1958 Austin-Healey 100-6

The Donald Healey Motor Company was formed in 1945 in Warwick. By 1952, Mr. Healey was searching for a supplier who could provide a large volume of engines at a reasonable price. A prototype was built wearing a Tickford body and powered by an Austin A90 engine. It was displayed at the London Motor Show where it caught the attention of Leonard Lord, head of the British Motor Corporation. Production was soon moved to Longbridge, and there it became the Austin-Healey 100.

The original Austin-Healey 100-4 was offered as a two-seater roadster. When the British Motor Corporation redesigned the car and introduced it in mid-1956 as the 100-Six, only a 2+2 passenger configuration was available. After customers demanded a strict two-seater model, BMC responded in April of 1958 with the BN6 Series 100-Six. Approximately 20 percent of 100-Six models were true two-seaters. The BN6 was the final development of the 100/6 before being replaced by the 3000 (BT7) in 1959.

The Healey achieved much success in competition, and in 1956, a supercharged, streamlined version of the 100-6 with Donald Healey himself driving achieved 203 mph.

For 1958, the Austin-Healey 100-6 received a six-port version of the engine which brought horsepower from 102 up to 117 horsepower. It had a new cylinder head with six separate ports for intake and exhaust, and a new cast-aluminum intake manifold. The two-seater bodies were the BN6 and the 2+2 versions were the BN4. Changes were minimal to the bodies, and standard equipment included disc wheels. The Deluxe models had wire wheels, tonneau cover, overdrive, heater, telescopic steering column, and turn signals. A hardtop was offered for approximately $240.

by Dan Vaughan

Sport Roadster

Introduced in 1957, the Austin-Healey 100-6 Roadster was powered by a 2.6-liter Austin engine with 102 horsepower. The car had a new longer wheelbase and body, which allowed two children's seats to be fitted in the rear of the cockpit, a design change to meet American tastes. The vast majority of Austin Healey's were sold in the United States. The 100-6 was discontinued in 1959.

Donald Healey drove a prototype version of this car over 200 mph at Bonneville Salt Flats in August of 1956. The 100-6 was the first Austin-Healey to have a six-cylinder overhead cam engine with two SU side-draft carburetors, a four-speed transmission with electric overdrive, and a new six-port cylinder head. 4,241 BN4 models were produced and 4,150 BN6 models were produced.

Sport Roadster
Chassis number: BN6-L/3723
Engine number: 26D-U-H/69055

The Series BN6 100-Six was introduced in April of 1958 as a response to customer demand for a strict two-seat model. The original Austin-Healey 100 was a two-seater roadster, but when BMC redesigned the car and introduced it in mid-1950 as the 100-Six, only a 2+2 passenger configuration was available. Many customers felt it lost some of its sporting character, so BMC re-introduced a strict two-seater, the BN6 Series 100-Six. Only about 20-percent of the 100-Six models were the true two-seater models.

This particular example has been treated to a restoration. It is finished in Old English White with a red leather interior and black 'Everflex' top. There is a Laycock de Normanville overdrive that operates with third and fourth gears, to provide a total of six forward ratios.

This is a matching-numbers original car that was completely stripped down to its bare rolling body shell. The mechanical restoration included a complete engine rebuild. The car has a tonneau cover, an original jack, a complete and correct tool kit, the original service manual, and the original California 'black plate.' It rides on 48-spoke chrome wire wheels and radial tires. It has covered less than 1,200 miles since the restoration was completed.

by Dan Vaughan

Sport Roadster

Donald Healey made numerous trips to the United States and identified a market opportunity for a sports car that would fit between the Jaguar and MG. Just prior to his creation's debut at the 1952 London Motor Show, Leonard Lord, the chairman of the British Motor Corp., took a look at the Healey and decided that this would solve all of his problems. The Austin Motor Co. needed something to compete with the MG and the Triumph TR2. It was a perfect marriage.

Healey wanted to partner with a manufacturer that could turn out his design in large quantities and Lord believed this car would indeed sell. The Healey is regarded as the epitome of the 1950s and 1960s British sports car and it is one of the most sought-after classic cars of today.

