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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  Important Collectors' Cars
• Sale Date:
  28 May 2017 ~ 4pm
• Lot #:
  17
• Lot Description:
  1956 Austin-Healey 100M
  Chassis number: BN2/232135; Engine number: 1B/232135-M. This vehicle will be sold unregistered.
• Notes:
  After the second world war in October 1946 Donald Healey launched his first motor car, the Westland, but it is, perhaps, not until the association with Austin in the following decade that the company really made its mark. When Leonard Lord of Austin met Donald Healey at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1952, the Healey 100, as it was known at the beginning of the show, became the Austin-Healey 100. The association continued until 1970 with over 200,000 cars in various iterations bearing the name Austin-Healey. The early Austin-Healeys were true open sports cars which quickly gained a reputation as successful race and rally cars. They were also highly popular in the USA, which meant that many were built in left hand drive configuration. The original Healey 100 had a chassis design by Geoff Healey and Barry Bilbie, with its attractive body styling undertaken by Gerry Coker. It was envisaged as an affordable sports car filing a gap between MG and Jaguar. As Coker says in Bill Emerson’s ‘The Healey Book’, “His (Donald Healey’s) review of my first Italaniate-influenced proposal made it very obvious that he was expecting a scaled down XK120. I explained I thought he wanted a Healey not a Jaguar. He agreed and over the next few months I came up with the body shape of the Healey 100.” Full production of the Austin-Healey 100 began at the Austin, Longbridge production line in Birmingham in May 1953. That same year three special cars were produced for racing in the Mille Miglia and at Le Mans. Preparation included a new distributor, larger carburetors, re-profiled camshaft, additional valve springs and a cold air box. One of the cars was utilised as a back-up for Le Mans but the two which ran finished very creditably in 12th and 14th position overall. Early in 1954 Donald Healey made available a “Le Mans Kit” for owners who wished to compete in their Austin-Healy 100. It was also possible to purchase the aluminium louvered bonnet with leather strap as required for racing at Le Mans and sported by the Austin-Healey Le Mans cars. All of the this could be retro-fitted by the Donald Healey Motor Company on older cars or on new cars. From Emerson’s definitive book it would appear that 519 after-market 100M kits were fitted, and that 640 factory 100M units were built. In October 1955 the Austin-Healey 100M was launched at Earls Court. The 100M was an upgraded version of the BN2 which had been launched in August. The most obvious distinguishing feature was the louvered bonnet with leather strap. There were also further numerous mechanical improvements to the Austin A90 engine which increased the engine output from 90 bhp to 110 bhp. Changes were also made to the suspension. Top speed was 109 mph. The first 195 cars were available in single colour only, with two-tone colours available from the beginning of 1956. This Factory built 1956 Austin-Healey 100M was delivered new to Melbourne in 1956. Its first owner was Diana Hemingway who then sold it to a Victorian chemist by the name of Vivian McLachlan. Vivian raced the car extensively in Victoria, Queensland and NSW as authenticated by the vehicle’s original CAMS logbook The current owners purchased the car in December 2000, in what is described as being in fair and reasonable condition but showing wear and tear from many years of racing. It was decided to restore the car and prepare it for rallies and other tarmac events, though, since completion the car has never seen a racetrack or Rally. With all parts sourced from internationally renowned, Denis Welch Motorsport in the UK, which has been responsible for the restoration of many ex-works Healeys, the following extensive mechanical work was undertaken: Steel crankshaft and conrods; Alloy head; Roller rockers; Alloy radiator; Oil catch tank; Big bore side exhaust; 2 inch SU carburettors; Harmonic balancer; Front disc brakes; Alloy finned rear drums; Brake bias adjustment; Oil cooler; Twin point Mallory ignition; Alloy sump; Moto-Lita steering wheel. The vast majority of all original parts including the steel head, bumper bars, radiator, air box, steering wheel were retained and accompany the vehicle. This rare Australian delivered, three owner Austin-Healey 100M is one of just 640 Factory built cars and is one of just 55 cars finished in its original colour scheme of Florida Green over Old English White. It has been documented in the publication entitled ‘The BMC Experience’ and other Healey books. It is accompanied by copies of its 100M Registry Certificate, CAMS logbook, Heritage Certificate and photographs of its early racing history.
• Estimate:
  A$220,000 - 250,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.