1953 Austin Healey 100/4 BN1-L

The Austin Healey 100 offered here is a BN1 version produced in 1953, matching numbers, as verified by comparing the numbers with those of the Certificate of Origin issued by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust. The car is therefore a delivery of the first batch of 400 production cars, No. 329, produced on October 2, 1953, with different features from the following models: different front fender curvature, two-piece dashboard, unique transmission tunnel, different hood arch, lighter rear axle, aluminum hood and rear trunk lid, etc.

This example should be considered as a solid project car for a partial or complete restoration.

The vehicle is presented in a metallic blue colour that shows damages a bit all over the original bodywork. Some spots might have been repaired using filler, especially the sides. This example was delivered new in a rare Healey Grey colour, which is not the colour it is presented in today. The bodywork could be preserved as is, but we are of the opinion that a respray to original colours would make this car look fantastic. Most of the original chrome appears to be present and intact and can certainly be saved. The same can be said about the lights at the front and the rear. The foldable windscreen is in good condition, and the side screens are stored in the trunk of the vehicle, though we cannot confirm their condition. Being a very early example, this Austin Healey has some features that can only be found on the first batch of cars, including a bonnet and trunk lid made of alloy. The bonnet currently fitted is of the type M specification. The wire wheels appear to be in good nick, though we strongly recommend to have them checked and refurbished or replaced if necessary. A spare wheel with tire, a wheel without a tire and two spare brake drums come with the car, all in condition that will require recommissioning. The tires currently mounted will need to be renewed. An overall charming appearance with a lot of patina which leaves it open to the next owner how far he would like to go in the restoration process.

The inside of our car is comparable to the outside and would also need some work to be brought back to former glory. The seats are made of black skai and are fitted with a red piping. This colour combination is not original; the interior has been re-upholstered a while back and the original blue interior was replaced. The black carpets show severe signs of wear and are not salvageable. Being a car from the first batch of production, some rare characteristics can also be found inside the vehicle, notably the split dashboard. All the instruments of the dashboard appear to still be in place and intact, and the steering wheel currently fitted is also of the correct type and likely original. Please do refer to our comprehensive picture gallery for a full appreciation of the car’s condition.

From underneath, the car makes a generally solid impression and does not appear to suffer from serious rust. The thick layer of grime and oil prevents us from seeing exactly how structurally sound the different parts are, but we also think it is possible that the above mentioned grime has protected the chassis and suspension from rust quite well. Either way, this example will need a complete mechanical recommissioning. The same goes for the engine, where the rocker arms have been severely attacked by corrosion and rust and the engine is blocked. You are looking at a full rebuilt of the engine, once again giving you the opportunity to specify this vehicle at your own preferences: you can leave the engine in its original configuration, or could choose to tune it up a bit, which is easily done with these power units. The engine fitted to the vehicle is the original unit, making this a matching numbers car. The original 3-speed gearbox was replaced by a 4-speed unit from the BN2 series.

Our Austin Healey was produced on the 2nd October 1953 as the 329th car of the first batch of production and was subsequently delivered to the USA where it would spend all of its life. Its early history is unknown, but by 1978, it was owned by Mr Robert A. Adair from Idaho, having purchased the vehicle from Ms Frances L. Carpenter. In 1980, the vehicle was bought by Mr Richard Fisher and his wife Sandra from Colorado, for the sum of 4.287 USD. The car’s odometer read 55.975 miles at that time. The Fisher couple would keep their beloved British sportscar for close to 40 years until Ms Fisher passed away in 2019, aged 83. Shortly after, Mr Fisher decided it was time to part ways with the Austin, which had most likely not been driven since the early 1980s.

Today, the car shows 56.551 miles on the odometer, which is less than 1.000 miles more than when the Fisher’s bought the vehicle, a surprisingly low mileage for such a long ownership. In fact, Mr Fisher stopped his handwritten maintenance notes in 1983, which leads us to the conclusion that the couple only effectively drove the vehicle for a short amount of time.

The seller purchased the vehicle from Mr Fisher in 2022 and imported the car to Europe.

The Austin Healey 100 is a thrilling car representing peak post-war British performance. A nicely set up example is a very fast and thrilling machine, eligible to a variety of exclusive classic car events. Being a car from the first production batch, delivered in a rare and desirable original colour combination and still having its matching numbers engine, the Austin Healey on offer represents a fantastic opportunity to acquire a great restoration project.

We estimate this vehicle to fetch between €35,000 - €45,000 in auction.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Rouvres, France. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.