1956 Austin Healey 100-4 BN2 Roadster 

When Donald Healey presented his two-seat Hundred roadster prototype at the 1952 Earls Court Motor Show, he was no stranger to high-performance automobiles.  His post-war Elliott sedan defied an otherwise largely stagnant British car industry with its wind tunnel-proven design that made it the fastest closed production car in the world.  Yet with the Hundred Healey had broader expectations.  The sports car made use of Austin A90 Atlantic componentry, which attracted brand chief Sir Leonard Lord.  Healey and Lord struck a deal to build the car at Austin's Longbridge assembly plant using Jensen Motors-supplied bodies, and they named their venture Austin-Healey and quantified the roadster's nomenclature to simply 100.  The first Austin-Healey 100s utilized a 90hp inline four-cylinder from the A90 with a three-speed manual gearbox with overdrive.  More than 10,000 were built, spurred by strong demand in the U.S. where the roadster had garnered interest from enthusiasts since the Hundred prototype was named International Car of the Year at the 1953 New York Auto Show.  In late summer of 1955, an updated model dubbed the Austin-Healey 100 BN2 bowed. Visually, it was distinguished by beefier front wheel arches and many left the Longbridge factory with two-tone paint.  (Thanks RM!)

For consignment, a 1956 Austin Healey 100-4 BN2 owned by our current consigner for the past 24 years.  It has been meticulously cared for during this time, and is one of 4604 BN2's produced for this year.  It was the last year for the fold down windscreen giving the car a more aerodynamic and racy look. Our consignor is including with your purchase not only the original shop manuals but also the British Motor Industry Heritage Certificate. 

Exterior
All english wheel-esque shaped and sculpted metal exterior panels are nicely rounded and present in excellent rust free condition.  The car is painted in Reno Red which has been expertly applied and remains nice and shiny.  A rounded over chromed triangulated vertical ribbed grille leads the way and is flanked on either side by a round headlight.  A wonderfully shiny bumper is below and has vertical push bar attachments.  For the BN2, more aggressive wheel wells are noted and these frame wire spoked, central knockoff hubs for the steel wheels all wrapped in blackwall rubber.  A nice curvaceous hood runs rearward to the fold down windscreen which looks very racy when in the down position.  A black canvas top is in good condition, can be put up or down within minutes and presents in good condition but with some fading and wear.  The side panels forming the windows are slightly yellowed but still fit tightly.  The unique and bulbous sloping down rear of the car would become iconic with this model, and on this example is a chromed luggage rack.  Pontoon styled rear fenders slope gently with the trunk lid and have two separately mounted rear lighting on either side.  Another curved shiny bumper with vertical pushers on is mounted to the bottom rear of this sports car.  A nice rust free straight example.

Interior
The passenger “tub” if you will is trimmed in stainless steel and is polished to the nines.  This frames black door panels which are very simple and have a large opening in their centers.  Black vinyl bomber styled buckets are in for the driver and passenger, and have some red piping accenting the edges which delineate the tuck and roll form the smooth bolsters.  A central hump, also in black vinyl, serves as an armrest for driver and passenger.  After this black carpeting takes over where the shifter and ashtray receptacle are housed.   For the dash, a satin finished aluminum oval provides the background of the instrument cluster.  Here round sweeping blackface gauges with white numbers and white pointers reside along with some toggle switches and pulls.  A nicely preserved banjo style steering wheel is fronting this simple dash which turns to black steel and forms a storage shelf in front of the passenger.  A dash mounted rear view mirror is mounted in the center.   Black carpeting is covering the floors, and presents in very good condition.  The trunk contains a covered fuel tank and other tonneau and coverings for this car as well as a new spare tire.  

Drivetrain
A seemingly long hood, but in reality it's very short, opens forward, and reveals a perfectly preserved engine bay.  Within its confines is a 2660cc 4 cylinder which puts out 96hp.  The car was named the 100-4 because it was capable of doing 100mph with the 4 cylinder engine.  It has 2 SU H6 side draft carburetors.  A 4 speed manual transmission with overdrive, (Laycock De Normanville electric overdrive), is operated by a toggle on the dash.   On the back is a 4.10 rear axle.  Single exhaust with a stainless steel muffler are on this vehicle.  Nice satin finished surfaces have no bling but it is very tasteful this way.  Kind of a machine age look to the under the hood engine and bay.

Undercarriage
Putting this car atop our lift reveals some light surface rust, some patina and a red painted steel X frame undercarriage.  The floor pans are solid, and suspension is independent coil springs for the front, and leaf springs for the rear.   Manual drum braking is on all 4 corners.  

Drive-Ability
As a British sports aficionado I took the wheel and this car was pure excitement.  It fired right up and idled with the best of them.  On the track it has some snappy acceleration and smooth shifting mixed in with bias free braking on the panic stop test, and fantastic handling.  The electronic overdrive will take you to 100mph, albeit  in a little bit of time.  As small and open as this car is you will need some courage to do so as it is truly a sports car ride.

The last year for the fold down racing style windscreen which is a real highlight to this model.  A perfectly preserved engine, and nice older interior, it performs and looks fab.  Cracking car ladies and gents!

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.