Registration – TSY 218

Chassis No. – BN61371

M.O.T. – Exempt

Odometer – 17,563

This highly attractive, quintessential British convertible is very well presented in metallic blue over white paint, with smart dark blue interior with white piping. In its present enthusiast ownership for nearly two decades, ‘TSY 218’s short list of former keepers include Commodore Cooke-Priest CBE, one-time Commander of the world’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth. This desirable example from the final year of 100-6 production is offered complete with what the vendor describes as a ‘huge’ history file – in fact, four Lever Archer folders - of documents and photographs of the extensive, older restoration, which included an upgrade to a Healey 3000 engine. More recently, ‘TSY 218’ has received new wire wheels and tyres, a brake overhaul, new distributor and alternator, coil and spark plugs, plus new hood, frame and tonneau cover. The vendor describes all aspects of the car as ‘good’. The car has been regularly maintained and MOT’d and carries a current MOT to 2 November 2024, with no advisories. MOT records show it has covered just over 11,000 miles in the past 19 years. It is now waiting for a new owner to add to those miles and enjoy years of wind-in-the-hair motoring.

Donald Healey’s eponymous company built a prototype two-seater sports car for display at the 1952 London Motor Show. It was based on Austin A90 Atlantic mechanicals and sported a sleek body designed by Gerry Coker and built by Tickford. Healey planned to build production versions at his factory in Warwick, but as things transpired, the prototype so impressed both the public and Austin’s Managing Director Leonard Lord, that he agreed to build the car in volume at Longbridge. The newcomer was renamed the Austin-Healey 100. The production bodyshells were made by Jensen and then transported to Longbridge where the cars were assembled alongside the A90. The last of the 100 models, the BN4 (2+2 seater) and BN6 (2-seater, as per the sale car) had a two-inch longer wheelbase and were powered by the six-cylinder 2,639cc BMC C Series engine originally found in the Austin Westminster. Early versions gave 102bhp, but by 1957 output of the 100-6 had risen to 117bhp.

In summary:

· A very well-presented late example of Donald Healey’s classic british sportscar

· An older restoration with an upgraded 3-litre engine

· Extensive history and restoration records, and recent new hood, frame and cover and new wheels and tyres