Austin Healey - Austin Healey 100-six BN4

Austin Healey 100-six in TOP condition

In October 1952 Donald Healey showed at the "Earls Court Motorshow" a new 4-cilinder 2.6 litre engined sports car called the 100. Named after the top-speed of 100 miles per hour.
This was the start for the success of the Austin-Healey sports cars for the coming years. The car was at the time the star of the motorshow. Barriers were erected to keep back the crowds.

The design of the car was made by Gerry Coker who clearly had been inspired by Italian styling. The technical engineering was the work of Geoff Healey, Donald's son.

Sir Leonard Lord, president at the time of the Austin Company, saw a great sales opportunity and made the night before opening of the Motorshow a deal with Donald Healey. The 100 would be produced in the Austin works at Longbridge. It was the first car to be made under the British Motor Company (BMC) banner. The name of the car and badges were changed to Austin-Healey 100 the first day of the show!

In 1956 the development of a new car had started. The 4-cilinder engine had been substituted for a 6-cilinder engine and the body style changed a bit. Two small seats were included in the rear of the car converting the car in a 2 + 2 seater. The folding windshield was changed to a fixed type and a hood vent and outside door handles were added.

This new car, better known as the Austin Healey 100-six type BN4 was in the beginning a disappointment for the public. Despite of the 6-cilinder engine it had less power (102 BHP) and torque (142 lb ft) then the 4-cilinder car it replaced! The technical components that had been used like the gallery head intake manifold and the 1.5-inch SU H4 carbs were parts that were taken right of the shelves of Morris! These were not developed for high performance usage.

17 months after the introduction of this model that took place in May 1956 there were some engine modifications to increase performance. The use of a separate intake manifold with larger carburettors (2 x SU HD6) increased performance to 117 BHP and Torque to 149 lb ft. The cars with these modifications that also were sold as a kit were known as 100-six MM (Mille Miglia) types.

In the last months of 1957 the production of the Austin-Healeys moved completely from Longbridge to Abingdon. This car was built in that period. More specific at december 6th 1957. It has some specific historicaly correct features that are known from these transition cars.

A total of 7,053 BN4 types of the first series were built until April 1958. At that time the production of the Austin Healey 3000 started.