A new Opportunity 1959 Austin Healey 100-6

[tfields]

Good Morning... My name is Fields S and I currently have an MGB. However I have the opportunity to buy an 1959 Austin Healey 100-6. This car has been restored but the restoration is not of show quality. the paint is beautiful (light blue with white on lower panels). The Engine has been redone with all new electrical and the interior and dash are in great shape. The back seats need to be tightened up because the skins look loose. We have a british specialist in the area that is helping broker this deal and he said it is a great driver that looks wonderful from a few feet away but then as you get closer to it you notice that not all the gaps in the doors and hood are not uniform. The restoration specialist said it is not a show car but one that you could enjoy for years and if you put another 15k into it you could iron out alot of any remaining issues. he said if you wanted it Pebble Beach condition then the restoration would be well over 40k. The fellow is asking 23k for this car. I would love to hear the thoughts on this car and if I was to buy it what could I realistically expect to get out of it within the next 5-10 years. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[DerekJ]

The main concern should be the chassis and the front and rear substructures. You need to get the car on a lift to look at the chassis and also pull up the carpets to examine the floor and have a good look around under the dashboard area. If all those appear to be sound then 23k is a good price assuming everything else is as they say.

Has it ever had a body off restaoration?

Can you post any photos?

I wouldn't be too concerned about the gaps except if they are way out.

 

[HealeyRick]

At $23k with good motor, paint, interior and electrical it sounds like a perfect car to buy and enjoy. I'd be interested to know what the specialist thinks it needs for another 15k. The 100-6 is not particularly popular with those who seek "investment" Healeys. If you buy it to drive and enjoy and don't put a ton of money into it, you'll at least get your money back in 5 yrs.

 

[Hawkscoach]

Fields,

I also have a 59 100-6 so this is interesting to me. I can say that if the car is a solid driver and mostly complete, this is a good price. My car was about half the cost and is a complete restoration project. (everything was there, it was just very rough from many racing years) On and off, i am about three years into it doing the work myself. I had the engine and transmission/o/d completely rebuilt by experts and am just about ready to paint the chassis. Almost, no, every panel had issues either damage or rust, etc. Sills, rockers, floors, part of the frame, trunck, etc etc were replaced and/or repaired. I have experience with restoring other, non-healey cars so the metal work, etc. was done by myself. I easily have the money you are potentially purchasing the car for in mine, and I am a long way and lots of dollars from putting it on the road. When I am done, I hope to have a very good driver for some shows. Once you start pulling back the layers on any old car, unless it was VERY CAREFULLY maintained/stored, will surprise you with rust and damage. Therefore, be certain what you intend to do with the car and make sure this car will meet those needs/goals. Hope this helps and let us know.

Regards,

Doug

 

[tfields]

The British Car guy that is helping with this deal says it is rust free and that the extra 15k would go into a show quality paint job and ironing out a couple of things on the body. I don"t have any photo's yet. I go see the car monday evening. I have only seen pictures of the car. I will know more monday and if I get it I will post.

 

[bighealeysource]

Hey tfields,
Think the advice you have received is pretty much on target. If it's a nice 100-6 and the Brit car specialist is just talking about paint and maybe getting better panel gaps for the extra money, you would have $38k invested in supposedly a very nice quality 100-6. It's obviously a BN4 as a four seater so not worth as much as a BN6 two seater. But if $38 makes it a very nice driver, then that would be about the market price for that quality of a 100-6. But, unless the paint is really poor, that is an expensive paint job IMHO. One main area to look at that can tell you a whole lot about the quality of the current condition is the swage lines on the sides. That is the line that is indented into the front and rear fenders and the doors that goes from the front wheel back to the rear end. If those lines do not match up between the doors and the fenders, that can indicate some possible big problems underneath or could just be poor door hanging. But a real you know what to sort out. Try to get us Healey freaks pictures to look at and you'll get all kinds of opinions. BUT one thing you will fall in love with is that glorious exhaust note of the big six cylinder of the 100-6 first time you start it up. A true thing of beauty and sounds like a Brit muscle car.
Good luck,
Mike

 

[Randy Forbes]

Paul Tsikuris did the body fitment/alignment on my car ($8k) and had it painted by his "non concours" painter ($8k), so those numbers are pretty realistic.

 

[Brinkerhoff]

Have an unbiased third party inspect the car ! The specialist / broker is selling you magic beans Jack ! Putting 15k more into this car will probably not make it worth 38k . If it makes it more enjoyable for you to own then its worth it, but not as an investment. What you don't want to do is pay 23k for a car that is only worth 10 . My two shillings worth.

 

[Marvin Gruber]

I know of a 58 BN4 that just sold for $22K. I thought it was very solid. Decent paint, good running engine and nice interior. Would have given it a solid 8 condition overall. Older restoration. New w/wheels and top.

Marv

 

[drambuie]

From what you describe, 23k is a very fair price as long as the frame,floors, foot boards and outriggers are solid and straight. I would not worry about door gaps and show paint if i where you. Just drive and enjoy it! I agree with other members here, The exhaust note on a bn4 is really great to hear. I had a 59 bn4 and always felt it had more of a sports car feel to it then my Bj8. I prefered classic interior and no roll up windows.... At 23k you will always get your money back and more i think. Don't take the fun out of it by dumping 15k into a candy drop paint job! personaly, I prefer a nice vintage look like a comfortable old leather jacket. Turn the key, push the starter button and have a blast! Just a word of caution, Don't crank out first gear in a Healey and even more so in a bn4 with that side shifter! First gear is the weak link in the side shifter. Just use first gear to get you rolling about 15-20 feet and shift into 2nd gear right away, Then have fun! Good luck! Michael, New lenox IL.