The Catawiki website always provides us with some interesting surprises. Especially in the field that interests us the most, that of classic cars. In this case, he has put up for auction this wonderful Austin-Healey Healey 100 M that was originally registered in Malaga on March 15, 1956. This makes it even more attractive, because very few Healeys were sold in our country in the midst of the worst of Franco's autarky.
In addition, it is a Le Mans version made at the time. The original 100 M was factory replicas of the cars that participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1953 and 1955. Only 640 units of this variant were assembled, so they are really rare to see today.
In any case, this unit has chassis number 221300, prior to the start of manufacturing the original 100 M. This would indicate that it is a conversion made in his time by the owner or even by the dealer. In Catawiki they have called it, with good judgment, as “Le Mans conversion”.
AN AUSTIN-HEALEY 100 M VERY WELL PRESERVED
In addition to its MA-11111 registration, it also has its original documentation. It also shows off details such as the ventilation outlets on the hood or the leather strap on it, characteristic elements of the 100 M versions. Fortunately, the car has not undergone any modifications and is very original. It was carefully restored years ago, so today it has a beautiful patina.
It equips a four-speed manual gearbox and its mechanics yields the 110 CV that the Austin-Healey 100 M factory gave. Currently, it has 55.000 kilometers on its odometer. Besides, the engine starts perfectly both hot and cold And the gearbox has a very smooth handling, ideal for enjoying fun rides in a convertible.
This unit belonged to an important Spanish collector, who he had a workshop and his own mechanic at home for maintenance from his collection. In fact, the cars were started daily and moved to preserve them in the best conditions. It has passed the ITV punctually since 1990 and has always been in operation, that is, it is ready to be enjoyed from now on by its new owner, because it also has valid insurance.
The car is in Barcelona and, as you can see in the photos, its condition is unbeatable. So much the hood and the upholstery are healthy and show only typical wear and tear from use. The bid ends el Saturday at 21: 07 hours. It is expected to change hands for a price of between 59.400 and 65.500 euros, a more than interesting figure for an Austin-Healey 100 M, even if it is a vintage conversion.
Photos courtesy of Catawiki.