EARLS COURT MOTOR SHOW AUSTIN-HEALEY 100 RESTORED TO ITS FORMER GLORY
‘TAC 787’ – The 1955 Earls Court Motor Show Austin-Healey 100 BN2 (£100,000-140,000).
Despite its immaculate outward appearance, this 1955 Austin-Healey 100 BN2 would not have always appeared so at ease on the concours lawn. Originally created as one of the show cars for the 1955 Earls Court Motor Show – in customer-attracting Florida Green over Old English White, with Florida Green interior trim and upholstery – TAC 787 was re-discovered in a pretty sorry state.
The owner, Steve Norton of Austin-Healey specialists Cape International, has devoted years to amassing information, researching provenance and restoring the car which will be offered at Bonhams Festival of Speed sale at Goodwood on 30 June.
For the first decade of its life, the car’s travels and service history were meticulously documented, and receipts detailing every oil change, engine overhaul and clutch assembly accompany the lot. Images of ‘TAC 787’ at Lake Garda in Italy illustrate that the car enjoyed Continental tours during the early 1960s before being sold, via the classifieds in The Times newspaper, to a gentleman in Woking.
TAC 787 on display at the 1955 Earls Court Motor Show in London image supplied by British Motor Industry Heritage Trust.
Between 1965 and 1997, TAC 787 is thought to have had three further owners before being discovered by Steve Norton. Norton realised the significance of the motor car – indeed ‘Show Car’ could still be seen written in pencil on some of the fittings - and dedicated subsequent years restoring it to its former glory.
In June 2016, ‘TAC 787’ was entered in to the National Concours of the Austin-Healey Club and duly won both the 100 Class and Best of Show.
Bonhams estimate this historic Austin-Healey to achieve in excess of £100,000 at their Goodwood sale in June. This beautiful example, one of just a few hundred right hand drive BN2 models is a guaranteed head-turner ready for the season ahead.
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