Rare 1956 Austin-Healey 100M Auctioned Without Reserve to Benefit Two Canadian Charities
A rare 1956 Austin-Healey 100M BN2 roadster is being sold at no reserve, with the winning bid going to two Alberta charities.
A rare 1956 Austin-Healey 100M BN2 roadster is heading to auction at no reserve, with the full winning bid, including the Bring a Trailer buyer’s fee, set to be donated to two Canadian charities: the Trellis Society and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. The car is being offered on behalf of its current owner, who bought it in 2017.
The car is one of 640 factory-built 100M “Le Mans” examples produced over a 10-month span in 1955 and 1956. The 100M was a high-performance model specified with engine and suspension upgrades and a louvered hood secured by a leather strap. This example, chassis BN2L229745, was finished at the factory in black. It underwent a rotisserie refurbishment in Victoria, British Columbia, circa 2016 that included a color change to black and red, an interior re-trim and mechanical work. The restoration earned “Gold” certification from the Austin-Healey Concours Registry.
Power comes from a 2.7-liter inline-four breathing through dual SU carburetors, with the 100M-specification upgrades adding larger carburetors, a cold air box, a higher-lift camshaft and 8.1:1-compression pistons. Power reaches the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission paired with a Laycock de Normanville electric overdrive unit. The engine, transmission, overdrive and differential oil were changed in June 2023 along with various seals and gaskets.
The roadster rides on 15-inch knock-off wire wheels fitted with 180-width Michelin XAS tires, and it has front disc brakes with rear drums. The brake fluid was flushed in June 2023, and a protective film was applied to the entire body in September 2021. Equipment includes Lucas Le Mans 24 headlamps, an adjustable windshield, a wood-rimmed steering wheel and a removable black soft top with tonneau cover.
Inside, the re-trimmed cabin houses bucket seats with red leather upholstery and gray lap belts, along with a Smiths cabin heater, a dash-mounted rear-view mirror, a passenger-side grab handle and door pockets. The Smiths instrumentation includes a 140-mph speedometer and a 6,000-rpm tachometer, plus auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer shows 39,000 miles, with roughly 1,000 added under current ownership, though the seller states that the true mileage is unknown.
The sale includes a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate confirming the car is a factory 100M “Le Mans” model built on November 15, 1955, listing its factory serial numbers, colors and equipment. Certificates from the 100M Le Mans Registry and the Austin-Healey Concours Registry will also accompany the car. Also included are a tool roll, a Thor mallet, a wooden knock-off wrench and a spare wire wheel with a Dunlop tire, along with recent records and Alberta registration, which serves as the ownership document.
Proceeds will be split between two registered charities. The Trellis Society plans to use its share toward creating 250 new units of affordable housing in Calgary. The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation intends to put its portion toward a new Emerging Adult Service providing young people aged 16 to 29 with more effective and appropriate mental health treatment. The winning bidder pays the current owner, who in turn pays the charities.
Source: bringatrailer.com
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