Something a little bit different

The Austin Healey 100-6 was introduced in September 1956 as type BN4 – This late BN4 was one of the last 100-6s built at Longbridge and was fitted from new with Dunlop 4 wheel disc brakes. It was also one of the first cars built with the six port cylinder head

The Austin Healey is born

Donald Healey started his working life as an engineering apprentice with Sopworth, the aircraft manufacturer. The Sopworth Aviation Company was based in Kingston-Upon-Thames, at Brooklands . In 1907 Brooklands was the world’s first purpose built banked racing circuit as well as one of Britain’s first airfields. By 1918 it had become Britain’s largest aircraft manufacturing centre too. It is reported that, during his apprenticeship years, Donald Healey would often go along to watch the motor racing. The excitement and fascination of motorsport must have played a huge part  in his innovation, inspiration and creativity to go on and develop one of the most iconic sports cars of its day. He produced cars fit for the mass market as well as highly competitive cars for rallying and racing. Over 50 years later its success, popularity and desire for ownership is still evident across the entire spectrum of competition or leisure. Did Donald Healey ever envisage the longevity of the Healey?

Donald Healey completed his apprenticeship and returned to his hometown, Perranporth, Cornwall, to run his own garage business. In the years that followed Donald Healey went on to hold positions at Riley, Triumph and Humber. During his spare time, he would team up with fellow Humber employees Sammy Sampietro and Ben Bowden to work on a project, which would, in 1946, become the first ever Healey to be produced by his new company, Healey Cars ltd.

Donald Healey – Austin Healey 100-4 – Perranporth, Cornwall, 1979

The story of the Austin Healey production and the different models started in 1952. Donald had the Healey 100 on a stand at the 1952 Earls Court International Motor Show. Leonard Lord of Austin admired the car and a deal was struck for the new car to be assembled at Longbridge. The Healey 100 which had entered the show became the Austin Healey 100. During the 18 years of Austin Healey manufacture many different models were brought to the market place. There were over 200,000 cars built bearing the Austin Healey name.

The early Austin Healey’s were four cylinder open cars with three speed transmission. The Austin Healey 100 was embraced by the world market. People could afford a sports car which had performance as well as style appeal. To add to its cool and stylish attributes the Austin Healey 100 proved itself as a successful race and rally car. It was campaigned in many high profile events such as Le Mans, Targa Florio, Mille Miglia and the twelve hour race in Sebring, Florida, USA. It has become synonymous with many famous motorsport heroes such as Pat Moss, Ann Wisdom, Betty Haig, Sterling Moss, Carroll Shelby, The Morley Brothers, and Paddy Hopkirk to name but a few.

Then came the Six Cylinder Cars offering something a bit different

100-4 to 100-6: A Major Change

In 1956 the six cylinder BN4 took over from the four cylinder BN2

From the Austin Healey 100/4, 100M and 100S the Austin Healey 100-6 was borne. The Donald Healey Motor Company used the designations BN1 and BN2 for the first two Austin Healey cars. This same type of designation was used for the prototypes of the six cylinder engine Austin Healey. The production of the BN4 began at Longbridge in May 1956, immediately after that of the four cylinder BN2 had stopped and it continued there until December 1957. The Austin Healey 100-6 was announced at the end of September 1956 and became available to buy, one month later, in October. At introduction, only the 2/4 seater was available. The BN4 was based on some of the lessons learned in the development of the BN3. For some unknown reason, the designation BN4 was given to the two-plus-two car. This is the only instance where the ‘N’ is used on a 4 seater car.

The body styling of the BN4 was obviously different from that of the early 100. The 100-6 had several unique features that differentiated it from other Austin Healey Marks. Sometimes the changes were small and cosmetic. Sometimes the new developments were larger and more significant to accommodate modifications and technical progression that was introduced to enhance performance. Whatever the differences, it is the finer details that gives these cars quirkiness, appeal and individuality. Today the differences are still discussed long and hard by specialists and purists. The list of differences is quite comprehensive and sometimes can seem quite complicated. For a more in-depth source of information Bill Piggott’s book Factory-Original Austin-Healey 100/6 & 3000: The Originality Guide to Six-Cylinder Austin-Healeys, 1956-1968 , is highly recommended and a fascinating read.

When BMC introduced the 100-6 model in 1956 there were many detail changes from the successful 100/4 models – These changes made the 100-6 a little bit different.  A 6 cylinder engine, 2″ longer wheelbase, disc wheels as standard, different shape grille, a ridged front and rear hinged bonnet and scoop to help clear the longer 6 cylinder engine to mention a few

Some of the differences are more obvious than others. The shape of the grille was changed to the oval shape of the 100S, but with wavy horizontal bars instead of the more traditional straight vertical bars. The two-position windscreen was replaced with a fixed windscreen. The swage line changed and the car was available in two-tone paint combinations making use of the swage line in the bodywork to separate the colours.

The two inch increase in the wheelbase of the BN4 was used in the cockpit area. This resulted in a redesign of doors, side screens and roof. The car could now accommodate 2 passengers in the rear. Even the door handles changed. The door now had an inside and outside handle. On the left hand side the door was lockable. The spare tyre which occupied the space behind the driver and passenger on the 100 was moved to the boot.

The engine of the early BN4 was the first generation of the six cylinder BMC C series engine. To install a larger engine the radiator was moved forward. The bonnet length was increased to allow access to both the engine and radiator. The bonnet was redesigned with a small air scoop, allowing clearance for the radiator filler cap. It was hinged at the rear rather than the front which helped engine access to be easier. Most 100-6 cars were also produced with a central longitudinal crease pressed into the bonnet. However, not all 100-6 cars had this feature and no later 3000 cars ever did. The 100-6 cars built at Longbridge all appear to have had the crease but the cars produced at Abingdon the bonnet crease is a random addition. Derek Job’s website Austin Healey Hundred Six is another good source of information, facts and figures. Derek’s website gives two “Healey” explanations for the creased bonnet.

