2023-06-15 11:35:05 | pauls writes:

Car offered at:

www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1954-austin-healey-100-bn1-nPK5Xg

Seller's description:

1954 Austin Healey BN1

Colour Grey

Odometer 0

Engine size 2660

Seller Type Private

Town Hranice

Country Czechia

A beautifully presented and diligently restored example of the highly popular BN1 

Complete with a photographic restoration record showing the quality of the work 

Accompanied by plenty of other interesting and supporting paperwork 

This car is understood to have left the Longbridge factory in 1954 

The “L” suffix in the chassis number defines this as a factory left hand drive car 

We believe this BN1 left the factory in a red livery originally 

From there we can only assume the car headed to the USA 

We know that the car was last sold in the USA in 2012 as a “project car” 

The car was then exported to the Czech Republic in 2013 

Between then and now the car has undergone a long term and full restoration 

Today the car remains in the Czech Republic and is ready for its next ownership adventure 

There is a good level of supporting documentation included with the car 

This includes a Certificate of Ownership from California in 1969 

A sales invoice for the car from 2012 in the USA is on hand 

Import documentation dating from 2013 is also present 

Numerous invoices are on hand for parts acquired 

These are predominantly from UK specialists Ahead 4 Healeys 

The invoices included amount to nearly £6,000 of expenditure 

These cover a period between 2014 and 2020 

A photographic record of the restoration process is also included 

The car’s Californian registration plate is also included 

The Interior 

A fully restored interior featuring finishes in period crimson hues 

Despite the restoration, an admirable level of originality has been retained 

Every aspect of this interior has been addressed and bought up to a fine standard 

For its day the Healey 100 had a modern and overtly sporting interior, very much an architype for many a British sports car that followed it. This restored cabin doesn’t just impress for the quality of the fittings but also for the standard of workmanship evident. 

The compact bucket seats have been recovered in crimson leather. The centres of these are stitched into vertical and padded box pleats. The bolsters are finished in a smooth leather with the two areas delineated by matching piping. Behind the seats is a carpeted luggage shelf which is partially encroached upon by the spare wheel receptacle. 

The beautiful dashboard is finished with body-coloured painted steel. The instrument binnacle is delineated by a raised, elliptical mount which is picked out in a lighter hue.

This is awash with delightful period instruments and switches. The white on black Smiths gauges consist of a speedometer, calibrated in miles per hour, a matching tachometer and a pair of supplemental gauges. The all-important overdrive switch is also mounted here. These all sit behind an original three spoke, Bakelite and alloy steering wheel. 

The door cards and rear side panels are finished in matching crimson leather and lightly padded for additional comfort. The ribbed carpet set is a sympathetic modern replacement and matches throughout the cabin and the boot. The boot is surprisingly commodious and houses the spare wheel and features a dedicated valuables cubby. The black side screens are currently stored here together with the zipped tonneau cover. Both are understood to be new replacements. 

The Exterior 

This example looks sublime in its metallic silver-grey colourway 

Featuring a retracting windscreen for fast touring duties 

Sitting on a sublime set of chromed, cross spoked wire wheels 

The Healey 100 exudes pure late 1950’s sports car DNA with a long, sweeping bonnet and front wings. The compact cabin separates this from muscular rear haunches and a boot lid dropping down to bumper height. It’s definitely a British sports car profile direct from Central Casting. 

The silver metallic-grey paintwork has clearly been professionally and diligently applied with a smooth and deep finish evident. The restoration photographic record underscores the quality of the work undertaken to the body and paintwork and the results are excellent. 

A new, black fabric hood has been fitted and, so, is in an as-new condition. This is accompanied by new black tonneau cover which is centrally zipped to provide the ultimate in flexibility. The alloy framed windscreen slides into a retracted position when required, essentially creating a full width aero screen for fast touring. 

The BN1 sits on a set of bright chromed, cross spoked wheels in a fine restored condition. These are affixed with central, twin-eared spinners with inscribed instructive text. These are shod with a matching set of new Vredestein Sprint Classic radial type tyres. These are in a period correct 165 HR 15 configuration. 

All the correct marque and model badges are present, and the signature fan shaped grill is finished in bright chrome. The cabin glass and light lenses all appear to be in excellent condition and seem to be original.

The Mechanics 

The BN1 is fitted with a 2,660cc 4-cylinder Austin engine 

This produced around 90bhp originally and endowed the car with its 100mph top speed 

The gearbox is a three-speed unit with switchable overdrive on second and third 

Austin Healey was quite safe in their 100mph top speed claim and, given they named the car for this ability, it was an important claim. Autocar were able to achieve 106mph in their 1953 road test of the BN1. They also managed a sub 12 second 0-60mph time and an impressively reasonable, for the time, 22 mpg. 

It is clear from the photographic record and from the parts acquired that this BN1 has enjoyed a full mechanical rebuild and recommissioning. The pristine condition of the under-bonnet presentation helps underscore this impression. All the expected and informative data plates appear to be present and correct. Chassis and engine numbers are both easily found and read. 

If any doubt remains just take a look underneath this fine sports car. The condition here can only be described as pristine and almost certainly better than how it left the Longbridge factory in 1954. Many new parts are in evidence, both visually and with reference to the nearly £6,000 worth of spares bought.