Here’s a car I would have a hard time getting rid of: Barn Finds reader Levi Andrus spotted this autocross-ready 1955 Austin Healey 100-4, which belonged to the seller’s father and has been a track car since the 60s. The Healey became the seller’s when his father passed away and it has continued to see racing duty, migrating from track days to autocross courses. It’s for sale because the seller claims his dad wanted to see it used as a dedicated track car, and he simply doesn’t have the time to commit to it. Find it here on craigslist for $22,500.
So, the Healey firstly just has the look and feel a vintage race car only has after it’s been making regular pilgrimages to the track for the last few decades. It’s like anything else where the individual or object looks all the more attractive for their years of experience at the helm of anything that requires some grit, be it a triathlete or a track-day driver. The Healey oozes the charm and nostalgia that comes with old race cars, and that’s one reason I’d have a difficult time letting it go: it’s hard to fake that quality, or get it back.
Secondly, the obvious reasons are due to the seller’s dad racing this car before him. I’m a nostalgia freak (which explains why it’s very hard for me to sell cars I can attach some significant memories to), so this Austin-Healey would have to be pried from my cold, dead hands, even if I was breaking dad’s rule of not racing it enough. If I got out for one autocross a month, or a solitary track day per year, I’d make it count as justification for keeping it. Hell, the rest of the time I’d just terrorize the neighborhood with it.
The seller notes that the Healey has undergone frame repairs in the past, and at present there is some rust under the car on the passenger side and in the left front frame gusset, but is minimal at the moment. Several modifications have been made, and is “….ear-shattering loud, just like dad liked it.” It runs on 110 octane fuel and looks quite quick in the YouTube video the seller includes in the listing description. If you’re looking for a British track car with seemingly the best kind of history, look no further.
Thank God somebody still has the cojones to build and race these instead of worrying if it’s numbers matching and has the obigitory picnic basket on the back.
I know someone that started drag racing theirs in 1958 and is still racing it. When he’s towing it to the track purists regularly express their displeasure with what he’s done to the car. That’s their problem, it’s been in its current configuration since the 60’s when it wasn’t worth anything. People don’t realize, the racers didn’t start with pristine cars, the cars they started with had major issue such as crash damage or bad engine. There is a high probability they wouldn’t have survived if not for the racer.
Steve R
Beautiful car, wonderful history, terrific attitude.
I have always been an Austin Healy fan and it’s my dream car I would not keep it off the road but drive and enjoy it, 😁 maybe not this one as it is set up for the race track but something that could go down hi way 1 in California from San Francisco to Monterey
This Healey is very typical of how race cars ‘evolved’ in order to stay competitive.
The last thing I’d want to see is it getting ‘restored’ back to original. I think the car’s history is worth the (reasonable) price of admission, especially if the new owner gets the log books that should come with it…
This was on here last summer @ $28k.
https://barnfinds.com/racing-family-history-1955-austin-healey-1004/
Good call Mike, At least the price came down.
Was his Dads name Clark Kent ?
Just a gentle reminder,…there was no Austin Healey “100-4” model. This gorgeous new design was designated the Austin Healey 100 often called the Healey Hundred back in the day. In later years with introduction of the new 6 cylinder engine the sports car was the 100-6.
Great car. How things used to be before the money got in the way.
I lost one in a sports car shop fire in Iowa City in early 70’s.