
1956 Austin-Healey 100 M 'Le Mans'
€170,000 - €190,000 EUR | Not Sold
- Accompanied by a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (BMIHT) Certificate confirming its status as a factory-built 100 M and a certificate from the 100 M registry
- Restored by marque specialists
- Competed in the Mille Miglia Storica in 2015
One of Britain’s most charismatic and iconic sports cars, the Austin Healy 100 quickly made a name for itself in both track and rallying and was a favourite of many sports car enthusiasts. Founder Donald Healey had set his sights on the Mille Miglia, Sebring and Le Mans to generate advertising for the model he launched in 1953. To do this, the Works Special Test 100 S was developed with a competition engine, stiffer suspension and a lighter body to make it even more competitive against its Italian and British rivals.
With an eye on privateer customers also looking to use their Healeys in motorsport, an optional factory Le Mans kit was offered from 1954 with cars denoted as a 100 M. It featured a louvered bonnet with leather strap plus an uprated four-cylinder, 2.6 litre with a cold air box, larger 1 and ¾-in. carburettors, a competition cylinder head and a free-flow exhaust manifold. With a special distributor, the result was a power output of 120 bhp. Only 640 factory 100 Ms were produced, of which 544 were shipped to the U.S.
According to its BMIHT Certificate, this Austin-Healey was born as a genuine, factory-built 100 M. Destined for the North American market, it left the factory in June 1956 and was specified in two-tone Florida Green and Ivory White with black interior trim and hood, just as it appears today. Factory equipment included the desirable louvred bonnet (still stamped with its original body number), wire wheels, laminated windscreen and a heater. It returned to Europe where full photographic restoration on the chassis and body was carried out by a leading Dutch restorer from 2004–2008. The body was returned to its original colour. The overdrive gearbox and engine were rebuilt by legendary Austin Healey racing specialist Denis Welch. The result is a motorsport-grade engine for fast road use which retains the original factory features.
Another marque specialist, Woolmer Classic Engineering, has maintained the car for the last three years, where in that period alone there are invoices totalling £30,000. Furthermore, a dyno test undertaken by Woolmer shows that the engine produces an exceptional 150 bhp, some 30 bhp more than standard, making for a truly thrilling driving experience. Its provenance is confirmed by a certificate from the 100 M Le Mans Registry. This car competed the Mille Miglia in 2015, proving it is an ideal car for period touring events.


