Fantasy Junction

Description

1955 Austin Healey 100S

Chassis No. – AHS3802
Engine No. – 222732
Exterior Color – Old English White and Blue
Interior Color – Blue Leather with White Piping
Engine – 4-cylinder built to 100s specifications
Transmission – 4-speed manual with overdrive
Current Miles – 18,763 TMU

Highlights for this car

- One of 50 factory correct alloy body 100S models
- Matching numbers with documentation including period racing history
- Restored to a very high standard with numerous concours awards
- Three-time Mille Miglia participant and multiple 1000 mile US events

General History

Established in 1952 as a joint venture with partners Austin Motors (BMC) and the Donald Healey Motor Company, Austin-Healey built their reputation in a remarkably short period of time. Their first production offering was the smartly designed and well balanced 1953 100-4 roadster. Capable of superior performance against comparably priced cars, the combination of performance and beauty was striking and proved to be worthy not only of British sales but quickly became the darling of North American importers.

Although production units were impressive, the 100S (S for Sebring) took the concept to a whole new level and is today regarded as the premier iteration of the original beautiful and purposeful concept. Built by hand, at Healey’s Warwick works, all 50 examples were assembled in right hand drive configuration with the first prototypes completed in 1954 and deliveries to race teams and privateers in 1955. Using an all-alloy body and specially fortified alloy substructure, the lightweight bodies were hand formed and riveted to the steel frame while each engine block was built with a nitride-hardened steel crank using forged steel connecting rods and topped with a new Westlake alloy cylinder head featuring larger valves, and a high-lift camshaft. These improvements helped boost the four-cylinder engine to an impressive 132 hp. To enhance performance under the rigors of competition racing, a 26-gallon fuel tank was installed, and stopping power vastly improved via four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes. Exterior modifications included Le Mans 24 Hour headlights, a smaller grille, an external fuel filler, louvered hood, and a low-profile frameless Perspex windscreen with no wiper assembly.

Period racing events for the introduction of the 100S included Stirling Moss debuting in 1955 at Sebring 12-Hours (6th place) and participation in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1955 Carrera Panamericana, and 1955 Mille Miglia. Though the vast majority of the 50 cars remained in the UK and Europe, 20 examples were delivered to US customers.

General Overview and History of This Car

Like nearly all of the 50 cars delivered to privateer racers, #3802 was one of just 20 factory cars specifically prepared for US delivery. The car was finished in Old English White with Lobelia (blue) sides and trimmed with blue interior. The first owner was John Barnes Mull, Malvern, PA who raced the car in SCCA events including events at Watkins Glen, Cumberland, Thompson (3rd place finish), Beverly and other venues. IN addition to this car, Thompson campaigned AC Bristols and Jaguars with his wife Evelyn, herself an accomplished driver, motorsports journalist, and advocate of women in motorsports. The second owner, Thomas Luck raced the car in 1956 at Thompson (1st place), Allentown (2nd place), and Waterboro (3rd place). In 1957/58 Thompson sold the car to the third owner, Col. Fred Losee, a Navy dentist and member of “The Lavender Hill Mob” a team of highly credentialed local area racers who brought organized racing to the Washington DC region. In addition to racing #3802, Losee raced a Cadillac Allard and Alfa Romeo throughout the East Coast. In 1958, Losee was transferred to a Navy location in New Zealand taking advantage of Navy shipment to transport the car with him to New Zealand. Losee eventually engaged professional driver Graham Pierce who drove the car in the 1958 New Zealand Grand Prix to a 1st place finish at The Terratonga International. In 1959 the car achieved another 1st place finish at the 1959 Waimate 50, but by 1960, Losee returned to the states leaving the car to continue under new ownership spanning races from 1958-1979 competing in four Terratonga Grand Prix races including another 1st place victory at the 1962 Waimate 50. In 1981, after a notable period of time on display at the Queenstown Motor Museum, #3802 was sold to Australian vintage racer Murray Wells who raced the car in vintage events throughout Australia until 1997 covering nearly 20 years of ownership until selling the car in 2000 to the current owner, also a former Navy dentist. Though the car remained in sound condition, remarkably retaining all the key factory unique components and body, the current owner engaged expert Tom Kovacs of Fourintune, premier 100S expert and restoration specialist, to comprehensively restore #3802 to concours award winning condition.

