for $291,500 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1967 Shelby GT500 Fastback Chassis#:7r02q211621 Sold for $291,500 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 327/360 SPLIT-WINDOW FUELIE Chassis#:30837S100332 Sold for $291,500 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1998 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster Sold for $291,500 2023 Mecum : Glendale |
1953 Austin-Healey 100
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery
• Other Austin-Healey 100 model years