Based on coverage here on the web pages of Barn Finds, you’d think an Austin-Healey is as common as a Chevy Camaro and I’m as much a contributor to that trend as are my fellow writers. I was amazed at the number of examples that have been covered in the last year alone. Well, time to pile on some more because here’s a 1954 BN1 subject car for review. This A-H is located in Upland, California and is available, here on craigslist for $25,000 (no – not $25 as the listing’s headline proclaims).
Known officially as the Austin-Healey 100 BN1, production spanned the years 1953 into 1955 and was succeeded by the very similar BN2. Total BN1 production was about 10K units with another 4,600 of the BN2 variety. These early Austin-Healey 100’s are generally overshadowed by the more popular and numerous Austin-Healey 3000 (1959-1968).
There’s not much detail on this example other than to state, “Needs frame-up full restoration. Solid body“. Of course, one single image of the lower door edge and rocker panel contradicts the “solid body” claim. Additionally, the exterior is not without some minor dents and contusions, the trunk lid in particular, but agreed, the rot-through doesn’t appear to be as extensive as what is frequently found on this generation Austin-Healey. Some of the not-terribly-rusty condition may be due to this Healey’s California domicile – it has been said that in the mid-fifties, 75% of A-H production was going to the U.S. and California in particular. It’s a pretty complete-looking car though there is some missing trim, and back to that trunk lid, it’s doubtful that lid will actually latch. There’s really nothing remarkable about this car other than perhaps its removable hard-top.
There is no word regarding running prowess and the 90 HP, 2.6-liter, in-line four-cylinder engine (potential buyers are told to bring a trailer) but it doesn’t appear as if it has turned a lick in a very long time. About all that can be said is that it looks to be complete. A three-speed manual transmission with overdrive was the sole choice with an A-H BN1. A four-speed manual gearbox arrived with the introduction of the BN2 version.
The interior is a pretty austere environment with ripped seats, no floor covering, and cloudy instrument gauges. The best aspect of the interior is its diminutive size, it limits the total amount of effort and $$$ necessary to straighten it out. There is no mention of either a folding top or a tonneau cover being included.
A nice ’54 Austin Healey 100 BN1 can bring a $50K price so that may be an indicator of where this example can go. It’s going to need a lot of work and its unknown, or undisclosed, mechanical state is cause for concern. If an A-H 100 floats your boat, you might be better off with an already finished example, unless of course, the challenge of doing it yourself is overwhelming, right?
This guy’s been inhaling the rust dust falling out of this car with that asking price.
Here we go again. Yet another grossly-overpriced rust bucket.
There is something remarkable about this car after all and Terry hit it. The price.
My first British car, a 1954. I had 4 100-4 s. My first had that hardtop. As always buy the best you can afford. This is far from the best or affordable..
Don’t forget these have aluminum front and rear shrouds with steel fenders producing corrosion. The rust you see is just the start. On the flip side there was not much interior to redo.
The plus to the 3 speed is that it had synchro on first. The engine had so much torque that the 4th gear wasn’t necessary. Also, the BN1 had an aluminum trunk lid. Looks more like a parts car to me.
We have come a long way from 1968, when as a college junior pumping gas to cover school, I reluctantly turned down the purchase of a Healey 100-4 for the princely sum of $125. It wasn’t pristine, but it also wasn’t too bad. This car listed is a mess.
Owned two ’55s. First one I had to take the floors out to fix the rust on top of the frame. Water gets caught between the floor and the frame and it goes south from there. While I owned the cars a Healey guy told me the first gear was blocked off a 4 speed transmission from another car because it was too low for the rear gear ratio they wanted to use. My cars had a standard H pattern with the first gear down and left. With the way Brits built their cars it’s a wonder any of us know anything about them.
Some years ago I attended an auction at a storage yard in Santa Ana Ca where a similar 100 in much worse shape sold for $30k!!!! We were gonna’ bid $3k!!!
Dreamers abound!
At that price, you’ll go deep under water immediately, getting past that painful point early in the process!
The hardtop is moderately interesting, but getting the seller to sell it separately seems very doubtful.
Austin-Healey 100 BN 1s are rare, and this one is worth preserving and restoring. However, unless the seller gets very lucky and a nitwit pays him the asking price, it just isn’t going to sell. Selling prices have to reflect the money and labour that has to be put in…but one can’t blame the seller for trying to get as much as he can. Realistically, that price REALLY has to come down after a period of time, if one who “is born every minute” doesn’t come along. While I know that some will say my evaluation is way too high, given a BN 1’s rarity and value once restored, I will say ten thousand max.
I agree. 10K sounds about right
Lowell , about 10 or more years ago, I would not doubt it, I agree somewhat with Laurence, but the A/H market has dropped a bit since the high point, as the old car racket is changing dramatically, more good cars are entering the market, import, muscle cars, antiques, add the cost of restoration, potential pool of buyers, some are no longer worth the effort.
I respect your opinion, V-12MECH. The thing about the Healey 100 BN1 is that it is extremely good-looking when nicely restored. When given a two-tone paint job and chrome wire wheels, WOW! These cars are also extremely basic, unlike say an Aston Martin, and lend themselves well to being restored by someone with patience and basic skills…and while parts are not dirt cheap, they are available with relative ease. The Healey 100, apart from being considerably rarer than its six cylinder brethren, is the epitomy of what a classic, two seater sports car is…and that windscreen that can be lowered renders the car into an icon of open-air motoring freedom, with few rivals. While the car is being totally restored, getting it up to 100M specifications would bring up the value, because in the ’50s owners could buy from the factory the engine parts required and fit them themselves to their standard car. If I were looking for a project, I would be willing to pay up to the ten thou, but not a penny more.