Lot details
Registration No: PPT 848
Chassis No: BN1156396
Mot Expiry: Exempt

- A home market car in the current family ownership for 40-plus years

- An older restoration with supporting photographs

- Recent gearbox overhaul by JME Healeys

Donald Healey's eponymous company built a prototype two-seater sports car for display at the 1952 London Motor Show. It was based on Austin A90 Atlantic mechanicals and sported a notably sleek body designed by Gerry Coker and built by Tickford. It was dubbed the 'Healey Hundred' and, subject to a suitably encouraging response, Healey planned to build production versions in-house at his Warwick factory. As things transpired, the Ice Blue prototype so excited Austin's Managing Director, Leonard Lord, that he struck a deal to build the car in volume at Longbridge. The newcomer was renamed the Austin-Healey 100/4 and the rest is history.

The 100/4's chassis was a departure from the company's previous backbone designs and comprised a pair of three-inch square box-section side members. The car had 11in drum brakes all round, while the front suspension was independent by coil springs and the rear featured a traditional 'live' axle supported by semi-elliptic leaf springs. A 1953 BN1 tested by Motor returned a top speed of 106mph and achieved the 0-60mph dash in 11.2 seconds. A total of 10,688 BN1s were produced between January 1953 and 1955.

This lovely-looking home market 100/4 is finished in Spruce Green matched with a Green leather interior. The subject of an older restoration, 'PPT 848' has remained within the same family ownership for over 40 years, though apparently had little use since the last full service. The vendor these days regards the bodywork and paintwork as 'very good' and the 2.6-litre engine and interior trim as 'good', while the three-speed manual overdrive gearbox has recently been overhauled by JME Healeys. He is now offering the Healey complete with new battery and history file containing photos of the restoration, plus sundry invoices and old MOTs etc.