1957 Austin Healey 100/6 with O/D

Introduced in 1956 to replace the Austin-Healey 100 (later known as the 100-4), the 100-6 was a two-seat roadster produced by the British Motor Corporation, initially at Longbridge and later at Abingdon, and remained in production until 1959 when it was replaced by the 3000. Over the years, all three models have become known collectively as "The Big Healeys".A couple of inches longer than its predecessor, the Healey 100, the new model was fitted with a more powerful straight-six engine (BMC-C series previously fitted to the Austin Westminster) producing 102bhp which in 1957 was improved to 117bhp. Externally, the car differed by being slightly more streamlined, having a smaller, wider grill, an air scoop on the bonnet and a fixed windscreen. The car was marketed as being more luxurious than its predecessor, however the luxury was obviously comparative as the '57 brochure claims "To suit individual needs, there are numerous items of equipment such as a heater, overdrive and wire wheels which can be fitted at extra cost". Another "Wow" factor from the brochure is the availability of "Aluminium framed side-screens which have one fixed and one sliding panel for ventilation or hand signalling" The 100/6's performance was quite exciting for the period, roaring up to 60mph in just over 10 seconds and going on to 104 miles an hour at a time when a Ford Popular would struggle to reach 70mph.

This latest Healey was available in two model designations, the 2+2 BN4 from 1956 onwards and 2 seat BN6 in 1958/9 and was listed in 1958 at £1,307 including purchase tax.

Amongst Big Healey aficionados, the 100/6 is the one to have in terms of purity. The earlier 100/4s, whilst gorgeous to look at were a bit "agricultural" and are now becoming very expensive whilst the later 3000s were being adorned with more and more creature comforts with the consequential increase in weight. As long as the 100/6 was properly set up with attention to Camber and Castor and all the other factors in suspension geometry, they handled superbly and were a dream to drive. With the top down, the burble from the exhaust note was a delight in a fifties, six-cylinder, down a country lane in a black and white movie, sort of way and on the overrun had more "snap, crackle and pop" than a box of Rice Crispies.

This right-hand drive car is fitted with overdrive and was built in Longbridge on the 30th May 1957, subsequently being first registered in Birmingham with the Registration Number-UOX 212-which it retains to this day. Austin Healeys in the late fifties and early sixties were well known for a range of distinctive two-tone colour schemes, and this example doesn't disappoint, sporting its original colours of Black over Colorado Red complemented by a set of Silver wire wheels. This car is one of, a believed, 50 cars factory fitted with four-wheel Dunlop Disc brakes almost certainly to fulfil the homologation volume requirements that would enable the Works to enter a team for the 1957 Mille Miglia. The organisers of this event were obviously satisfied that the 100/6 was available with all-round disc brakes, even though they were initially only "optional" if you knew the right person to ask. However, all's well that ends well, and in the '57 Mille Miglia, Tommy Wisdom and Cecil Winby in the new 100-6 BN4 with the six-port head and HD6 SUs, finished 1st in class and 37th overall in, sadly, the final running of this legendary event.

Our fifties Healey is a well-travelled car with an interesting story some of which is recorded in the history file, however not much is known about the cars very early years. It was purchased by a Mr Bray of Birmingham on 28th June 1957 who kept it for nine years before passing it on to a Mr Jackson, who in turn sold the car in the early 1970s.

It then spent a period of time under the warm South African sun before being repatriated to the UK in the early 1980s and shortly afterwards, in 1982, was featured in Old Motor Magazine (now known as Classic and Sports Car).

The next phase of this Healey's life took it to North America where after purchasing the car in 1999 its new owner moved to New England taking his classic Austin-Healey with him and there it remained until 2012 when it was once again repatriated to the UK and later purchased by our vendor.

Presented with a healthy documents file containing much of the car's history including the original Buff Logbook, and lots of invoices and correspondence between its various owners, it's clear that this car has been well maintained and much loved throughout its life, and whilst in the care of our vendor has obviously enjoyed similar attention and we are told, was used on an almost weekly basis.

Some significant restoration was undertaken three years ago including extensive body work and a quality repaint by marque specialists Rawles at a cost of £7,572, and we believe that a number of relevant invoices for this work are in the file.

A true enthusiast's car in exemplary condition with a good history file that is now looking for a new custodian to enjoy and experience that special Healey magic.