The difference in specification between the models at a glance

Austin Healey: The difference in specification between the models at a glance.

(A closer look by our resident Healey guru Jonathan Rhodes (JR) who knows these cars inside - out due to his Dad owning a new model every time one came on the market while us other kids (JSN & CM) parents could only manage a trip on a train and a bag of chips)

Healey 100/4

BN1

May 1953, 4 cylinder, 3 speed, o/d/ign switch positions - o/d in middle of dash, ign to right. No crease line on back of rear wing. Front wing wheel arch smaller i.e.: From trim top (wing to shroud) to centre of arch = 9 1/2" Radiator grille bars in a satin finish. Made 10,030

BN2

August 1955, 4 cylinder, 4 speed, o/d/ign switch positions - o/d to right, ign in middle of dash. Crease to back section of rear wing in continuation of the front wing/door/front of rear wing crease. Front wheel arch trim to arch measures 8" All chrome grille. Made 4,604 including the 'M' spec kit.

100/6

BN4 (2+2) BN6 (2 Seater)

May 1956, 6 cylinder 2,639cc Both models have drum brakes all round. 100/6 grille badge. For a yardstick, up to Dec 1957, all (?) Longbridge manufactured cars had a centre line down the length of the bonnet. October/November 1957 new 12 port cylinder head available + 1 3/4" HD6 carbs. Early cars had a gallery cylinder head and 1 /1/2" carbs. Made 14,436 +/-

Healey 3000

BN7 (2 Seater) BT7 (2+2)

Mk1

March 1959, 6 cylinder 2,912cc Disc brakes to front. Same appearance as 100/6 + boot lid badge 3000. Made 13,650

Mk2

March 1961.Vertical grille slats. New boot lid badge with MkII text. Triple 1 1/2" HS4 carbs. From November 1961 - Centre change gearbox fitted standard. Total made 19,100 ( MKI & MKII)

BJ7

MkIIA

January 1962, Retains original dash and instruments. Wrap around windscreen, quarterlights and wind down windows. Same door exterior handles as BN & BT cars. Reverted back to twin carbs 1 3/4". 48 spoke wires are now changed to 60 spoke in June 1963. Made 6,113

BJ8

MkIII Phase I

October 1963

March 1961, Chassis # 25315 2 x 2" HD8 carbs. Dual exhaust system + extra silencer at rear. Servo std. New wood facia dashboard. Electronic rev counter. Black faced gauges. Up to May 1964 still had pull door handles. Made 1,390

MkIII Phase II

May 1964. Chassis # 26705 Re-profiled chassis at rear under axle. Panhard rod deleted and replaced by radius arms to rear axle. Front swivel pins are now handed left and right to accommodate type 16 calipers. Single front sidelight/indicator gets larger lens. W/W hubs now get 8 tpi from 12 tpi. Push button door handles with external locks both sides.

March 1965. Chassis # 31336 All cars now fitted with separate amber front and rear indicators.

Last car made March 1968. # 43026

Total production 71,987

Bighly,
Some minor corrections to your otherwise very helpful list. BN6 - 2-seater 100-6's - were not produced until March of 1958 and ended in March of 1959 with the introduction of the 3000. All BN6's were made at Abingdon and had the later improved 12-port head. Only Longbridge BN4's had the early gallery head. I own a BN6 that was produced in Aug. of 1958 and it has the ribbed hood. I think some very early 3000's may have even had these hoods. My understanding was that the rib was added as a styling/structural exercise that was later abandoned but used in production until supply was used up.
Thanks for the list and keep up the good work.

Paul

Updates welcome. I hope to eventually post this on my website.

Austin Healey: The difference in specification between the models at a glance.


Healey 100/4

BN1

May 1953, 4 cylinder, 3 speed, o/d/ign switch positions - o/d in middle of dash, ign to right. No crease line on back of rear wing. Front wing wheel arch smaller i.e.: From trim top (wing to shroud) to centre of arch = 9 1/2" Radiator grille bars in a satin finish. Made 10,030

BN2

August 1955, 4 cylinder, 4 speed, o/d/ign switch positions - o/d to right, ign in middle of dash. Crease to back section of rear wing in continuation of the front wing/door/front of rear wing crease. Front wheel arch trim to arch measures 8" All chrome grille. Made 4,604 including the 'M' spec kit.

100/6

BN4 (2+2) BN6 (2 Seater)

May 1956, 6 cylinder 2,639cc Both models have drum brakes all round. 100/6 grille badge. For a yardstick, up to Dec 1957, all (?) Longbridge manufactured cars had a centre line down the length of the bonnet. October/November 1957 new 12 port cylinder head available + 1 3/4" HD6 carbs. Early cars had a gallery cylinder head and 1 /1/2" carbs. Made 14,436 +/-

BN6 - 2-seater 100-6's - were not produced until March of 1958 and ended in March of 1959 with the introduction of the 3000. All BN6's were made at Abingdon and had the later improved 12-port head. Only Longbridge BN4's had the early gallery head.

Healey 3000

BN7 (2 Seater) BT7 (2+2)

Mk1

March 1959, 6 cylinder 2,912cc Disc brakes to front. Same appearance as 100/6 + boot lid badge 3000. Made 13,650 Also of note that some of these cars recieved the ribbed hood probably from leftover BN4-BN6 stock. There was a run of BN7/BT7s that recieved a thermo carb setup eliminating manual choke. The thermo carbs were later abandoned reverting back to manual choke.

Mk2

March 1961.Vertical grille slats. New boot lid badge with MkII text. Triple 1 1/2" HS4 carbs. From November 1961 - Centre change gearbox fitted standard. Total made 19,100 ( MKI & MKII)

BJ7

MkIIA

January 1962, Retains original dash and instruments. Wrap around windscreen, quarterlights and wind down windows. Same door exterior handles as BN & BT cars. Reverted back to twin carbs 1 3/4". 48 spoke wires are now changed to 60 spoke in June 1963. Made 6,113

BJ8

MkIII Phase I

October 1963

March 1961, Chassis # 25315 2 x 2" HD8 carbs. Dual exhaust system + extra silencer at rear. Servo std. New wood facia dashboard. Electronic rev counter. Black faced gauges. Up to May 1964 still had pull door handles. Made 1,390

MkIII Phase II

May 1964. Chassis # 26705 Re-profiled chassis at rear under axle. Panhard rod deleted and replaced by radius arms to rear axle. Front swivel pins are now handed left and right to accommodate type 16 calipers. Single front sidelight/indicator gets larger lens. W/W hubs now get 8 tpi from 12 tpi. Push button door handles with external locks both sides.

March 1965. Chassis # 31336 All cars now fitted with separate amber front and rear indicators.

Last car made March 1968. # 43026

Total production 71,987