The largest market for the Healey was unquestionably the United States. The past few years has seen a steady flow of rust-free cars returning to the United Kingdom. The total production figures from beginning to end amounted to approximately 70,592 cars. Donald Healey severed his ties with BLMC and became the chairman of another famous British manufacturer, Jensen Cars.

For his 'services to export' Healey was made a commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth in 1973. He passed away in 1988, but his memory lives on in the Healeys still being raced, driven, collected and enjoyed today.

Sport Roadster

The current owner acquired this car as a none-running project and is now freshly out of a long-term restoration. The car was completely stripped to the bare chassis and the mechanical components were removed and rebuilt. Upon the strip down process, it was discovered that the car had been raced at some point in its life, so the owner decided to restore it to a racing look. This included work done to the mechanical components such as adding work-style Weber carburetors and alloy head and custom headers. Custom body features such as works-style grille and aluminum body were also added.

The Austin Healey 100 was introduced in October of 1952 at the Earls Court Motor Show. The first Austin Healey 100's were known as 100-4 or BN1. The name 100 came-about by being able to break the 100 mph barrier. The BN also had meaning. The B represented the engine class which meant it had between 2000 and 3000 cc. The N represented the body-style configuration, two-seat and open-top. The 100 was powered by a A90, 2660 cc, four-cylinder engine capable of producing 94 horsepower. The manual three-speed transmission was also borrowed from the A90. However, the first gear was blocked off and was fitted with overdrive on the second and third gears to provide extra power.

The name 'Austin Healey' was formed by a partnership comprising of the designer, Donald Mitchell Healey, and the manufacturer, Austin.

During its total production cycle, 10,688 examples of the BN1 were produced.

In October of 1955, the BN2 was introduced. The BN2 was similar to the BN1 in design but now featured larger drum brakes and a new four-speed transmission with overdrive.

During its production run, 3,924 examples of the BN2 were produced.

The Austin Healey 100S was produced in limited numbers, only 55. Their primary purpose was for competing in racing and rally events as well as for development and marketing purposes. They were entered into races such as Sebring, Mille Miglia, and Le Mans. They were copies of special factory test car that Stirling Moss raced in the 1954 12-hour Sebring race where he placed third. The 100S's were produced at the Healey Warwick factory and most were decorated with the American racing colors, white and blue. Of the 55 that were built, only 10 remain unaccounted for. The 100S, when compared with the 100, featured Dunlop disc brakes on all four wheels, different cylinder head and internal engine modifications, four-speed gearbox without overdrive, and a light-alloy body shell.

The 100S was followed by the 100M. The 100M was a Le Mans variation of the BN2 with an increased horsepower rating of 100-110. It featured bigger carburetors and modified distributor. Valve springs and anti-roll bars were added to the suspension. During its production run, 1100 of the Le Mans BN2's were produced.

Over time, about 100 BN2 were later modified but in order to qualify for the Le Mans configuration the vehicles needed to meet specific standards. These standards included a 1.75 inch H6, SU carburetors, cold air box and air tube, Le Mans regulation strap and a factory style louvered hood.

The four cylinder engine was used from 1952 through 1956, after which a BMC six-cylinder engine was used. The car was dubbed the '100 Six'. Three years and a few engine modifications later, the car was named the '3000' and today is known as the 'Big Healey'. Over the production lifespan of the 3000, it could be assembled with multiple options such as a two-seater or 2+2, hard-tops, single or duo-tone paint schemes, overdrive, and more.

In 1962 the body was redesigned with a curved screen and wind up windows. The interior of the vehicle was revamped in 1964 and also received more ground clearance.

The 3000 was produced from 1959 through 1968. The original engine produced 124 horsepower and was capable of about 114 mph. Modifications to the engine throughout the years increased the horsepower to around 148 and the top speed to 121 mph. The size of the car, the power of the engine, and weighing in at around 2400 lbs made this car responsive, competitive and fun to drive.

In all, there were around 73,000 100's and 3000's produced with 58,000 featuring the six-cylinder engine.

by Dan Vaughan