Makes › Austin-Healey › 100M (factory-built) · Rare specification · 1955–1956 Very Rare
Austin-Healey
100M (factory-built)
Factory Le Mans-tuned 100 (BN2) – distinct from c.500 dealer conversion kits
Photo: Falcon® Photography from France · CC BY-SA 2.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 640 Built
- Years
- 1955–1956
- Engine
- Inline four, pushrod overhead valves · 2,659 cc / 2.7 LFactory: 2,659 cc
- Power
- 82 kW / 112 PSFactory: 110 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 177 km/hFactory: 110 mph · converted
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Not yet verified
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The 100M was the factory-fitted Le Mans performance version of the BN2 Austin-Healey 100, built from October 1955 until production ended on 16 July 1956. About 640 were completed at the factory, distinguishing them from cars converted with the dealer Le Mans kit.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Austin-Healey 100M (factory-built) (Wikimedia Commons: Austin-Healey 100M)
Photo: Falcon® Photography from France · CC BY-SA 2.0
Austin-Healey 100M (factory-built) (Wikimedia Commons: Austin-Healey 100M)
Photo: Sicnag · CC BY 2.0
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02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory package productionfactory-built 100M cars | 6401,2 | Factory production | Independently researched |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
After two lightly modified Austin-Healey 100s finished 12th and 14th at Le Mans in 1953, a bolt-on tuning kit called "Le Mans" was sold through dealers, lifting power from 90 to 100 bhp. From October 1955 the factory fitted it to the BN2 as the 100M, with high-compression pistons, a stiffer front anti-roll bar, special Armstrong front dampers and a louvred bonnet, giving 110 bhp.
Bonhams says 1,159 cars, mostly BN2s, were built or converted to 100M specification in 1955-56, of which about 640 were factory builds and some 544 were exported to the USA.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard 100M (factory-built).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Inline four, pushrod overhead valves1 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 2,659 cc / 2.7 LFactory: 2,659 cc1 Independently researched |
| Bore | 86.4 mmFactory: 86.4 mm1 Independently researched |
| Stroke | 109.2 mmFactory: 109.2 mm1 Independently researched |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | 82 kW / 112 PSFactory: 110 hp · converted1 Independently researchedSource states bhp. |
| Power at | 4,500 rpm1 Independently researched |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | 4-speed manual with overdrive1 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Rear1 Independently researched |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Wishbones and coil springs1 Independently researched |
| Rear suspension | Live axle, leaf springs1 Independently researched |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | 2,286 mmFactory: 2,286 mm1 Independently researched |
| Length | 3,835.4 mmFactory: 3,835.4 mm1 Independently researched |
| Width | 1,536.7 mmFactory: 1,536.7 mm1 Independently researched |
| Height | 1,249.7 mmFactory: 1,249.7 mm1 Independently researched |
| Front track | 1,244.6 mmFactory: 1,244.6 mm1 Independently researched |
| Rear track | 1,295.4 mmFactory: 1,295.4 mm1 Independently researched |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 177 km/hFactory: 110 mph · converted1 Independently researchedBonhams says within a whisker of 120 mph with the screen folded. |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Factory 100Ms are verified through the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate and the 100M "Le Mans" Registry. Identifying features: louvred bonnet held by a leather strap, cold-air box, 1¾-inch SU HD6 carburettors, high-compression pistons, stiffer front anti-roll bar and special Armstrong dampers, with 8.1:1 compression. Chassis numbers are BN2 numbers, and matching engine numbers (e.g. 1B/229013) are checked.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
1955-56 Austin-Healey 100M Level B Supercars.net
- just 640 examples of the 100M were built
- Inline-4, Pushrod overhead valves
- 2659 cc / 162.3 in³
- 86.4 mm
- 109.2 mm
- 110 bhp @ 4500 rpm
- 4-speed and o/d
- RWD
- Wishbones and Coil overs
- Live axle w/ leaf springs
- 2286 mm / 90 in
- 3835.4 mm
- 1536.7 mm
- 1249.7 mm
- 1244.6 mm
- 1295.4 mm
- ~176.99 kph / 110 mph
-
2
RM Sotheby's lot catalogue: 1956 Austin-Healey 100M Le Mans Roadster (Monterey 2012) Level B
- 640 factory-built 100M cars
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