Now SOLD to Jock in Connecticut! Congratulations on an awesome 100-4!
This is BN1L156795, a 1954 Austin Healey 100 with M features installed like the louvered hood, leather strap and 100M airbox. I like the early BN1s because the rear fenders do not have the reflector pods that came along with BN2s, so you have a cleaner rear-end. If you are unfamiliar with these striking cars, the windshield folds down to the speed position shown below, which is the way you attract maximum attention and/or stand-out at cars and coffee. As the girl in the Jeep yelled as she passed just after I folded the windscreen for these pictures, “that thing is FIRE!”
I have owned many Healey 100s, and I bought this one because it is stunning. These cars are frequently requested by our customers so I am sure this one will be popular because it’s a striking restoration. She was restored in 2014 in California and done nicely. The car drives wonderfully, as you can see below in the video drive.
Unique to this car is the Toyota five speed transmission conversion. This is courtesy of a company called “Smitty’s” and this is a popular conversion for big Healeys, and one we have also used in TR3s in the past.
If you’re a purist, it’s an insult to have this gearbox installed in your handsome piece of classic machinery but from my perspective (as a drivability specialist), this is one of the greatest assets that any British car can have. The original BN1 transmission was a three speed oddity borrowed from a column shift Austin with a wacky shift pattern on the floor that was difficult for most people who are not driving classic British cars each and every day. First gear is located where fourth is and second where first would normally be on a traditional H pattern. There’s nothing wrong with that… I’ve owned that gearbox and there’s something quite charming about it… but they’re usually worn and they’re expensive to rebuild and they don’t downshift very quickly because of aging synchronizers.
That gearbox is paired traditionally with an electric overdrive unit (that has more parts than the entire car) and those two can be finicky and require expensive service when they don’t work. So enter the Toyota gearbox conversion, which is basically bulletproof and buttery smooth 100% of the time… anyone can drive it without fear of destroying expensive equipment and it will outlive all of us. Smittys has been making these available for years and it’s a time-tested conversion that really an asset to the car so perhaps you’re a purist who really wants the original gearbox set-up but if you want to drive your car, this is one of the greatest features we can offer. Perhaps we have a unique perspective given that we’ve done dozens of five speed conversions on Sprites, but I think that if you like Healey 100s, you’ll love this gearbox too.
This gearbox has a basic H pattern with a fifth gear over to the right and forward. The gearbox is fully synchronized. You can shift into first gear without worrying about wearing an ancient gearbox, and that is somewhat liberating.
This Healey 100 has many M features installed, including the louvered hood, leather bonnet strap, and cold air box for the carburetors. Spin on oil filter conversion was added during the restoration. We just rebuilt the carbs and replaced all the gaskets and removed the air box to do so, and to re tune the carbs. We’ll have it on for you next week. We’ll also get you some underside pix, and spoiler alert, it looks just as nice as the rest of the car.
Also included with this car are a very nice black convertible top with the correct soft side curtains, which are new, and a very nice red tonneau cover.
Feel free to call if you want to discuss Big Healeys, and this wonderful car!
