Cars

The Austin-Healey 100/4 BN1 was born in the early 1950s, at a time when the British automotive industry was seeking to establish itself in the American market by offering elegant, high-performance, and affordable sports cars. Engineer and driver Donald Healey, passionate about fast and well-designed cars, had the idea to create a car capable of reaching 100 miles per hour, or about 160 km/h. This symbolic figure gave the model its name: the Healey 100.

In October 1952, at the Earl’s Court Motor Show in London, Healey unveiled his prototype. The success was immediate. Leonard Lord, then head of Austin, was impressed by the car. He proposed a partnership that led to the birth of the Austin-Healey brand. Less than a year later, in 1953, the car entered production under the name Austin-Healey 100/4 BN1.

This model is based on a 2.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine, borrowed from the Austin A90 Atlantic. It develops about 90 horsepower, allowing the car to achieve impressive performance for its time, with a top speed approaching 170 km/h. The BN1 is equipped with a three-speed manual gearbox, with an electric overdrive on the last two gears to improve driving comfort at high speeds. Its low chassis, sleek silhouette, long hood, and folding windshield give it a typically sporty look. The structure combines steel and aluminum, with lightweight body elements to optimize performance.

The success of the 100/4 was particularly notable in the United States, where it appealed with its British aesthetics and relatively affordable price. Of the approximately 10,000 units produced between 1953 and 1955, a large majority crossed the Atlantic to satisfy the American clientele fond of European roadsters.

In 1955, the BN1 gave way to the BN2, a modest evolution equipped with a four-speed gearbox and some technical improvements. This version would also have a “Le Mans” variant, equipped with a performance kit inspired by competition models.

For the Austin-Healey 100/4 was not content with being beautiful and fast: it also distinguished itself in racing. It notably participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Mille Miglia, and other renowned rallies. Its road handling, mechanical simplicity, and robustness made it a car appreciated by amateur drivers and private teams alike.

Production of the 100/4 model ended in 1956, replaced by the 100/6 equipped with a six-cylinder engine. But the BN1 remains, in automotive history, the symbol of the successful alliance between Donald Healey’s artisanal ingenuity and Austin’s industrial power. Even today, the Austin-Healey 100/4 BN1 is considered an essential classic. It embodies the raw and pure charm of the first post-war roadsters and continues to inspire collectors worldwide.

This example of the first generation was delivered new and registered in the Netherlands in July 1955. Its original color was indeed black, with a red interior, all confirmed by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust. The car remained in Holland until 2008 and still bore its original registration! It was then imported to Belgium by its last owner.

It has undergone two restorations: a total restoration from the chassis by a specialized Dutch workshop between 1993 and 1994, then a thorough refreshment in 2009.

The absence of bumpers, the louvered hood, and the additional headlights give it a sporty look consistent with what was practiced at the time.

The road handling is greatly improved by the installation of telescopic shock absorbers at the front.

The engine has been rebuilt and is equipped with an aluminum cylinder head, and an additional electric fan ensures optimal cooling.

The car drives admirably well, the chassis is perfectly sound, and this Healey has benefited from meticulous maintenance in recent years.

It is equipped with a soft top, “side screens”, and a tonneau cover. An invoice file also accompanies the vehicle.