Registration - DSL 438

Chassis No. - BN6L/2332

M.O.T. - Exempt

Odometer - 98,000

‘DSL 438’ has been the subject of a comprehensive body-off, bare-metal restoration and respray in red over Old English White. The all-encompassing refurbishment included rebuilds of both the engine and overdrive gearbox, the replacement of front and rear suspension parts, the provision of a set of new 72-spoke chrome wire wheels, a total rewire, a retrim in white-piped red leather, and the replacement of both the hood and tonneau cover. Perhaps unsurprisingly the vendor now classes the two-seater bodywork, paintwork, upholstery, six-cylinder engine and transmission as all being in ‘excellent’ order, and is now offering this very smart example complete with Heritage Certificate. The odometer currently displays an unwarranted but wholly credible 98,000 miles.

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-Six had risen to 117bhp.

In summary:

• The subject of a body-off restoration
• Contains many new parts
• Comes complete with Heritage Certificate