Background
Donald Healey’s stunning two-seater sports car owed its mechanical prowess to nothing more than an amalgamation of bits from the Austin parts bin, but my, what a car.
Alongside those alluring looks, the key to its success was the Austin A90’s 2660cc four-pot engine, which output a decidedly perky 90bhp – enough to fire the little scamp to a top speed of 102mph.
Factor in an incredibly affordable price tag and, while we certainly loved it over here, the USA went bonkers for it. In total a staggering 14,612 100 and 100M models were sold.
Named of course for its top speed, which broke the mythical 100mph barrier, the Austin Healey 100 had it all: handling, power, looks and, most importantly in the Post-War world, that quintessentially British aura.
As it evolved the Healey got bigger, first by way of six-cylinder engine, gaining the 100/6 designation, as here. That began a journey along a decidedly more brawny and powerful route, which resulted in the moniker ‘Big Healey’ in last-of-the-line MkIII form.
The earlier variants may be a touch nimbler, while later Healeys exude a delightful Great British machismo, but 100/6 offers some of the later cars’ brutality allied to an earlier visual purity.
As with any six-cylinder Healey, climb aboard, fire it up, kiss each bicep once, and get ready to devour the Great British countryside in style.
