2025-02-27 22:28:21 | pauls writes:

Car was at auction in 2020

rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo20/lots/r0075-1956-austinhealey-100-m-le-mans/

Auction description:

Online Only: Shift/Monterey

14 - 15 August, 2020

RM Sotheby's

Chassis No. BN2-L/230966

Engine No. 1B/230966-M

Body No. 12465

Location United States, Monterey, California

1956 Austin-Healey 100 M 'Le Mans'

$192,500 USD | Sold

Highly original and unrestored example with less than 38,000 miles from new

Well known history

Includes a set of owners manuals and tools

Highly-desirable Le Mans model

This is an extraordinary example of the coveted Le Mans package Austin-Healey. With a known history from new and modest mileage accrual, it survives in time-warp or preservation standard condition. Originally purchased on 29 May 1956 from authorized agents Roewardt-Thomson Inc. of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, it is understood that the Healey was cared for and well-maintained by its first owner, eschewing the normal competitive careers of these cars, only being used on the occasional local sports car rallies.

In 1976, it was purchased by Mr. George Fink of Minnesota. Later in his life, Mr. Fink elected to contact both the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and Bill Meade of the "100 M – Le Mans Registry" to notify them of the car that he owned. Anders Ditlev Clausager confirmed the car's original details, supplying a Trust certificate which states that the car was built as it is today: with red and black paint, red interior and black top on 21 February 1956 and is a genuine, factory-built Austin-Healey 100 M. As new it had a heater, laminated windshield, MPH speedometer, and the all-important louvered hood. Twenty years ago, Bill Meade supplied a Certificate of Membership to the 100 M Registry, and featured the car in their Summer 1997 edition. On the day he made purchase, just 37,253 miles were recorded on the title change. Since then, the Austin-Healey 100 M has only gathered a few hundred more. Subsequently, this very special Austin-Healey was acquired by a new owner in 2015, and has remained in a state of proper preservation to this day. With the car are the original books and tools.

Owing to its similarities with a stock 100/4, the 100 M is frequently copied openly and were even updated in period, making nearly 60-year-old judgment calls on their correctness difficult. Great, pure 100 Ms don't come much better than this – a truly unspoiled original, numbers matched car with great ownership history.