1955 Austin-Healey 100

This 1955 Austin-Healey BN2 Roadster is one of 640 factory-built 100M “Le Mans” examples and was completed on November 30, 1955. The car is said to have been sold new in Virginia and remained with its original owner until 1972. In the early 1990s, it was sold to collector Kirk F. White, who had the car refurbished by Preserving the Classics in Bend, Oregon. There the car was repainted in white and red, and the red leather upholstery was replaced. Power comes from a 2,660cc inline-four equipped with a high-performance camshaft and SU carburetors. Additional equipment includes a four-speed manual transmission, overdrive, a louvered hood, a black soft top, and body-color 15” wire wheels. Acquired by the selling dealer in 2023 after more than two decades with its fourth owner, the car was serviced before being driven in the 1000 Miglia Warm Up USA event, covering approximately 700 miles in total. This BN2 is now offered with a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate, a 100M registry certificate, a top boot, a car club badge, handwritten notes, recent service records, and a clean Pennsylvania title listing the car as a 1956 model. The car left the factory finished in Old English White and was stripped and repainted in white and red. The 100M-specific louvered hood is secured with a leather strap, and additional details include a black soft top and boot, a tilt-down windshield, early-style smooth rear fenders, and chrome bumpers with overriders. Production marks on the hood and trunk lid are shown up close in the gallery. Touched-up paint on the left front fender is noted. White 15” knock-off wire wheels are retained with chrome spinners, and Vredestein Sprint Classic tires were mounted in October 2023. A matching spare wheel wrapped in an older Michelin tire is stored in the trunk. The 100M featured a double-wishbone front suspension with stiffened coil springs and an upgraded anti-roll bar. Braking is handled by drums at all four corners. Work performed in 2023 involved rebuilding the front and left rear shocks, installing ¾”-bore rear wheel cylinders, and replacing the right-front wheel cylinder as well as the shoes all around. The cabin is trimmed in red leather that extends to the center armrest and door panels. The dashboard fascia is painted black, while the contrasting instrument bezel is finished in silver. Lap belts are provided for both occupants, and black rubber mats protect the red carpets. Wear on the cabin perimeter trim is shown up close in the gallery. The banjo-style steering wheel fronts Smiths instrumentation consisting of a 120-mph speedometer, a 6k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer shows 58k miles, approximately 1k of which were added under current ownership. The 2,660cc inline-four was equipped from the factory with a high-lift camshaft and dual SU H6 carburetors. A reproduction air intake box was installed under prior ownership along with an exhaust header. The selling dealer notes that the distributor is for a standard 100 model, and it was re-clocked and the timing was adjusted in 2023. The oil pan and exhaust hangers were also repaired. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission with overdrive that can be engaged in both 3rd and 4th gear. The BMIHT certificate indicates that the car is a factory 100M model built for the North American export market and lists factory equipment and identification numbers. Photos taken at various stages during the refurbishment will accompany the car.