1958 Austin-Healey 100/6 BN6 Roadster

Description

Neatly filling the gap between the MG and Jaguar sports cars, both in terms of price and performance, the ?100? was the result of a successful collaboration between Donald Healey and the Austin Motor Company. First seen in prototype form at the 1952 Earls Court Motor Show, the new Austin-Healey was a clever amalgam of existing components clothed in a sexy new two-seater body and proved a smash hit in crucial export markets, particularly the US where the vast majority were sold. The original Austin-Healey 100 was powered by the same 2660cc four found in the Austin A90 Atlantic, with twin SU carburettors and a three-speed gearbox fitted with overdrive on second and top gears. The original BN1 model gave way to a revised BN2 version in August 1955, the principal difference being the switch to a four-speed gearbox and bigger front brake drums. In 1956, the first six-cylinder Big Healey was introduced, featuring a stretched wheelbase and sporting revised bodywork, with an oval grille (styled after the limited production 100 Sebring competition model), a different swage line and fixed windscreen. In an effort to broaden the 100/6's appeal, two distinct body styles were available, the BN4 with occasional rear seats and (from 1958 onwards) the strictly two-seater BN6. Production, which had commended at Longbridge, switched to Abingdon by the time the BN6 appeared and the C-series engine had been improved with a new cylinder head featuring larger valves, a raised compression ratio and twin SU HD6 carburettors. As a result power rose from 102 to 117 horsepower, giving appreciably better performance. Production of the BN6 lasted from April 1958 until the arrival of the new 3000 the following year and as a result just 4140 were made in total, making this one of the rarer Big Healey variants. With over 90 per cent sold new in the United States, original right-hand drive versions are incredibly scarce and considered highly desirable in today's marketplace. The charismatic Big Healey remains as popular with car enthusiasts now as it did back in the 1950s, the combination of sublime styling and wind in the hair driving experience matched by few others cars.