History
Matching Numbers Austin Healey BN4. Built Feb 1958 in Abingdon UK and delivered Melbourne, Australia later that year. Factory RHD, Colorado red with black flash and red interior with black piping and black hood. Factory fitted options: Laminated windscreen, wire wheels, overdrive & adjustable steering column. Original Registration number GXE 123.
Being built after Nov 1957 it is fitted with the improved 6 port head and HD6 SU carburettors. However, being a very early Abingdon car it still retains the majority of the other Longbridge features probably due to the fact that they had not used up their stock of parts from the Longbridge plant by this time.
It is also one of the small batch of BN4 cars that left the Abingdon plant with Morris green engine paint rather than the more normal metallic Austin Healey green paint. It is believed by Anders Ditlev and Anderson & Moment, in their respective restoration and originality guides, that this was due to a paint supply issue at the Morris Coventry plant where the Healey engines were painted. Hence a small number of engines were painted in either the colour most readily to hand or simply in error.
Car previously owned and registered by father and son of the same family between late 1958/early 1959 & 2015 in Victoria. Car purchased as an ex-demo from dealer in Prahan Victoria. Used as a daily driver in Mount Isa between 1958 and1967, after which the car was de-registered stored until 1973. It was moved to a small motor museum in Swann Hill and remained there fore about 2-3 years. Car was then moved to family farm and remained in a shed there until 1991. 1991-2013 a gradual restoration undertaken by the Son in conjunction with the Healey Factory in Melbourne. Car re-registered in 2013 for first time in 46 years. Car purchased by myself in July 2015, believed as 3rd private registered owner.
Mileage at time of writing: 56,242 miles (believed original).
Modifications
Today the car presents in largely original specification. Minor diversions from original are limited to;
• Deletion of Black flash from the sides of the car.
• 60 spoke chrome wire wheels fitted in lieu of 48 spoke painted wheels.
• Rear Suspension upgraded to telescopic shock Absorbers. These replacement shock absorbers are not a new addition and are original Kuoni parts purchased by the previous owner for the car in 1967.
• The car is now negative earth not positive earth.
• The car is currently fitted with a high torque starter motor but the original starter motor has also been kept with the car
• Fitting of badge bar and Lucas driving lights
In all other respects the car is believed to be close to original specification.
