Austin-Healey 100: a piece of British motoring history

The Austin Healey 100 is a British Sportscar made between 1953 to 1956 by Austin-Healey, based on Austin A90 Atlantic, it was created by Donald Healey in-house in his small Healey car company in Warwick. Only one car was produced for the 1952 London Motor Show. Where it caught the attention of Leonard Lord, the managing director of Austin.

Lord cracked the deal with Healey and they collaboratively started, the production of the car. The bodies were made by Jenson Motors and the mechanical components were at Austin’s Longbridge plant and the car was renamed to Autin-Healeys 100. The “100” in the name denotes the car's ability to reach 100mph.

What are the variants of the Austin-Healey 100?

There are two major variants of the AH 100 that stayed in production from 1953 to 1956 and were later replaced by the 3000 series that came with a bigger displacement engine and obviously more power.

The generations include:

• Austin Healey 100 BN1

These were the first generation Healeys, equipped with the same engine as the standard A90. However, the transmission was modified to be a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive on the second and top gears.

This helped the Healey to provide a smooth driving experience when you are pushing the vehicle.

The car was a success and a total of 10030 BN1 came out of the production line in May 1953 and was later replaced by the BN2 model in August 1955.

• Austin-Healy 100 BN2

The BN2 was the second iteration of the 100 series Healey and used the same platform with specific changes to improve the dynamics of the vehicle.

The notable changes included are slightly larger front wheel arches, different rear axles, and a new 4-speed manual transmission where the top two gears still remained overdrive.

The BN2 remained in production for 1 year and a total of 4604 cars were made in total including the special 100M model. Later it was replaced by the bigger displacement 3000 series models, however, there are two special editions made during the production of the vehicle.

• Austin Healy100M

It was a high-performance version of the BN2 Healey, which was introduced in 1955. The 100M came with larger carburetors, a cold air box for better engine airflow, and a high lift camshaft that pushed the power to 110 hp. It was ready to race, from the factor as it got stiffened suspension and bonnet now had louvers for better flow, with a belt to keep it nice and secure.

It was a limited production vehicle and Austin Healy only produced 640 factory-built Le Man cars. They also provide a Le Man's engine modification kit that can be retrofitted in older versions of the car to improve performance.

• Austin Healey 100S

The Austin Healey 100S was a car that was specifically built for race, it had a light aluminum body and produced 132 hp ready for the podium. Only 50 cars were developed under the S batch, where all of them were hand built by Donald Healey Motor Company at Warwick. It also heads several aluminum components to make the car light while maintaining the structural rigidity of the vehicle.

It had a successful history and received several podiums, unfortunately, one of the cars also got involved in the 1955 Le Man disaster where 84 people died and 120 got injured,

How much is an Austin-Healey 100 worth today?

The value of the Austin-Healey 100 can vary greatly depending on a number of factors such as model year, condition of the vehicle, and rarity. As a general guide, a well-maintained Austin-Healey 100 in good condition can sell for anywhere from $30,000 to 100,000 and more.

There are some particular models such as the 100M and 100S that can go for a significantly higher price. Since these are classic cars the prices tend to fluctuate, thus it would be beneficial to consult with a reputable appraiser or car collector for a more accurate valuation.

How many Austin Healey 100S are left?

It's difficult to say how many Austin-Healey 100S cars are still in existence today because production numbers and survival rates vary by region and are influenced by a variety of factors such as accidents, restoration, and maintenance.

However, it is estimated that between 1955 and 1956, approximately 50 Austin-Healey 100S cars were built, making it a rare and sought-after model among collectors. According to some sources, 30-40 of these cars may still exist today, though this number cannot be confirmed with absolute certainty.