The Austin-Healey Sports Car

from Classic to Modern

Austin Healey On The Track

1953 Austin Healey 100 An excellent shot of a gorgeous Big Healey racer that was spotted lining up during the testing phase of the 2015 Goodwood Revival Meeting

1963 Austin-Healey Sprite Mk 2 Sporting a Mk1 bonnet, this 2015 day racer looks really smart

1954 Austin Healey 100/4 This pic was shot at the Woodcote Trophy Race for pre 56 Sportscars

1962 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk 2 A fabulous sight seen racing at Crystal Palace in 2015

Introduction

The Austin-Healey sports car. Towards the end of 1951, Donald Healey decided that what his company needed was to produce a sports car positioned in the market between the Jaguar XK120 and the MG TD.

In September 1952, he named his prototype the Healey Hundred since he was confident it would reach 100 mph.

Following his car's presentation at the International Earls Court Motor Show a month later, he signed a 20 year joint venture agreement with the Austin division of the British Motor Corporation to produce the car on a much larger scale.

Hence the birth of the Austin-Healey 100 sports car.

The full range of Austin-Healey cars was manufactured continuously until the agreement ended in 1972.

The Austin-Healey 100-4 BN1

Renamed the Austin-Healey 100-4 sports car, production commenced in 1953. It was classified as the BN1 series.

The transmission was modified to include a three speed gearbox with overdrive on the top two gears.

100-4 BN1 Technical Data
Production: 1953-1955
Output: 10,030
Engine: 2660 cc
Four Cylinder, 90 bhp
Speed: 106 mph
Time to 60: 11.2 secs

1955 Austin Healey BN1 This shows one of the last of the 106 mph/0-60 in 11.2 secs 100/4 BN1's built, and displaying its adjustable windscreen

1953-55 Austin Healey 100

Austin-Healey 100-4 BN1

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The Austin-Healey 100-4 BN2

In 1955, the BN2 series of the Austin-Healey 100-4 was introduced.

It differed from the BN1 in that it was fitted with a four speed gearbox, with overdrive on gears three and four.

An interesting optional extra was the paintwork in the form of two colours (one colour separated from the other).

100-4 BN2 Technical Data
Production: 1955-1956
Output: 3,964
Engine: 2660 cc
Four Cylinder, 90 bhp
Speed: 109 mph
Time to 60: 10.8 secs

Austin-Healey 100-4 BN2

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The Austin-Healey 100M BN2

Also in 1955, another BN2 variant, designated the Austin-Healey 100M, was introduced, where the symbol "M" meant that it was modified. It had larger carburettors, and incorporated a high lift camshaft.

Some three-quarters of these cars were finished with the two tone paint system, only available as an option in the BN1 series.

100M BN2 Technical Data
Production: 1955-1956
Output: 640
Engine: 2660 cc
Four Cylinder, 110 bhp
Speed: 118 mph
Time to 60: 9.3 secs

Austin-Healey 100M BN2

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The Austin-Healey 100S BN2

Finally, in 1955, a limited edition BN2 variant was introduced, designed specifically for the track.

It was designated the Austin-Healey 100S, where the "S" referred to it being entered in the Sebring race meetings in Florida. Only 50 were ever built.

As a weight saving measure, instead of a cast iron cylinder head, one made from aluminium was used, as were the body panels.

There was no overdrive unit, nor bumpers or a hood, and it was the world's first production car to include all round disc brakes. Most of the cars received the two tone white and blue paint system.

100S BN2 Technical Data
Production: 1955
Output: 50
Engine: 2660 cc
Four Cylinder, 132 bhp
Speed: 118 mph
Time to 60: 7.8 secs

1954 Austin Healey 100S This 132 bhp, 2.7 litre, S6, aluminium-bodied Healey 100 racer was re-designated the 100S following its appearance at the Sebring track in Florida. What a visual delight

Austin-Healey 100S BN2

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The Austin-Healey 100-6 BN4

In 1956, the 100-4 was phased out and replaced with the BN4 series, the first variant being the Austin-Healey 100-6 sports car.

The BN4 contained two occasional rear seats, and a fixed windscreen which could not be folded down, as was the case with the 100-4.

A larger, straight, six-cylinder engine replaced the earlier straight four.

100-6 BN4 Technical Data
Production: 1956-1959
Output: Unavailable
Engine: 2639 cc
Cylinders 6, 102 bhp
Speed: 102 mph
Time to 60: 12.0 secs

1957 Austin-Healey 100-6 This 1957-59 six port BN4 variant produced 117 bhp, with 112 mph top and 0-60 in 10.4 secs

Austin-Healey 100-6 BN4

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The Austin-Healey 100-6 BN6

In 1958, the BN6 series was introduced with the Austin-Healey 100-6 sports car. It differed from the BN4 in that it was purely a two seater.

By adding a revised manifold and modified cylinder head, the output was increased to 117bhp. Overdrive was now an optional extra.

A combined total of 14,436 BN4 and BN6 cars were produced.

100-6 BN6 Technical Data
Production: 1958-1959
Output: Unavailable
Engine: 2639 cc
Cylinders 6, 117 bhp
Speed: 104 mph
Time to 60: 10.7 secs

Austin-Healey 100-6 BN6

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The Austin-Healey 3000 BN7 Mark 1

The Austin-Healey 3000 Mark 1 sports car was introduced in 1959, and replaced the 100-6.

It was given the designation BN7 series, and was available as a two seater convertible and 2+2 versions.

The engine capacity was increased from 2.6 to 2.9 litres.

3000 BN7 Mk 1 Technical Data
Production: 1959-1961
Output: 16,650
Engine: 2912 cc
Cylinders 6, 124 bhp
Speed: 115 mph
Time to 60: 11.7 secs

Austin-Healey 3000 BN7 Mark 1

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The Austin-Healey 3000 BN7 Mark 2

The Austin-Healey 3000 Mark 2, launched in 1961, was designated the BN7 series. It was offered as a two seater convertible and 2+2 versions.

Initially, it was fitted with three SU carburettors, which were reduced to two, a year later, since two were easier to keep in balance.

3000 BN7 Mk 2 Technical Data
Production: 1961-1963
Output: 11,564
Engine: 2912 cc
Cylinders 6, 132 bhp
Speed: 113 mph
Time to 60: 10.9 secs

1961 Austin Healey 3000 Mark 2 Seen here is a beautiful example featuring a distinctive two-tone red and white. Really nice

1962 Austin Healey 3000 Mark 2 This model was fitted with 3 SU carbs which turned out to be hard to keep in tune. So in 1963, the Mark 3 version reverted to two SU's