Questions about a 1954 100-4

[bighealeysource]

Hey all,
Have a few questions about a 100-4 I just purchased and thought this group might be able to help !

1. This has the non adjustable wheel with the trafficator
and directly above the steering column on the dash has three
about 1/2 inch round "idiot lights". The one in the middle
actually has "traf" that lights up when the turn signal
lever is engaged either left or right. Have not seen any pictures of this in any articles about 100-4's and was just curious as to its originality.

2. Has a cold air box with the body number and engine number
engraved on it in same font used on other tags, areas. Also
has the body number engraved on the cockpit surround pieces.
The font on the moldings is identical to that on the cold air
box. Has louvered bonnet but no body number engraved on the edge as on actual BN2 100M's. Also has a Westlake head.

3. Not suggesting at all that this is a factory 100M as
been in touch with Bill Meade of the 100M Registry, but does
anyone have any ideas as to the significance of this July 2,1954 build date BN1 having the markings and partial LeMans
kit pieces as described above ? They certainly appear to have
been engraved/stamped at the Healey works but the Heritage
Certificate does not mention anything about this possible option. If not for the stampings I would simply assume it
was added by a previous owner or a dealer. Or someone took
great care to match the font on the stampings.

Look forward to hearing some opinions about this.
Thanks,
Mike

 

[anthony7777]

bighealeysource, you should google "forever healeys" he has a page dedicated to identification numbers and locations, also austin healey club of america gives a discription of the 100m. doing a google on "a.h. 100m" youll find lots of stuff. typically an unstamped louvered bonnet was indicative of a dealer installed 100m kit. id like to know and im sure others here also would be interested in hearing/seeing picts etc. of the car. :thumbsup:

 

[anthony7777]

bighealeysource, is your cold air box made of aluminum or steel?, do the carb. bodys have hand etched numbers including an "x"?, im also wondering if the high compression pistons had been installed. the numbers on the cockpit surround are typical, the indicator light configuration is one ive never seen on any other healey.

 

[glemon]

The Weslake on the head is standard, does it have a bend in the x bracing in front of the radiator where the cam would go in if one were changing cams without pulling the motor?

 

[bighealeysource]

Hey y'all,
Thanks for the info back so far - knew I would get good feedback. I'm going to
look into the questions you have raised so far and will get back to you. I have
a picture of the unique dash "traf" light which I will see if I can post. It's
lit up in the picture as had the turn signal engaged. Will include a picture of
the cold air box too.

Is it common on all BN1's for the cockpit molding to be numbered with the
body number ?

Thanks,
Mike

not sure how to post so will put some on a shutter fly link and list that here.

 

[zblu]

bighealey source,
On my Nov '53 the body number is stamped (using 3/8-7/16 stamps from memory) into the cockpit moldings as well as the other usual places, including the side of the ali bonnet, one of my "X" braces had been almost totally removed!, (must have been for real fast cam changes!), the traf light and extra holes sound like improvements in the eye of a previous owner.
And here is food for thought, if you renewed/refurbished the car with new panels, mouldings etc none would be stamped and the only remaining points of identification would be engine number and compliance plate

 

[bighealeysource]

Hey all,
I took a few pictures of the cold air box installed on
my BN1 as well as the infamous trafficator signal light
that lights up "traf" when the turn signal is engaged.

Did determine that the cold air box is aluminum and that the
bonnet reinforcing is welded in the middle as on Forever
Healey's website info about his LeMans restoration.

Could not tell if the x bracing was altered - need a better
flashlight !!!

Put some pictures on Shutterfly so if you go to:

austinhealey1954bn1.shutterfly.com

to can see the pictures of the above.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[glemon]

Mike, I can't figure out how to get into your account without a password, don't know about shutterfly, but photobucket lets you copy either a link to your pics or the html code to insert the pic into your post on forums like this one--that might work better, would love to see the pics, used to have a BN1.

Greg

 

[bighealeysource]

Hey Greg,
My mistake, corrected the website address to:

1954bn1.shutterfly.com

If you enter that it will take you to the pics. Just a few up right now but
will add some later.

Regards,
Mike