Rebuilt Engine: 1957 Austin-Healey 100/6
Classic British sports cars remain a desirable commodity in today’s market. This is especially true if the vehicle in question is rust-free and mechanically sound. This 1957 Austin-Healey 100/6 meets that description, and the seller is only the car’s third owner. It presents well and is ready to be enjoyed by a lucky new owner. If you believe that you could be that person, you will find the Healey located in Catalina Foothills, Arizona, and listed for sale here on Craigslist. The owner has set a sale price of $34,000 for this gem, and I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Matt R for spotting it for us.
This little Healey presents well in its original shade of Old English White. The paint holds an impressive shine, with no visible flaws or defects. It isn’t clear whether the vehicle has ever undergone any restoration work, but its overall condition suggests that this may be possible. The steel hiding beneath that beautiful white paint appears to be excellent. There is one small dent in the right rear fender, but there are no other issues or signs of rust. The owner doesn’t mention any problems in the listing, and if the Healey has spent its life in Arizona, it is impossible that it is completely rust-free. He has installed a Black factory hardtop that is in good condition, and a matching soft-top and tonneau cover are included in the sale. The exterior trim is excellent, with no evidence of dull areas or corrosion. The car rolls on its original wire wheels, and their condition is as impressive as the rest of the exterior.
Apart from an aftermarket radio/cassette player, this classic’s interior appears to be original and unmolested. Its condition is also impressive, and it seems that the new owner won’t need to spend a dime in here. The seats are upholstered in black leather, which is free from any significant wear or physical damage. The carpet is equally impressive, with no signs of fading or wear. There is some visible slight deterioration on the center armrest, but a high-quality conditioning product should soon put this right. The dash is spotlessly clean, as are the door trims. It is refreshing to see that nobody has seen fit to swap out the beautiful banjo steering wheel for an aftermarket item. This is a common change because some people find this larger wheel uncomfortable on longer journeys. However, smaller wheels will make the car heavier to steer, so the original wheel is an excellent compromise.
It isn’t clear whether this classic is numbers-matching, but if it is, its engine bay should house its original 2,639cc six-cylinder engine that produces 102hp. The power finds its way to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission with optional overdrive. If the owner pointed this little Healey at the ¼ mile, it would cover the journey in 18.1 seconds before finding its way to 106mph. The owner has sunk some considerable money into this car’s drivetrain. He has treated both the engine and transmission to a rebuild, while the front end has received similar treatment with many new components, along with new brakes, and shocks. He also took the opportunity to upgrade the electrical system to a negative/earth configuration, which aligns with many modern vehicles. Adding peace of mind for potential buyers, the owner has retained all receipts for work completed on this car while it has been in his possession. This 100/6 runs and drives well, and while it isn’t the fastest car on the planet, its low stance makes it feel far faster than its speedometer may indicate. That is part of what makes these little cars such satisfying vehicles when the roads turn twisty.
This 1957 Austin-Healey 100/6 is an attractive car that would suit a buyer seeking a turnkey classic. Its overall presentation is impressive, and its sound mechanical condition means that potential buyers won’t need to spend a dime on its drivetrain. It is possible to find some reasonable examples in today’s market for under $35,000, but it is also common to find them selling for over $50,000. That makes the sale price for this one look very competitive. I suspect that the owner will quickly find a buyer for this one.
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Comments
If everything checks out, it appears to be a great buy.
Boy, the steam sure poofed out of these in a hurry. For a spell, say 20 years ago, seemed every Big Healey that came down the pike was 6 figures. I think,,,most people familiar with these cars the 1st time around, sadly, many gone, would never pay even THIS kind of money for another one. SO, what I figure, is younger folks, who have the cash to pixx away, from where ever, think, “what a car”, and it is, until they actually drive it, or attempt to drive it ( why won’t it start,,,again?). Don’t get me wrong, for what it is, a high powered British roadster, it checks all the boxes, however, one better be acclimated with a car like this. I’d bet it caught many off guard, word got out, and the prices fell. Again, my brother had a ’58 he paid $1500 bucks for in the 70’s. It, at the time, was a cheap convertible that we beat the crap out of, it was a fun car, but the shortcomings will make any snowflake run and hide. If you’re not dead yet, and if you’re reading this, you’re probably not, got money to burn, and have a hankerin’ for a British roadster, and a Jag is out of the question, you owe it to yourself to experience these fantastic cars. The exhaust note is worth it alone, especially when that steep drive approach tore the exhaust off, again!
So your brother bought a cheap, 15-20 year old car that you and he “beat the crap out of” and wonder now why it failed to start on occasion?
Just what the heck did they expect? It’s a British sports car, not a Yank tank.
The 100-6 never had a 100K sale. Those were normally late model MKIII BJ8 and were restored by either Fourintune or Kurt Turner or the 100M or the racecar 100S.
Do you mean Kurt Tanner?
“Little” Healeys were Sprites. This is a big Healey.
The early 6 cylinder cars are my favorite after the 100 series. Nice clean looks, good engines, and as Howard referred to, fun to drive. Our two 100s were slow but fun and the 6s took care of the slow part just fine.
From about 58-62 a friend and I pestered the import lots and went for lots of drives and love the Healy most of all. The sound will put me to sleep.
Such fun.