Lot 74: 1955 AUSTIN HEALEY 100 BN2

Red with red leather interior

Engine: four cylinder, in-line, pushrod overhead valve, twin SU carburetors, 2,660cc, 90bhp at 4,000rpm; Gearbox: BN2 four speed with syncromesh; Suspension: front independent with wishbones and coil springs, half elliptics to live rear axle, telescopic dampers all round; Brakes: disc front, drum rear. Left hand drive.

At the start of the 1950s, Donald Healey decided that he needed a modern, lower-priced sports car to replace the successful but fairly costly Healey tourers and sports models he had been making in his Warwick factory. Not far away at Longridge, Austin chief Leonard Lord was burdened with sluggish demand for his Austin A90 models and hinted he might be interested in building a sporting two seater using as many of the A90's components as practicable. Healey moved quickly and on his stand at the 1952 Earls Court Motor Show was displayed a delectable sports roadster powered by a mildly tuned version of Austin's "big four", using its gearbox, axles and other components. Smitten, Lord struck a deal with Healey, and the Austin Healey 100 was born. It handled well with a genuine 100mph there for the asking, and its production car-based mechanism meant that it was cheap and easy to look after. It cost more than the Triumph TR but much less than a Jaguar XK. Enthusiasts soon flocked to buy in the ten of thousands, encouraged by the car's great record in international rallying and sports car racing.
The Healey offered here is a startlingly original example having been in the care of a mere three documented owners. Originally titled as a 1956 model to Mr. Ralph Zanette of Santa Clara, California in 1960, it was later sold to Mr. Gerald Edie of San Leandro, California. It was in the care of Mr. Edie that the Healey was used exclusively for racing, apparently never actually being used for street driving. Mr. Edie, as it appears from race documents, then began a long and reasonably successful campaign with the trusted Healey spanning from 1961 to 1970. His most notable success was a third overall in the 1961 Fun Runners Sports Club 'Playboy Rally I Road Race', with other triumphs including: first in class in the 1963 Fremont, California Drag Race; fifth overall in the 1963 Alpine Touring Club 'Weal Wild Wally III Road Rally; first in class at the 1963 Sacramento Sports Car Club's, Sixth Annual Georgetown Divide Hill Climb, with a second in cllass the following year, second again in 1968 and finally a first in class in 1970.

Christie's is pleased to offer such a uniquely authentic race car, with documented race history and incredibly detailed assemblage of spare parts. Having been located as a "barn find" only recently, the present condition is California race car, still on it's original 'black plates' and confirmed eligible for such events as the Le Mans Classic, Mille Miglia, Tour Auto, and the Monterey Historics to name a few. Please contact a member of Christie's staff to view the race history, parts list and photographic file. Strong consideration should be given to this original California race car.