Survivor Barn Find 42K original miles Factory Hardtop!!
Sale price: US $49,500.00 Make an Offer
| Used |
| ““A car can be restored many times but is only original once” , applies here. …This very special Austin Healey Longbridge 100-6 BN4 that I purchased from the family who owned it since 1959 sat in a barn from 1970-2014 (44 years), at which time it was reconditioned and put back on the road by the original owners nephew. It was a true barn find with historical documentation and pictorial provenance. I have the original 1959 dealer sales receipt and old misc. invoices, even a speeding ticket from 1961. I also have the original owner’s manual and a picture book documenting continued ownership and recondition with photos of the original owner and his nephew. Not to mention, this car comes with the original factory hardtop, complete original tool set and jack.” |
| Year: | 1957 | VIN : | 1957BN41006 |
| Mileage: | 42939 | Model: | Other |
| Options: | Convertible, Leather Seats | Drive Side: | Left-hand drive |
| Number of Cylinders: | 6 | Interior Color: | Red |
| Transmission: | Manual | For Sale By: | Private Seller |
| Fuel Type: | Gasoline | Exterior Color: | Red over Black |
| Trim: | Longbridge 100-6 Original Factory Hardtop !!! | Make: | Austin Healey |
| Vehicle Title: | Clean | Body Type: | Convertible |
| Warranty: | Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty |
Huntington, New York, United States
Vehicle description
1957 Austin Healey BN4 100-6 Original Survivor 42K miles with Factory Hardtop The statement, “ A car can be restored many times but is only original once” , applies here. …This very special Austin Healey 100-6 BN4 that I purchased from the family who owned it since 1959 sat in a barn from 1970-2014 (44 years), at which time it was reconditioned and put back on the road by the original owners nephew. It was a true barn find with historical documentation and pictorial provenance. I have the original 1959 dealer sales receipt and old misc. invoices, even a speeding ticket from 1961. I also have the original owner’s manual and a picture book documenting continued ownership and recondition with photos of the original owner and his nephew. Not to mention, this car comes with the original factory hardtop, complete original tool set original jack LJ21 dated 1957 and side curtains. The car is an early Longbridge BN4 4-seater and has all the options that were available from the factory, including 48 spoke wire wheels, adjustable steering column, windscreen washer, heater/demister, overdrive, laminated windscreen, and factory works hardtop. It is numbers matching car and includes the original keys and British Motor Heritage Certificate stating the same. Aside from that, this is a historically significant car because it is an early production 100-6, built in August 1957, at the Longbridge factory in England (before production was moved to Abingdon where they were later built alongside Austin Healey Sprites and MGA’s). This car is a matching numbers car with the original “Gallery Head” engine and 4 speed gearbox . The car also comes with its original Tourneau cover and new side curtains. This Austin Healey has only 42K original miles on the odometer and is authentic. The VIN # is BN4L-0-47335, engine 26C/R/H 47335 . The engine is the original matching nos. 6 cylinder “Gallery Head” engine (2639cc) and 4 speed gearbox with Overdrive on 3 rd and 4 th gear. This engine is very rarely seen today, it’s the 2 port “Gallery Head” engine with H4 carbs. The 2-port intake is actually cast into and part of the head. It is rare to see today since almost all have been swapped out over the past 62 years for the slightly more powerful 6-port / separate head and intake of the later 100-6’s and 3000’s. The original H4 carbs are the 100-4 (BN2 type) with the original canister air cleaners , also rare to find and see on a 100-6. This gallery head produces a very unique exhaust note that is very pleasing….The Longbridge 100-6’s have very unique characteristics. Mechanicals : This car is a strong runner and is an honest, unrestored and unmolested car that apparently was maintained, garaged and well cared and loved for by its previous owners. It’s a happy car since it always starts like it has fuel injection and has never let me down or stranded. The car is currently registered in New York State, Insured and has been safety inspected and sits garaged / covered in Huntington, New York (Long Island). Turn the key, hear the fuel pump tick, pull the choke out every so slightly and the quiet turning starter cranks the engine to life. Engine idles at 500 rpms! ! ! which substantiates that the engine is well tuned and balanced. Oil pressure is strong at 60 psi and it revs quickly to 5500 rpms. It runs very strong with no oil leaks or smoke. The stainless-steel exhaust system sounds terrific! ! ! Best sounding vroom vroom sound of any car that I have owned and is not loud and annoying. The engine runs cool and doesn’t overheat. All lights, signals and horn work fine. Brakes are surprising excellent for 4 wheel drums and the car stops very quickly and in a straight line. It actually stops like a modern car! Unbelievable. Shocks are good and it has a factory front anti-roll bar. Ride is steady and steering seems a bit heavy at slow speeds but lightens up at speed. Gearbox is quiet and pulls well in all 4 gears without any grinds, noises or hesitation. Downshifting