1954 Austin-Healey Collection Nicoules 100/4 BN1 
Pure driving pleasure

Eligibl…
Description

1954 Austin-Healey Collection Nicoules 100/4 BN1

Pure driving pleasure Eligible for the Tour Auto Attractive estimate French historic registration title Chassis n° BN1L 153842 After numerous trials in the sports car production world, Donald Healey arrived in the early 1950s with a small sports car full of character. The first prototype used many parts from the Austin series of the time. The leaders of this firm, in the midst of their association with Morris before creating the British Motor Company, were already in talks to add this new roadster to their range. The result was the first Austin-Healey, the 100. The first versions, called BN1, were equipped with a three-speed gearbox with overdrive. The commercial success was instantaneous: the Americans were crazy about the new small English car which competed with the Jaguar XK 120, and surpassed the Triumph TR2. In 1955, the second version of the 100, the BN2, arrives. The improvements are important: new gearbox with four gears (and still an overdrive), but also a reworked rear axle. In 1956, the career of this small sporty roadster will be stopped in favor of the 100-six, which will begin the era of the «Big Healey». These four years of production were also marked by a strong presence in competitions and numerous successes, astonishing for a production car: 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Mille Miglia for example. The car we present is a BN1 version from 1954, which the current owner bought in 2010. The car is today in an interesting color combination, off-white/navy blue, with a nice patina. The base is quite sound despite some minor surface corrosion on the chassis. Its leather interior also wears a nice patina, the seats have no tears and the - rare! - instruments are functional. Mechanically, the car starts right up. Thanks to the meticulous maintenance of its owner, we could enjoy during our test drive a car with a well tuned engine and a pleasant gearbox. The road behaviour of an Austin-Healey 100/4 is very sporty, with the right amount of comfort: the lightness helps the 4-cylinder enormously and the car is stuck to the road while remaining playful. To sum up, despite some flaws, this car full of character works very well. For thrill seekers and gentleman drivers alike, this car is eligible for the biggest events on the historic sports calendar, and its valuation makes it the perfect target for many collectors who will have plenty of time to drive it now, or for those looking for an excellent restoration base. 

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1954 Austin-Healey Collection Nicoules 100/4 BN1

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