1953 Austin-Healey 100 BN1 Roadster for Sale with Full Modifications

The 100 mph Austin-Healey 100

The Austin-Healey 100 is a remarkable piece of automotive history, known for its speed and performance. Named after Donald Healey, a legendary British rally driver and speed record holder, this car was designed to bring high-performance vehicles to a more affordable market. Healey partnered with Austin, which was part of the British Motor Corporation (BMC) at the time, to produce over 10,000 units of the BN1 model between 1953 and 1955, followed by approximately 4,000 BM2 models from 1955 to 1956.

This particular example was built in September 1953, making it one of the earliest models produced for the North American market. It has undergone an extensive three-year restoration from 2016 to 2018, during which numerous performance parts were added. The process included stripping the body down to the bare metal, repainting it from grey to green, reupholstering the interior, and installing a new transmission. However, this is just the beginning of the modifications that have been made.

Grey or gray? The answer was green all along

The original Healey Grey color was removed, revealing the bare metal underneath. A beautiful Spruce Green was then applied to the body between 2016 and 2018. The hood and trunk lid were replaced with aluminum versions. Up front, both the headlights and the driving lights below them are Lucas aftermarket units.

The hood features a leather strap to help hold it down, while the round side mirrors are mounted very forward on the fenders. The windshield has an adjustable-rake design. There is no bumper on the front, and only two tiny bumperettes adorn the rear, with a single offside exhaust on the driver's side rear. A replaced black soft top with a matching tonneau cover can be raised in inclement weather. Rounding out the exterior are the Minator 15” eight-spoke alloy wheels shod with Vredestein Sprint Classic 165HR15 tires.

Clean and green

The interior has also been completely reupholstered and repainted in green. The pair of bucket seats have been redone in green leather with pleats for style, while the dash is the same Spruce Green as the bodywork, and fairly minimalist. The door paneling and carpeting are both black. There is a central armrest shared by both driver and passenger, as well as a grab handle for the passenger only. Lap belts are included for safety, and a dash-mounted rearview mirror has been installed for the same reason.

Map pockets are fitted to the door panels as well. Both the center medallion of the wood-clad steering wheel and the shifter knob invoke Saint Christopher in their iconography. The gauge cluster is done by Smiths, with a large 0-140 mph speedometer and a tachometer that redlines at 6,000 rpm, with a combo water and oil gauge on the left, and battery amperage and fuel gauges off to the right. The dash is otherwise minimal and austere.

More upgrades than we can list

There truly is an extensive set of upgraded performance parts installed from the original. We start with the 2.7L (165ci) inline-four engine, which appears to be the original, albeit with so many new parts and add-ons as to be nearly unrecognizable. Dual SU carburetors, new aftermarket cylinder heads, crankshaft, connecting rods, camshaft, and high-volume oil pump have all been affixed. There's also a negative-ground electrical system with a 55-amp alternator at the heart. The starter is also aftermarket and tuned for higher torque.

There's also a new Mallory distributor, a PerTronix electronic ignition, and a Wizard Cooling aluminum radiator. Not only is there an aftermarket cooling fan, but a secondary one has also been installed. The flywheel has been lightened, there's an extra fuel cell in the trunk with a Facet pump, and the exhaust system is also aftermarket.

The transmission is actually not British at all, but a W58 five-speed manual transmission sourced from Toyota, which sends power to the rear wheels and is paired with a hydraulic clutch system. Braking is handled by Austin-Healey 3000 disc brakes up front, and drums in the rear. An anti-roll bar is fitted at the front, with stiffer shocks added as well. The true mileage is unknown, but the odometer reads 28,000 miles, of which only 50 or so have been added by the current owner.

Final thoughts: One of the first 100s ever built

While the Austin-Healey 100 isn't an especially rare car, with an estimated 14,000 plus manufactured across the BN1 and BN2 designations, this particular example is one of the first ever made, and that alone makes it a curiosity. The fact that it has been so thoroughly restored and retrofitted with so many performance parts added makes it an impressive driving experience despite its age. If you love British motorsports and would like a chance to pick up this double-hitter of a collectible, with both the history and the performance aspects on lock, you should check out the auction before it's gone!