The Austin-Healey 100M represents the ultimate factory development of the 100/4, incorporating lessons learned from the marque’s successful competition programme at events including Le Mans and the Mille Miglia. The model was born from Donald Healey’s long-standing involvement in motorsport and engineering. After working at Humber during the Second World War, Healey established his own company in 1946 alongside Achille Sampietro and Ben Bowden, initially producing sports cars using Riley-based mechanical components.
Healey’s competition ambitions were quickly rewarded. The Healey Silverstone achieved an outright victory on the 1949 Alpine Rally and Coupe des Alpes with Donald Healey himself at the wheel. A subsequent partnership with American manufacturer Nash helped develop the business further and ultimately contributed to the creation of the Austin-Healey marque, which would become synonymous with lightweight British sports cars.
The 100M was introduced in 1955 as a road-going interpretation of the competition developments that had been proven in racing. The package increased power from approximately 90bhp in the standard 100/4 to around 110bhp through a combination of a high-compression cylinder head, high-lift camshaft, 8.1:1 compression pistons, larger 1¾-inch S.U. carburettors and an aluminium cold-air box. The suspension was also strengthened, while uprated valves further enhanced the engine’s ability to perform under sustained use.
The most recognisable external feature is the louvred bonnet, complemented by the distinctive leather bonnet straps manufactured by Warwick saddlers Frederick Freer & Co. The later BN2 cars also benefited from a four-speed gearbox with overdrive on the top two ratios, together with subtly enlarged front wheel arches. These developments made the 100M considerably more capable than the standard car while retaining the essential character of the original 100/4.
Production of the factory 100M ran from September 1955 until July 1956, with just 640 examples produced. Today, it is believed that only around 240 genuine factory-built cars remain. For many years there was considerable uncertainty surrounding the number of original factory Ms, particularly because many standard 100/4s were subsequently converted using some or all of the factory components. The discovery of previously lost Austin-Healey production records on microfilm in 1985 allowed the factory-built examples to be identified with considerably greater accuracy.
Chassis BN2-L/232852 was built in May 1956 and is a genuine factory-built 100M, confirmed by its BMIHT certificate. It was manufactured to North American export specification in left-hand drive and finished from new in Reno Red and Black with a red leather interior. The factory specification included a heater, laminated windscreen, miles-per-hour speedometer and the distinctive louvred bonnet. The car was originally destined for Düsseldorf, Germany, where it is believed it may have been ordered by an American serviceman.
The car was subsequently exported to the United States in 1962, where it remained for many years. It was discovered as a non-running example in 2016 before undergoing a comprehensive restoration by JME Healeys in 2017. The restoration involved approximately 1,012 hours of work and represented an investment of £114,106.73. The result is a fully restored, matching-numbers example that retains the correct specification and character of a genuine factory 100M.
DK Engineering supplied the car to its current owner in 2019, after which it became part of a significant UK collection and has remained there for the past seven years. It is accompanied by an extensive history file containing detailed restoration invoices, approximately 350 restoration photographs and a FIVA Identity Card, providing a comprehensive record of the car and its restoration.
Importantly, the factory-built 100M specification also makes the car eligible for the Mille Miglia, offering an opportunity to participate in one of the world’s most prestigious historic motoring events in a genuinely significant competition-derived sports car. Given the relative rarity of the model and the desirability of genuine factory examples, it represents an accessible route into the event.
The car is accompanied by a substantial collection of additional equipment, including a spare engine cylinder head, racing harnesses, indoor car cover, tonneau cover, hood and side screens, original jack and hammer, spare wheel, wire-wheel spinner saver and an Austin-Healey 100 service manual.
Available now for viewing and demonstration at Pendine’s Bicester Motion showroom.
Price – £139,500