is fine and the clutch is light and a pleasure to shift up and down through all the gears. Overdrive works on 3 rd and 4 th gears perfectly! The side shifting gear lever is very comfortable to drive with. You can literally drive it 60-80 mph all day long. It has a comfortable road feel at cruising speed and an incredible sounding crisp exhaust note. I’m 6 feet 2 inches and 215 lbs and I fit very comfortable with my legs straight out. The following are new parts/services: · LeMans type Derrington Steering wheel made from Brazilian Cherry by Michael Lembert. Lembert Wheels makes the finest replica steering wheels today and are used on the finest concours restorations. very expensive! · New painted 72 Spoke Dunlop Wheels · Verdestein Classics Tires 185x70x15 · New Chrome badge bar · Mid 1950’s period French Amber lens Fog lights – very rare and valuable · New Wind Wings · New Side mirrors · New tune up parts (Bumble bee racing type ignition wires, cap, rotor, NGK spark plugs, oil change and oil filter) · New Complete Stainless-Steel Exhaust system including Headers and Muffler · New Interstate battery 9/2019 · New door panels and door pockets made from the original factory materials The braking system are drums all around and are excellent. The car stops quickly in a straight line with no fade or pulling to either side. Brake shoes are all in good condition and the rear brake cylinders are new along with new brake flexible hoses. Engine runs cool with no overheating at all. Radiator has built date stamped on front (8 57). Charging system works as it should. All gauges and lights, signals, brake lights work well. Body: Body is straight and accident free! The car was painted only once during the 1960’s in its original Colorado Red. Paint looks a bit tired in some areas but still shiny and presentable but has some scratches and areas where paint is thinning revealing the original red paint (which I find fascinating). Fenders, doors, inner and outer sills are original panels. There are some traces of filler or bubbling in the bottom rear fenders where they meet the door. The frame is solid, straight and accident free , nothing of major consequence to me. Trunk area surrounding gas tank is rust free and solid. Front windshield glass and all chrome including front grill and chrome trim rings are original and in very good condition. Winshield is the original laminated factory glass and is in perfect condition. Interior: The interior in the car is amazing! ! The dash, seats, carpets and floor mats are 100% original. D ash looks great with all working original gauges, buttons and knobs. Seats are 100% original and in great condition, great worn patina. Faded Red to Orange. Donald Healey LeMans type Steering Wheel made by Lempert Wheels. I have the original banjo leather wrapped steering wheel. This is the only AH that probably still has its original factory steering wheel with the leather wrap in perfect condition. Aluminum cockpit rails are in good condition with a nice tight fit. Doors close nice and drivers side lock. New side curtains are there too. The Tourneau cover is original. The Factory Works hardtop is to die for and a great option to have…. These are extremely rare (numbered by the factory) and sought after and go for around $5 – $7K if someone will part with it. They add at least 10% to the cars value. This hardtop is 100% original and in very good condition. Original headliner and hardware are all there. Rear window is nice and clear. Paint is nice. The car seems tighter and quitter with the hardtop on. I love driving with it on especially during cool Autumn days. Closing: This is a 62-year-old car so it is sold “ AS IS” with no expressed or implied warrantee or guarantees. I am not a broker or a dealer so this is a private sale that is final. It is sold “ WHERE IS” in Huntington, New York and if transported will be the cost of the buyer. I have set a reasonable reserve on the car. Hagerty Insurance Co has an agreed upon value of $65,000. You are welcome to see and drive the car to insure 100% satisfaction. Original 60 YEAR OLD Austin Healey’s are almost impossible to find these days especially in unrestored, unmolested condition. The early cars are very sought after by collectors and car enthusiasts and are rapidly appreciating in the lower six-figures for well restored cars or excellent original low mileage cars (yeah if you can find them). This car in # 1 condition would be $110,000+ (see Hagerty Valuation tool). I personally think the 100-6’s are the best looking cars out of all the six cylinder cars. The body sits lower and has nicer lines than the 3000’s and they don’t have that ugly convertible top sticking out the back. Who needs a wooden dash and roll up windows anyway! ! I have a current valid transferrable New York state registration. The state of New York does not issue titles on cars built prior to 1972. If you are a serious buyer and have any questions or need any detailed photos, please call or text me at or contact me through email by asking me a question. I will sell to Europe/ worldwide and to anyone who appreciates this early Austin Healey BN4 100-6. I request a $500 deposit within 24 hours and the balance shortly thereafter. I will hold the car for you until payment and transportation has been made. I’m losing my job by the end of this year so I’m thinning out my collection …enough said. Thanks for your interest. Dave.