I have a number of friends who run car restoration businesses. One of these is John Saccameno at Sport and Specialty Restorations in Illinois. John’s company has restored a large variety of cars, all to exceptional levels, and they specialize in Austin-Healeys. According to John the cost to restore a fair condition Healey 100 that is a driver into a reliable and nice-looking example will easily cost a minimum of $100,000 to get there and likely more.
The Pick of the Day is a car that fits the bill, a 1955 Austin-Healey 100-4 finished in Healey Blue over Old English White with a blue leather interior. (Click the link to view the listing)
This is not a concours-level car, but a #2 condition serious driver-level car in great condition. The seller, located in Macedonia, Ohio, describes this Healey as having a 10-year old restoration that has held up quite well over the years. They state that the bodywork is excellent, which ensures that the doors close properly, the louvered hood fits right, and panel gaps are even throughout. In addition, they claim that this car has excellent chrome trim, just nice enough to make this Healey 100-4 sparkle without looking weighty.
They close by saying that all of the factory Smiths gauges, lights and other ancillaries are fully operational, as is the factory overdrive. This Healey 100-4 also has a matching blue vinyl folding top, full side curtains, as well as a cockpit tonneau.
The price of this 1955 Austin Healey 100-4 is a very reasonable $69,900, which is about half the price of what it cost to restore it 10-years ago. A decade ago that cost would not include the price of buying the car that you wanted restored.
To close here is John’s final bit of advice.
“This is a car that is perfect for the person out there who has had a ½ finished Healey 100 in their garage for the last 10 years, the one that has Christmas ornaments and other things stacked on top of it, they should sell that car to a younger enthusiast and buy this one, which looks to be a car they can drive and enjoy immediately. Since the best part of classic sports cars like the Healey 100 is in the driving, why not buy one that you can do this with Immediately.”
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
nice car, but at almost 70 grand it is too rich for for my blood
Right there with you on that comment, Sandberg. I picked up a 1960 AH 3000 a half dozen years ago in Springfield, Oh that was also a “driver” for less than $30k. A $4500 new interior and about $2500 worth of shocks, exhaust, and tuning those dang carbs and been driving her every since for less than half this money.
Read the entire article and author never tells us if the car is a BN1 or a BN2. Does he know the cars of which he writes?
Perhaps should be a sports writer instead.
The ad states it’s a BN1
You might want to take a look at the pictures in the ad for the car. Notice the 3 speed shifter. It is of course a BN1. The goal was not to get into the comprehensive history of the Healey 100 but to show you a nice car available and why you might want to consider this Healey instead a driver level car and what the advantages of doing this are. The same rule can apply to all collector cars. The car was simply an illustration of this idea and also looks to me a nice example of a 100.
As far as my personal experience with the Healey 100 you might want to ask and not assume. I took a BN1 on a 1000 mile rally about 9 years ago and have thousands of miles behind the wheel of quite a few big Healey cars.
If you find that a story lacks a detail why not add it yourself in the comments and be helpful and assist in educating those who do not know about these kinds of details.
BN1 it is a BN1 for sure looking at the car..
BN1 it is a BN1 for sure looking at the car..
Trevor Rogers .NZ. Monday 25th July 2022
In my youth I was lucky to own a 100S and would love to still have that car. I believe it went to the USA from New Zealand. Great to see Stirling commenting, he really brings back my memories.