<< Prev Page 2 of 2 Named for the achievements of one of the Special Test Cars at Sebring in 1954, the 100S fittingly made its international competition debut at the American track early in 1955. Each of the cars was also fitted with a plaque referencing to a 24-hour record run at the Bonneville Salt Flats in August of 1954, where a startling average of 213 km/h was achieved. The car also covered the measured mile with an average of 230 km/h.
Although keen to sell the fifty cars, Donald Healey hand-picked his customers to make sure the 100S was only raced by the most capable of hands. The competition car's main objective was not to make money but to give the Austin Healey 100 more performance credentials. Healey need not have worried as the 100S proved to be hugely successful, scoring class and outright victories all around the world. It also proved a successful marketing tool as over 74,000 examples of the Austin Healey 100 were eventually produced.
Of all the Austin Healeys produced, the 100S remains as one of the rarest and certainly the most sought after. Of the 55 examples produced (including the five Special Test Cars), 38 are believed to have survived. A sad side note in the 100S' history is the 1955 Le Mans disaster where Pierre Levegh in his Mercedes-Benz was launched off the back of Lance Macklin's 100S into the crowd, killing Levegh and 80 spectators. Although often blamed for the crash, Macklin had swerved to avoid a hard-braking Mike Hawthorn, who had decided to stop at his pit at the last second. << Prev Page 2 of 2
Named for the achievements of one of the Special Test Cars at Sebring in 1954, the 100S fittingly made its international competition debut at the American track early in 1955. Each of the cars was also fitted with a plaque referencing to a 24-hour record run at the Bonneville Salt Flats in August of 1954, where a startling average of 213 km/h was achieved. The car also covered the measured mile with an average of 230 km/h.