2024-03-07 23:33:12 | pauls writes:

Car offered at:

www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1954-austin-healey-1004-with-m-spec-upgrades-nMpx ...

Seller's description:

1954 Austin Healey 100/4

Colour Red

Odometer 95,804 Miles

Engine size 2660

Seller Type Private

Town Rossendale

Location Lancashire

Country United Kingdom

Beautifully restored and maintained

Extensive folio of invoices

Extremely thorough engine build and modification

The History and Paperwork

Originally exported to Australia from new

Extensively restored bodily and mechanically

A large file of invoices from home and abroad

Heritage certificate showing matching engine and chassis numbers

Current UK V5c

Importation and Customs documents

Knowing a car’s history is always a good thing. What’s been done and where really instils confidence for a new owner. So, when you come across a delightful and popular Healey like this one that’s almost 70 years old, you will expect to find a few invoices tucked in the glove box. Well, prepare yourself for quite a long reading session as this car has been dutifully looked after, maintained, restored and modified and comes with a large number of invoices and certificates. 

Exported to Australia from new and then on to New Zealand before eventually finding its way home to the UK. Along the way, it has had a full body restoration along with a mechanical rebuild and more recently has enjoyed a full engine build that includes a lot of heavy-duty M-Spec modifications, pistons, camshaft, oil pump and a Denis Welch cylinder head, all added to the mix to deliver an enjoyable and reliable classic. There’s even a USB Flash Drive that contains photos and video of the engine build.

The Interior

Delightfully original interior

Factory single-piece dashboard

Mota-Lita steering wheel

Refreshed with new carpets

The cockpit of the Healey is so quintessentially British and of the time. The simple single-piece dashboard contains what seems to be the original instruments with an odometer reading of just under 96,000. The dials are clear and bright, and a more modern battery condition instrument is added to the otherwise uncluttered dash. The seats appear to have been reupholstered and are in lovely condition with only the merest of wear visible. 

The carpets too are in good serviceable condition and there are some monogrammed rubber mats. The car is fitted with a 4-speed gearbox identified by a charmingly hand-modified gear knob that adds to the character. The boot is nicely finished as are the door cards.

The Exterior

Beautiful red and white coachwork

Wire wheels with ‘knock-off’ location

Bright chrome embellishments

Full wet weather kit

Fully functioning hood in good order

The Healey has always been considered a beautiful car, which is why it remains such a popular choice and this one is certainly a beauty. When restored, it went from its original blue to a delightful fiery red and had its flanks contrasted in old English white. There are a few minor blemishes here and there on the otherwise deeply glossy and fresh-looking coachwork. The chrome embellishments are all present and are bright as are the headlamps and clusters.

The large chrome grille looks resplendent and is in as perfect condition as you could possibly describe. The wheels too are in lovely condition and offer a delightful contrast against the body. The hood works well and is in good condition as is the rest of the wet weather kit including side screens. The underside has been well-treated with copious amounts of sealant and appears to be in good condition.

The Mechanics

Valuable engine build and modification

Lots of paperwork showing the extent of work undertaken

4-speed transmission with overdrive

Denis Welch unleaded cylinder head

This is the key component of the desirability of this Healy. The engine has had extensive time, money and effort bestowed upon it. The paper trail of invoices shows just how much has gone into creating a reliable and enjoyable machine, so much so that there simply isn’t room here to describe it all. It is sufficient to say that the engine is now as close to M-Spec as you can get with uprated pistons, high-lift cam, uprated oil pump, timing chain and tensioners, distributor, carbs and a Denis Welch unleaded cylinder head. 

Ancillaries too have been uprated with a five-blade fan with an electric backup fan, a large core radiator, a rebuilt dynamo and a performance exhaust manifold, also from Denis Welch along with a gorgeous-sounding side-exit system. Engine mounts and gearbox mounts were all replaced. The list goes on and it is fair to say that money was no issue when it came to the mechanicals. 

It is reported by the owner to run well and reliably and he’d be more than happy to drive the car any distance. The engine and engine bay are both clean and tidy and there has been an eye for detail in its presentation. All other areas such as the transmission, overdrive, steering, suspension and brakes have all been well-maintained and all functions as they should.