The 100-6 had many differences the badges, the grille shape and horizontal wavy bars being obvious ones

The Austin Healey 100-6 badge also changed. The badges were always fitted to the front grille. The Healey lightning flash design has an added number 6 in a round medallion at the point where the flash forms the Z Shape. Both the 100 figures and the 6 medallion had red enamel detailing and background. This lightning flash badge appears on the right hand side of the grille when viewed from the front of the car. The bonnet also has a silver and red Austin Healey winged badge and at the rear there is another Austin Healey badge attached to the lower right hand corner of the boot lid.

The car came with factory fitted options and extras. A popular choice was the luggage rack. The rack was cleverly fitted so that it swung up with the boot lid when it was opened. It had non damaging attachment points, using the boot hinge pins and clamps on the lower edge of the boot lid.

Wire wheels were always an optional extra. Rare Dunlop disc brakes were fitted to about only 50 of the 100-6 cars in late 1957. The explanation for this is that Dunlop supplied these for fitment to the Austin Healey 100S production racing Healeys. With 50 unused sets remaining, it was decided to offer these on the 100-6 with an additional benefit of such a fitment being the possibility for Healey works to gain homologation papers for competition 100-6 cars as used in the 1957 Mille Miglia. XNX with her Warwick registration, has been confirmed as one of these 50 cars having been owned previously by respected Austin Healey author Bill Piggott, who speaking to Geoffrey Healey himself, confirms the story behind the Dunlop disc brake and how some came to have them fitted.

Another interesting fact about the Austin Healey 100-6s, as outlined in Derek Job’s Healey Six Web Site is the use of the Morris Green Engine paint. Derek documents the wngine cloour as follows “The first batch of the six port models had an unusual and unique feature in the Morris Green paint used on the engines and gearboxes. It appears that only some of the “first series” of six port BN4’s produced at both Longbridge and Abingdon until the Spring of 1958 had the Morris Green engines for reasons unknown. All engines were painted at the Morris plant in Coventry prior to dispatch to either Longbridge or Abingdon so it is logical that cars produced at both locations had the same colour engines. It is not known why it happened. It first appeared with the introduction of the six port engine, perhaps to differentiate it, or perhaps due to an error, it may even have been because they ran out of metallic green paint!! At some point between mid January and early March the error was corrected and the normal paint was re-introduced”

Austin Healey 100-6s – XNX 56 is an example of the unique engine colour having the Morris Green paint as used during this short period

Production of the BN4 at Longbridge ended around November/December 1957 and moved to Abingdon.

XNX 56 A rare Austin Healey 100-6s

The car featured in our Blog is a rare 100-6s BN4 built at Longbridge in November 1957 before the production moved to Abingdon. It retains many of the original features, as mentioned above, that were found on the Longbridge cars. The car is currently for sale at Bill Rawles Classic cars. Due to its rarity we would recommend an early viewing. Since being purchased by the present owners six years ago, the car has had approximately £25,000.00 spent on improvement and restoration, including a complete engine rebuild to fast road specification, new interior leather trim, reconditioned braking system, including a complete rebuild of the Dunlop brakes and most recently a brand new set of painted 48 spoke wire wheels. Full weather equipment, including side screens and tonneau cover are included. Bill Rawles Classic Cars has maintained the vehicle for a number of years and there is a large history file with a Heritage Certificate.

Austin Healey 100-6S BN4 being enjoyed on tour at The Dornier Museum, Friedrichshafen, Germany

XNX 56 was once owned by the grandson of one of the founders of The Healey Drivers Club (the world’s oldest club catering for Healey enthusiasts), Peter Cavanagh. Peter Cavanagh (1914-1981) was an impressionist billed as “The voice of them all”, appearing on both radio and TV. He performed in numerous Royal Variety Shows in front of the Queen in the late 1940s and 1950s and appeared on The Parkinson Show. In an article in Motorsport Magazine, cars I have owned by Peter Cavanagh, he said “I own a Mille Miglia Healey saloon and I am going to say here and now that I confess I am delighted with her. She is hearty robust, and has that indescribable something of a “vintage” car about her. The almost racing car chassis and suspension gives a confidence which I have yet to find in a post war modern (under £3000 pound mark) and with “over the ton” 30 m.p.g and more acceleration I can take the family shopping or wait for the starter at will”

Back in the 1980s the car was also owned by Bill Piggot the author of Factory-Original Austin-Healey 100/6 & 3000: The Originality Guide to Six-Cylinder Austin-Healeys, 1956-1968. According to his book back Bill Piggott says  “Back in the 80’s the car was red with a white works hardtop. The car is one of 50100-6s originally fitted withDunlop 4-wheel disc brakes” page 6 Introduction and Acknowledgements.

The current owners said “We have had some great family adventures in the car, including a 2000 mile round trip across Europe. The car performed brilliantly and it was fun whizzing along the Autobahn at 90 miles an hour with the wind in your hair!!! From our tour we have great memories of visiting the Dornier Museum in Friedrichshafen, Germany and staying in a beautiful chateau in France. Also the car won “the best 100-6, 3000 MKI, 3000 MK2 vehicle at last year’s Healey Drivers Club meeting. The Healey has given us some great times and some fantastic memories but due to a growing family, it is with great sadness we have to sell the car. We have bought a Healey Abbott which is sure to fit us all in”

If you would like to see more pictures of XNX 56 please take a look at our Facebook Album – Rare Austin Healey 100-6s. If you would like to find out more or to arrange a viewing please email or Call Bill Rawles (07763362470) info@rawlesclassiccars.co.uk

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