Introduced in 1956 as a replacement to the 100, Austin-Healey's second round of its big car debuted with a two inch longer wheelbase, an optional 2+2 seating variant, and a brand new 6-cylinder replacing the old Inline-4. The body was revamped with a more aggressive stance and the previously foldable windscreen was now fixed. The new 2639cc C-series motor came straight from the Austin Westminster sedan and initially produced 102hp but was later upped to 117hp in 1957 with a revision of the .....
intake manifold. In November of 1957, production moved from Longbridge to the MG plant at Abingdon to accommodate increasing demands. Production of the 100-6 ended in 1959 with the introduction of the 3000.
We are very excited to offer this 1959 Austin-Healey 100-6 BN6 Two-Seater Roadster! It is finished in a gorgeous Ivory White with Black Leather interior accented with contrasting red piping and a Black convertible top. This BN6 gracefully glides down the road powered by its original, numbers matching 2639cc Inline 6-cylinder engine mated to an upgraded 5-speed manual transmission. This very special BN6 has had only 4 owners from new, with the most recent commissioning a no-expense spared rotisserie restoration to bring this Austin Healey to high level, rally capable standards! After he purchased it from a longtime personal friend, and owner of the car for the better part of 35 years, it proceeded to begin into the restoration journey in 2016.
This garage kept, and virtually rust-free vehicle was completely stripped and placed on a rotisserie to bring it back to its original condition and factory appointed color. Even minor areas of concern were professionally treated and repaired before hours of body and undercarriage preparation. It would then be expertly painted with DeBeer automotive paint and entirely clear-coated for optimum protection and years of high gloss shine! It would then be reconstructed methodically with new wiring harnesses by British Wiring, all new leather interior, carpet, door panels over fully insulated interior using Dynamat; all new laminated windscreen & seal; and fresh weather stripping by MacGregor Coach trimming! The attention to detail is remarkable, and with the result slated for professional rally adventures, many conscious upgrades we integrated through the process.
To enhance the suspension, the car utilizes Denis Welsh front coil springs & 8-leaf uprated rear springs, front sway bar with poly-bushings, and Putzke's FAHRSPASS combination Bilstein gas monotube/level action front shocks. The rear differential houses a Dick Welsh 3.9:1 axle ratio for enhanced highway cruising, especially in conjunction with the Smitty's 5-speed Toyota Supra transmission conversion. Up front, Girling disc brakes provide enhanced stopping power. Even the new 72-spoke chrome wire wheels were fitted with Vredestein Sprint Classic radial tires and fully speed balanced & shaved for high-speed confidence! This work was all conducted at the esteemed Hendrix Wire Wheel in Greensboro, NC.
The original engine was fully rebuilt and internally balanced with all new internals. It now utilizes a Denis Welsh aluminum head for reduced weight and slightly higher compression ratio; finned aluminum oil pan; polished aluminum valve cover, electronic ignition with high-output Flame Thrower coil; chrome radiator overflow reservoir; and remote engine oil filtration system just to highlight a few improvements. Underneath, the exhaust manifolds were heat-wrapped as they flow into a beautifully polished stainless steel exhaust system! All dash instrumentation was professional cleaned and rebuilt internally, along with the addition of a dual electric fuel pump system with one always in the wait as an auxiliary back up. Custom engraved plaques are found on the dash to better label control functions along with a Waltham clock and Omega stopwatch for proper rally timing during events! This Austin Healey has traveled just 3,874 miles since completion and had been thoroughly vetted in all weather conditions. In fact, the engine was stand-tested thru multiple heat cycles before installation to ensure proper break in. It has only been lubricated using 20W50 racing oil and was changed every 1,000 miles or annually depending on yearly usage.
This Austin Healey clearly shows signs of meticulous long-term care by its previous owners. The engine sings splendidly from the exhaust pipe as you increase the revs going through the gears! The transmission shifts smoothly with no hesitation as it pulls hard out of the corners, or any other chance to push down open straightaways! The paint and chrome remain quite stunning, being super smooth to the touch, with some of the tightest body gaps and panel-to-panel fitment we've seen on an early Healey in some time! Even the engine compartment shows special attention to detail with proper factory presentation retaining the Cooper air cleaner assemblies, Girling sticker on the brake reservoir, carburetor heat shielding, cloth covered wiring, and more!
Included with the sale with be a copy of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate showing that the car remains presented in the original color combination while continuing to retain all original drivetrain components (original transmission & overdrive unit included) and factory body tags. A book highlighting some of the restoration photos is also included with the sale. Every vintage automobile enthusiast hopes to buy a car from this kind of previous ownership care and preservation. We would love to be able to answer any additional questions you may have on this Healey so please don't hesitate to ask! And thanks for looking!