2021-09-17 16:42:55 | pauls writes:

Car to be at auction 9/21
www.brightwellslive.com/lot/details/539202

Auction description:
1953 Austin-Healey 100/4 BN1
Estimate: £35,000-40,000

Original UK car first registered to Donald Healey Motor Co; current owner 18 years; lots of history; older restoration in good condition throughout

As the original buff logbook shows, this BN1 was first registered to Donald Healey Motor Co Ltd of Warwick in August 1953, correspondence from the 100 Register stating that it is ‘about the 70th production car made’. Six further keepers are recorded up until the late 1970s, mainly in Lancashire and Cheshire, the car moving to Worcestershire/Herefordshire in the early 1980s where it has remained ever since.

A letter to a previous owner from the 100 Register dated October 1979 states that: ‘You appear to have obtained quite an early and interesting car and I believe you may have an "M" type engine conversion’. The letter goes on to outline differences with the M-spec engine (cold air box; size of carburettors; camshaft profile; distributor number) but states that it would take further investigation to confirm this theory, the file sadly not revealing whether this eventually took place or not so we are none the wiser on that score.

A good file of invoices from 1979 onwards attest to regular upkeep over the years, including four new wings and a full repaint in the original Ice Blue in September 1985, and a full interior retrim and a new soft top by JME in August 1988 when the alloy door casings were also replaced. The file also contains a dozen old tax discs and MOTs back to 1986 when the odometer was showing 39,514 miles, although it has been stuck on 73,462 miles since 1997.

Our vendor acquired the car in 2003 and has used it sparingly in fine weather only, clocking up around 1,000 trouble-free miles and having it regularly serviced and maintained, as shown in invoices on file. Kept in a heated garage, it comes with a full set of weather gear, all in serviceable condition, a spare key and has an agreed insurance value of £50,000. It also retains its original Warwick-issue number plate, NUE 974, which is transferable.

As you can see in the photos, it is a good honest Healey in nicely usable condition and has been starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site.

Reg No: NUE974
Chassis Number: BN1140218
Engine Number: 1B139060
Engine Size: 2660
Documents

V5C; older V5; buff logbook; 12 old MOTs; invoices; correspondence; photos