Lot 219: 1954 Austin-Healey ‘100M’ Roadster

Following the Austin-Healey 100’s sensational debut at the 1952 Motor Show, the works entered two mildly modified cars in the 1953 Le Mans 24-Hour Race, which finishing in 12th and 14th places, a highly praiseworthy achievement for what were recognisably production sports cars. Accordingly, the name ‘Le Mans’ was chosen for a bolt-on tuning kit offered through Austin-Healey dealers, by means of which private owners could bring their cars up to a specification approaching that of the works entries. The kit included a pair of 1¾” SU HD6 carburettors plus special inlet manifold and cold air box, high-lift camshaft, stronger valve springs and distributor with alternative ignition advance curve. With the kit installed power increased from the standard 90 to 100bhp.
From 1952 the conversion was available factory-fitted on the successor BN2 model in the form of the 100M. In addition to the Le Mans kit the latter boasted high-compression pistons, stiffer front anti-roll bar and special Armstrong front dampers. Power increased to 110bhp and top speed, with windscreen folded flat, to within a whisker of 120mph. The number of BN1s converted by their owners is unknown, but 1,159 cars, mostly BN2s, were built or converted to 100M specification by the works between 1955 and 1956.
We are advised that this Austin-Healey 100 (BN1) roadster has been fitted with the Le Mans (100M) kit from new. Owned originally by one K W Fraser, of Glasgow (a director of A & D Fraser Ltd) the car was first registered ‘JUS 2’ and competed in the 1954 Tulip Rally, one of the first ‘Big Healeys’ to do so. The car was re-registered ‘PGB 505’ when K W Fraser sold the car in November 1955, and has remained in the same family ownership since 1957, coming into the vendor’s possession in 1971. Preserved in completely original condition and offered with replacement (original) bonnet, it has covered only 44,547 miles from new and comes with fully documented history from delivery to the present day, including details of an engine rebuild in 1956. (It is interesting to note that the car had covered over 22,000 miles - half its total to date - by December of that year).
‘PGB 505’ has been MoT’d annually and comes with all expired certificates, while we are advised that no major work has been required during the current period of ownership and that the engine is ‘running well’. Offered with old-style logbook, current MoT and Swansea V5 registration document, ‘PGB 505’ represents a rare opportunity to acquire an iconic first-of-the-line ‘Big Healey’ boasting the desirable Le Mans kit and preserved in remarkably original condition