Austin Healey (1956)

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Mille Miglia Eligible. Successfully participated in the 2024 Mille Miglia Very rare genuine factory built 100 M Le Mans. Complete with 100M Le Mans Registry certificate One of just 640 examples produced. Approximately 170 examples from the original 640 have been authenticated by 100 M ‘Le Mans’ Registry One of the rarest factory colors. Estimated number finished in Florida Green: approximately 40–45 cars Benefits from meticulous restoration with attention to originality by marque model expert This car presents a rare opportunity to acquire one of few documented factory-built 100 M “Le Mans” examples that survive today The Austin-Healey story is one of the best examples of 1950s British sports-car alchemy: Donald Healey’s light, competition-minded engineering, combine it with the industrial muscle of British Motor Corporation, made affordable roadsters with genuine racing credibility. The marque was created in 1952 as a joint venture between BMC’s Austin division and the Donald Healey Motor Company, with Donald Healey and Leonard Lord as the key figures behind the agreement. In the mid-1950s, the Austin-Healey formula was clear: long bonnet, low windshield, big-torque engine, and an emphasis on real-world speed. The original Austin-Healey 100 was assembled by Austin from 1953 to 1956 and quickly became a favorite for rallies, club racing, and record attempts, exactly the kind of grassroots motorsport culture that defined the era. This motorsport success directly inspired the creation of a more focused, factory-developed performance version. The Austin-Healey 100-M Le Mans represents the most performance-oriented evolution of the original four-cylinder Austin-Healey 100. The “M” designation stood for Modification, and the model was built to celebrate the brand’s endurance racing achievements. Factory-built 100M models featured: Higher-compression pistons A high-lift camshaft Larger SU carburetors with cold-air intake box Increased output to approximately 110 bhp Louvered bonnet for improved cooling Leather bonnet strap and external racing details By 1956, the 100-M was based on the BN2 chassis, benefiting from a 4-speed gearbox with overdrive, making it both faster and more refined than earlier versions. Just the 640 factory-built cars recorded in original production ledgers are recognized as genuine 100-M models, despite the availability of official performance kits for standard cars. The estimated number of examples finished in Florida Green is approximately 40–45 cars. In proportional terms, a Florida Green Austin-Healey 100-M ranks among the rarest color specifications of any 1950s British production sports car, adding notable historical and collector value to surviving examples. ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE This 1956 Austin-Healey 100M Le Mans is a genuine, factory-built example, completed on 20 April 1956 and delivered new to the United States. Finished in the beautifully understated and highly desirable Florida Green and White over a Black interior, the car is presented today in its original factory color specification. As confirmed by its British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (BMIHT) Certificate, this example is an authentic factory 100M “Le Mans,” originally equipped with the Le Mans package, including the louvred bonnet, laminated windscreen, heater, and mph speedometer. The car spent the vast majority of its life in the United States, passing through the hands of Mr. Newey and F. Lutheran of Alabama. In 2007, it was acquired by renowned marque and model expert B. Van Tiggelen for his personal collection. A true specialist, Van Tiggelen subsequently undertook a no-expense-spared restoration at his own workshop, “100 Healey”. The car was later sold to a prominent Austrian collector with an exceptional Healey collection, including several 100Ms and a genuine 100S. The comprehensive restoration was carried out between 2014 and 2016. It was thereafter acquired by a Dutch collector.