2022-05-27 14:02:20 | pauls writes:

Car offered at:

classiccars.com/listings/view/1244934/1953-austin-healey-100-4-for-sale-in-belli ...

Seller's description:

Here is a unique opportunity for the enthusiast that values early Healey history to own an exceptional Healey! It is a chance to acquire a professionally restored example of a rare early Warwick modified competition Austin Healey. As one of the earliest examples of a Warwick modified car it qualifies as a predecessor of the much admired “M” series cars. It is car #93, the last of the 1953 BN-1s built and is one of the first to be modified for competition at the Healey works in Warwick ! It has the many features found on the ‘M’s plus lightened flywheel and drilled backing plates. In addition to the competition modifications the car surprisingly has pre-production features such as a radiator with a crank hole and dual mounting holes for the steering box and the notorious door sills mentioned by Geoffrey Healey. All this makes it a highly desirable, early factory-built example of a competition Healey, documented by both a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate as well as the Austin Healey 100M Le Mans Registry. This is a matching-numbers car and photographic documentation of the matching body numbers found on the cockpit trim and bonnet are in the photo array as well as additional images of the hand engraved numbers on the carburetor bodies. Also included are images of the various number plates and other items. The car retains its original matching-numbers engine, as verified by the BMIHT Certificate. 

But there is even more! This car is available with both the original bodywork and the custom bodywork. Right now this car shows the design that Donald Healey originally approved for production. It demonstrates what Donald intended the BN-1 to look like. It is the only example ever built to those specifications. His disapproval of the final familiar production design is well documented. It is replicated here for the first time thanks to input from Gerry Coker, the original designer. Images of Mr. Coker’s emails are included below.

We chose to replicate the windshield configuration Dr. George Verrilli used in the1955 and 1956 Mille Miglia. It was deemed a historically allowable modification that allows one to drive with a lower windshield without goggles. A lightweight removable hardtop with enough headroom for a 6'2" driver was designed that matches the new windshield position and complements the overall appearance of the car. Pictures of Dr. Verrilli’s car are included below. During the build stages careful evaluation was made of every aspect of the production design and various production anomalies were attended to that are too numerous to list but include items like the removal of all flanges and visible bolts or rivets. All the bodywork is bolt on exchange pieces utilizing the original bolt holes.

 The numbers matching unrestored bodywork and ancillary parts like the original bumpers, wire wheels, gear shift knob with o/d switch, steering wheel and top bows etc. are available should the new owner want to restore the car to its as built condition. No modifications were made to the original car so restoration should be straight forward if desired. For now as it is it is a great attention getter and makes a great show piece with many historical features to discuss with those interested in Healey history.