Mk1 Big Healey-the life, times and adventures
In 1953 the year that the Austin Healey 100 was announced at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah USA, a standard car broke all the American Stock Car Records from 1 to 5,000 km
Model 100 BN1
Date when launched 1953 Discontinued in 1955
Total produced BN1 10,688
Engine
2,660 cc 90bhp at 4,000 rpm Max torque 150 lbs/ft at 2,000 rpm
Date when launched 1953 (100 BN1) 1955 (100 BN2)
Length 12ft 7ins Width 5ft 0ins Height (hood) 4ft 1ins
Wheelbase 7ft 6ins Track front 4ft 1ins rear 4ft2.8ins
The first of the line built at Longbridge, with bodies supplied by Jensen was the 2.6 litre Austin-Healey 100 BN1 in 1953. Two years later came the BN2 version. Next on the scene was the BN4 and called the Austin-Healey 100 six which used the “C’ series engine 6 cyl. 2,639 cc. this stayed in production at Longbridge till 1957.
Production was transferred to Abingdon in November 1957, at around the same time the engine was updated by means of a new cylinder head and manifold, this increased power from 102 to 117 bhp.
Later that year (1958) the BN6 arrived using the revised engine, one of the major changes was that the seating reverted back to the original design, making it a two-seater, not 2 + 2 as in the BN4. In 1959 it was change time again with the Austin-Healey 3000 Mk I Engine size went up to 2,912 cc and power output was now 124 bhp at 4,600 rpm with torque at 162 lbs/ft at 2,700 rpm. When the Mk II came out in 1962 it was called a Convertible as it had various changes with a more rounded larger windscreen and windup door windows. The soft top was now a proper foldaway type and seating layout was 2 + 2, although the room in the back was cramped for adults. Power output was again increased and although the overdrive unit was an optional extra, most were fitted with it as standard. It was in 1964 that the Mk III and final version was announced. The model was again given a more powerful engine along with a nice wooden veneer facia. Seating was improved and round the gear change was a central console with a storage box.
1953 after the Mille Miglia
Later in 1953 and just after the Mille Miglia the same car was prepared for Le Mans, but when driven back from the scrutineering session by Gordon Wilkins, he was involved in an accident. Because of the major damage, it was necessary to do a total rebuild to get the car ready for the practice session. On event day, bearing the race number 34 it completed 2,153 miles in the 24 hours, finishing in twelve overall and second in class.
This particular car is the only one that to this day is original in all respects.
We had a lovely afternoon drive to Ripley in Surrey. The manager @theclockhouseripley #theclockhouseripley kindly let us park in front of the beautiful #michelinstar @michelinstar restaurant . We will be dining here on Sept 21st so will post about the restaurant then. Supposed to be amazing !!
http://www.theclockhouserestaurant.co.uk
We actually had tea and delicious orange and almond cake #nesthomeandcafe http://www.nest-home.com which is next door the Clock House. Lovely little shop and tea shop, well worth a trip out to visit.
The Sixth Austin Healey (build No AHR60) was the second racing car to be built at Warwick. The car had a strengthened but lighter chassis with a special engine No IB 13676 supplied and built by Austin’s Experimental Department Longbridge. With a nitrided crankshaft, special camshaft, racing pistons and lightened flywheel. Various other modifications were carried out and for the Le Mans 24 hour race it was fitted with a cold air box and 1¾ SU carburettors, which helped the engine to produce 103bhp at 4,500rpm. A Borg and Beck competition clutch transmitted the power through to a Austin Taxi gearbox which also had a high ratio overdrive unit, which reduced the engine revs by a third, then finally to a high ratio axle.
It was registered in Birmingham on the 22nd April 1953 and given the number NOJ 392. The chassis number was SPL225B and body No JM 4079-6.
Donald Healey thought that British racing green was unlucky, so it was painted a metallic light green, with dark green leather for the seats. Then entered in the 1953 Mille Miglia with racing number 552, driven by Bert Hadley and Bertie Mercer. Sadly on the stage between Brescia and Ravenna they had to retire with a broken throttle linkage.
Donald Healeys factory was referred to by the workforce as ‘The Works’ and was actually a former aircraft hangar that was re-erected on three acres of reclaimed land made available by Warwick Council after WWII. Not the ideal place to build a stylish sports car. Offices were added later and also a brick workshop for Roger Menadue to house the experimental department. It was here that the first five cars were assembled. It was planned to produce the next batch of pre-production vehicles in the hanger, a total of fifty, under the watchful eye of Harry Bradish. Actually in the end only nineteen were made at Warwick all been left-hand drive versions.
Beautiful original #smithsinstrumements dials . #moto-lita steering wheel with classic piping on the upholstery
Donald Healey built cars at Warwick using one basic chassis design in 1946 Donald Healey showed at the 1952 Earls Court Show a new sports car using Austin A90 Atlantic running gear and called it the Healey 100. So impressed was the BMC’s managing director Leonard Lord that a deal was struck, so next morning the model on the stand had a new badge which announced to the world that this was the new Austin Healey 100.
Healey would design the cars and Longbridge would build and market them under the name of Austin-Healey. The actual body/chassis were made for BMC by Thompson of Wolverhampton.
It would take some time to get the sports car into production, at the earliest by the middle of 1953. As a production line would have to be set up at Jensen Motors of West Bromwich to produce the body, with a line set up at Longbridge for the final assemble.
So a decision was made that Donald Healey Motor Company would produce a small batch by hand that would be used mainly for publicity, such as Motor Shows around Europe and America, and also be loaned out for the press to try and the public to view. I’m sure that some would have been used by the team to test components etc.
Donald Healey built cars at Warwick using one basic chassis design in 1946 Donald Healey showed at the 1952 Earls Court Show a new sports car using Austin A90 Atlantic running gear and called it the Healey 100. So impressed was the BMC’s managing director Leonard Lord that a deal was struck, so next morning the model on the stand had a new badge which announced to the world that this was the new Austin Healey 100.
Gerry Coker, designer of the Healey 100 working on his drawing board. Gerry was inspired by the appearance of Italian cars. He was responsible for the attractive styling of the Austin Healey’s, a styling that today still fascinate many people.
Lovely tribute to Jim Clark in his home town Kilmenny , Scotland
Nancy the Austin Healey 