1959 Austin-Healey 100-6

This listing was posted on Americanlisted.

$54,900

1959 Austin-Healey 100-6

Price:

$54,900

Financing:

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Summary:

Used 1959

Location:

Macedonia, OH

Description:

Beautiful restoration in fantastic colors. Extensive recentservice. New chrome wire wheels and fresh tires. Full weatherequipment. Runs and drives great! The only Austin-Healey with 2seats and a 6-cylinder engine, making for great performance.Theevolution of the Austin-Healey is fascinating, changing from asomewhat crude 2-seat roadster to a grand-touring 4-seater with bighorsepower from a burly 6-cylinder engine. For many, the sweet spotis this 100-6 BN6, which combines the desirable 2-seater bodyworkwith the firm's first 6-cylinder engine, making for sparklingperformance. Styling is unmistakable with the oval grille, sweepingfront fenders, and distinctive two-tone paint scheme that wasendemic to most Healeys of the period. Finished in simple black andwhite, it has a classic, elegant look that is a big reason why thebig Healeys command such a premium over other British sports carsof the era. Panel fit is excellent and there's a brilliant shine tothe finish that shows quality workmanship on the 10-year-oldrestoration. Details like the mirrors perched way out on the frontwings, the faux air scoop, and exposed fuel filler are all nods toHealey's racing heritage. Chrome and other brightwork is a nicecombination of restored pieces and quality original bits, givingthe car an all-of-a-piece look that's quite appealing. From anyangle, this is a very attractive car.The red interior, however, iswhat makes this car really pop. It's a bit understated in thetraditional British way, but the combination is just gorgeous.Supportive bucket seats are ideal for spirited driving and there'senough room behind the wheel for even taller drivers. The packageshelf behind the seats is fully carpeted and includes storage forthe spare tire (leaving the trunk impressively spacious). Thebanjo-style steering wheel is big enough to make wheeling themuscular Healey easy and the almost delicate thin rim transmitseverything the front wheels are doing directly to your fingertips.A full complement of Smiths gauges monitors all the engine's vitalswhile the rest of the controls are simple and straightforward, ararity in British cars. There is no radio to distract you from theheroic soundtrack of the big 6-cylinder engine up front, but itdoes have a heater for those cool night drives. Rubber floor matsprotect the carpets and there's a grab handle for the passenger,which will undoubtedly come in handy. The top is manual, of course,and stows easily in the trunk to preserve the car's clean lines.There are also rigid side curtains for additional weatherprotection. The trunk itself is neatly finished with a carpeted matand plenty of room for a weekend's worth of luggage for two.Thereal reason the 100-6 BN6 is special, however, is under the hood.Instead of the raucous 4-cylinder that previously powered theAustin-Healeys, this is an all-new 2.6 liter inline-6 that'storquey and smooth and loves to rev. Fed by a pair of side-draft SUcarburetors, it makes the most wonderful six-cylinder sounds, aburly baritone that grows as you wind it through the gears. It'sfinished in traditional Austin green paint and sticks to the stockformula?no modifications here. It starts easily once you figure outjust where the choke likes to be and idles with an urgency thatsays it would rather play than sit still. The 4-speed manual shiftscleanly with light clutch action, and compared to the earliergearboxes, this is one you'll downshift just for the joy of rowingthe gears. Out back, a live axle hangs on leaf springs and thereare 3.91 gears inside, so it's a reasonable cruiser at highwayspeeds. The chassis is robust and the recent stainless steelexhaust system sounds epic at speed, particularly from about 3000RPM. Manual drum brakes are powerful enough for the car's lightcurb weight and it sits on brand new chrome wire wheels with fresh165SR15 Dunlop radials that look suitably vintage.Beautifullyfinished, great colors, and a wonderful driving experience?thisHealey checks all the boxes. If you're a fan of British sportscars, this is a fantastic opportunity to own a 6-cylinder Healeyfor a reasonable price and it's a big step up from, say, a Triumphor MG. It's in exactly the right condition to drive and enjoy whileparticipating in local events, and few cars invite you onto theroad like this one. If that appeals to you, give us a calltoday!Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal orprofessional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior topurchase.

Body Type:

Convertible

Transmission:

Manual Transmission

For sale by:

Dealer

Posted:

July 29 on Americanlisted