The 1955 Austin-Healey 100 BN1 Roadster remains a quintessential icon of the British sports car movement. This specific example, finished in a crisp white, captures the low-slung and elegant proportions that made the Big Healey famous. It offers a mechanical purity that modern vehicles simply cannot replicate on the open road. Collectors often seek out the BN1 for its fold-down windshield and raw, connected driving dynamics. Offered at no reserve, this roadster represents an accessible entry into high-level vintage motoring.
Classic Roadster Styling and External Lighting Details
This vehicle wears a white finish complemented by a matching removable soft top and a protective tonneau cover. The front end features a traditional badge bar hosting a Lucas fog light and a Notek driving light. These period-correct accessories provide a rally-inspired aesthetic that suits the car’s athletic personality. While the selling dealer notes some paint bubbling, the overall silhouette remains striking and instantly recognizable. Chrome bumpers with overriders provide the necessary brightwork to offset the monochrome paint scheme. It retains the signature adjustable windshield for high-speed cruising or low-profile show display.
Functional Cockpit Design and Safety Enhancements
Inside the cabin, the black vinyl bucket seats offer a purposeful and supportive environment for spirited driving. Pyrotect Safety five-point harnesses have been installed to provide significantly more security than original lap belts. A Smiths heater keeps the interior comfortable during cooler morning drives through the countryside. The dashboard features a classic banjo-style steering wheel and a full suite of Smiths instrumentation. Furthermore, auxiliary gauges for oil temperature and amperage are tucked neatly below the main dash panel. These additions allow the driver to monitor the car’s vital signs with modern precision.
Chassis Upgrades and Wire Wheel Specifications
The car sits on traditional 15-inch wire wheels secured by two-ear knock-off hubs for an authentic vintage look. These wheels are wrapped in 165-width Ultra metric tires to maintain the narrow-track handling characteristic of the fifties. Stopping power has been significantly improved through the installation of retrofitted Dunlop front disc brakes. This modification provides much more consistent performance compared to the original four-wheel drum setup. The rear retains its classic drum brakes to maintain a balance of period-correct engineering and modern safety. These upgrades make the roadster much more capable in today’s traffic conditions.
Inline Four Performance and Gearbox Specifications
A 2.7-liter inline-four engine provides the heart of this 1955 Austin-Healey 100 BN1 Roadster. It breathes through dual SU carburetors fitted with velocity stacks and cone-style filters for improved induction noise. This powerplant is now paired with a retrofitted four-speed manual transmission featuring an overdrive unit. This combination allows for much more comfortable highway cruising than the original three-speed gearbox. The engine bay features a valve cover with a vintage racing decal, hinting at the car’s spirited potential. It delivers the torquey, low-end grunt that makes these early Healeys so rewarding to drive through winding gears.
Summary of a British Motoring Legend
The 1955 Austin-Healey 100 BN1 Roadster is a beautifully uncomplicated machine that prioritizes the relationship between driver and road. By combining a classic color palette with meaningful mechanical upgrades, this example is ready for immediate enjoyment. The inclusion of front disc brakes and an overdrive transmission adds immense practical value for long-distance tours. Though it shows some honest signs of age, the car’s fundamental character remains fully intact. It stands as a definitive piece of automotive history that continues to turn heads in any setting. This no-reserve offering is a rare chance to claim a cornerstone of the sports car world.
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Source: bringatrailer.com
