1956 AUSTIN HEALEY 100M BN2 LE MANS

1956 AUSTIN-HEALEY 100M BN2 LE MANS
Sold for US$ 206,800 Including Commission
Bonhams Auction, Amelia Island, FL. 2015
From the Estate of George Fink
1956 AUSTIN-HEALEY 100M BN2 LE MANS
Chassis no. BN2L/230966
Engine no. 1B/230966-M
Body no. 12465
2,660cc OHV Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
2 SU Carburetors, 110bhp at 4,500 rpm
4-Speed, Manual transmission
Independent Front Suspension, De Dion Rear Axle with Coil-Springs
4-Wheel Ventilated Disc brakes
*Timewarp, original unrestored example
*Two documented owners from new
*Offered with books and tools
*Just 37,000 miles from new
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
This is an extraordinary example of the increasingly popular Le Mans package Healey. With a known history from new and modest mileage accrual, it survives in time-warp or preservation standard condition.
Offered from the Estate of British car aficionado George Fink, it was delivered new in Wisconsin. As recorded on its original Bill of Sale, the 100M was purchased on May 29, 1956 from authorized agents Roewardt-Thomson Inc. of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It was bought by a local architect who cleverly negotiated its list price from $3,535 down to $3,095 – although for someone with an eye for design he clearly knew what he was getting.
While in that ownership back in the 1950s, it is understood that the Healey was cared for and well-maintained, eschewing the normal competitive careers of these fine sports cars, only being used on the occasional Kettle Moraine (Wisconsin State Park) sports car rallies.
It was not until its 20th year that it first became available for sale, when an advertisement was placed in Hemmings Motor News by its original owner whose new love appeared to have been a large sail boat, which necessitated the car's sale.
On April 30, 1976 an excited George Fink rented a trailer and headed from Duluth, Minnesota to Sheboygan to meet the owner, test drive the Austin Healey and hopefully become its second custodian. In some regards the day went as he had hoped, but in others not so: for a start, not only would its owner insist that only he drive the car (as no one else had ever done, not even his wife); secondly, when the thorny topic of price came up, the seller was immovable. Despite the old trick of carrying only a cashier's check for the asking price less $500, when it was clear that only the full asking figure would secure its sale, Fink reached for the emergency provision of "five $100 bills I'd brought along . . .so fast I may have ripped my pants pocket!" The car was sold.
Three months later, in July 1976, Mr. Fink showed the 100M at the local Arrowhead Sports Car Club's Motor Sport weekend, winning a trophy. This was the one and only time in his ownership it was shown.
Later in his life, Fink elected to contact both the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and Bill Meade of the "100M – Le Mans Registry" to notify them of the car that he owned. Anders Ditlev Clausager confirmed the car's original details, supplying a Trust certificate which states that the car was built as it is today: with red and black paint, red interior and black top on February 21, 1956. As new it had a heater, laminated windshield and the all important louvered hood. Twenty years ago Bill Meade supplied a Certificate of Membership to the 100M Registry, and featured the car in their Summer 1997 edition. In recent dialogue with him he was pleased to confirm the accuracy of its status.
On his day of purchase, just 37,253 were recorded on the title change. In 39 years, the Fink Austin-Healey 100M has only gathered a few hundred more. With the car are the original books and tools.
Owing to its similarities with a stock 100/4, the 100M is frequently copied openly, aspired to or more worryingly faked. Many were even updated in period, making nearly 60 year old judgment calls on their correctness difficult. Great, pure 100M's don't come much better than this – a truly unspoilt original, two owner (two driver even!), matched numbers car.
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Robert Myrick Photography