Lot details Registration No: RNY 780 Chassis No: BN1220239 Mot Expiry: Exempt
- A 'home market' car that was treated to a photographically documented restoration during the 1980s
- Front brakes uprated from drums to discs and recent repaint in Ice Blue
- Said to be in 'fabulous yet usable condition' with full-weather equipment
Dominating the 1952 Earl's Court Motor Show, the 'Healey Hundred' drew crowds like a magnet. Penned by Gerry Coker, its low-slung stance, swooping lines and fold flat 'racing' windscreen screamed sports car. Conscious that there was a gap in the export market between Jaguar's XK range and the MG T-series, BMC supremo, Leonard Lord immediately propositioned Donald Healey as to a joint venture. A facsimile of the show car, the resultant Austin-Healey 100 sat atop a rigid box-section chassis equipped with independent coil-sprung front suspension, a 'live' rear axle and all-round drum brakes. Powered by the Austin A90 Atlantic 2660cc engine developing some 90bhp and 144lbft of torque, it offered strong acceleration and a 110mph top speed. As part of his tireless publicity campaign to promote the newcomer, Donald Healey entered a team of four pre-production cars for the 1953 Le Mans 24-hour race. Running with standard windscreens, interiors and even bumpers, two of this mildly tweaked quartet survived to finish 12th and 14th overall (an amazing result for such a comparatively inexpensive model in near stock condition).
A 'home market' car, 'RNY 780' was treated to a photographically documented restoration during the 1980s as part of which its livery was changed from Orange to Ice Blue. Retaining the three-speed manual plus overdrive gearbox associated with the BN1 model, the Austin-Healey has had its front brakes uprated from drums to discs. Further benefiting from a recent repaint, it sports full weather equipment including a tonneau cover and sidescreens and is described by the vendor as being in 'fabulous yet usable condition'. Offered for sale with V5C Registration Document and 'nice history file'.
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