Throughout the next two decades #3802 would go on to receive numerous awards including Best of Show and 2nd place Race Car class at the 2001 Brian Redman International Road Challenge Road America, a Blue Ribbon Lion’s Award at the 2001 Meadow Brook Hall Concours, and 2nd place at the 2002 Austin Healey International Meet., to name just a few of the many awards. In 2002 the car received a FIVA Identity Card embarking on further international vintage event participation including 2002, 2005, 2006 participation in the Mille Miglia, 19 years of participation in the Colorado Grand, and participation in the Texas 1000, Copperstate 1000, California Mille, and other prestigious vintage road events.

General Condition

Today #3802 remains a remarkable example of the 34 remaining factory 100s models cited by marque experts in existence today. Remarkably, #3802 retains the original engine block stamped with the corresponding chassis plate on the firewall. The condition of the car is excellent overall with very nice body panel fit and finish consistent with the high-level restoration performed 25 years ago. A few small paint imperfections are evident, as one might expect from a car that has participated in vintage road events, but still surprisingly well maintained offering a cohesive presentation with very satisfying paint, high gloss, and properly maintained features. Although the sparse race-bred exterior trim is minimal, the unique 100S windscreen, louvered hood, emblems, and smaller profile 100S grille are all in excellent condition. A set of Pirelli Cinturato 165 HR15 tires are mounted on painted wire wheels with chrome plated knockoffs fronting four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes. The striking and historically familiar two-tone paint is correct and handsomely suited to the matching blue interior with white piping.

The interior has softly and consistently mellowed yet remains in excellent condition perfectly suited to those who wish to continue the history of driving enjoyment this car has achieved over decades of documented participation in a wide range of events. The low-profile bucket seats, center console, and door pockets are in excellent condition while the gently aged 100S leather strap holding the spare tire properly holds it in place behind the seats, allowing for more space to accommodate the larger capacity fuel tank. The dashboard and instrumentation are in beautiful condition overall with all gauges showing excellent color and clarity and a beautifully preserved original wood rim steering wheel. The trunk is clean and properly outfitted with the correct 26-gallon fuel tank and spare tire seen through to the interior cabin.

The engine compartment, also correctly restored to a high level of finish many years ago, maintains an authentic presentation with correct finishes, correct alloy head, the correct original engine block with matching numbers, and properly finished details. Though time has allowed age to the finishes, the presentation is cohesive and still impressive. Correct engine color, proper copper fuel lines, twin carburetors, red bladed cooling fan, authentic hoses and wiring complete the engine while the original body tag and chassis plate are fixed to the firewall indicating the historic AHS 3802 chassis number and 1B 222732 engine number. The underside of the car presents very well, still boasting the original construction with only modest signs of road use since the restoration was completed. A stainless-steel exhaust is installed with twin side exit exhaust tips on the driver’s side aft of the door opening.

With known history since delivered new to the first owner, numerous historic races in the US and internationally, unchallenged documentation, ownership histories, restoration photos, recorded awards, magazine articles, and FIVA Identity Card, this rare Austin Healey 100S is ready to begin a new chapter as one of just 34 original 100S models remaining today. Commanding rarity, proven performance, and historic provenance all combine in this exceptional 100S.

Items Included with the Car

Four spare wire wheels with Dunlop Racing tires
Four spare rolls of interior materials from restoration
Four Lucas Le Mans headlights and bulbs
Various spare engine parts and gaskets
One spare alloy head
One spare red cooling fan
One spare clutch
Misc. license plates
Two spare floor mats
Four spare brake discs
A service manual
An owner’s manual
An Austin Healey parts list
Tonneau cover
Spare gauges
One car cover

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608