1958 Austin-Healey 100-Six Roadster
- Colour
- Ivory with 24-karat gold-plated brightwork
This Austin-Healey 100-Six was purpose-built as the centrepiece display car for the October 1958 Earls Court Motor Show, where it attracted widespread acclaim as the event's standout exhibit. Distinguished by full 24-karat gold plating of all brightwork and a bespoke interior trimmed in reversed Connolly kid leather and Champagne Diadem Mink, it was also the sole non-competition Austin-Healey fitted with four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes. After passing through several owners, it received a comprehensive show-quality restoration in the mid-1980s under marque specialists Bruce and Inan Phillips, who exhibited it widely across North America.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$179,200
- 1958 → 1959Private saleDaily Express newspaperpartial documentation
The newspaper purchased the show car from Austin-Healey to use as a competition prize, awarding it to a contest winner.
- 1959 → 1969Various undocumented early ownersnone documentation
Multiple parties held the car during this span; accounts differ by source and no firm documentation covers this period.
- 1959 → 1959Acquisition unknownDaily Express contest winnerpartial documentation
Won the car as a prize and promptly sold it; first road registration recorded in late February 1959.
- 1969 → 1983Unspecified owners in documented chainpartial documentation
Ownership history becomes traceable from 1969, with the car passing through several hands before the next confirmed purchaser.
- 1983 →Private saleBruce and Inan Phillips (Healey Surgeons)full documentation
Purchased without a prior inspection, aided by a mutual acquaintance; subsequently undertook a comprehensive show-quality restoration completed in 1986, returning the car to its original specification.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent ownerpartial documentation
Acquired via a mutual contact from the Phillips; commissioned preparatory work ahead of concours appearances.
Competition
- 1958-10-011958 London Motor Show (Earls Court)Named standout exhibit of the show
Car was purpose-built for the Austin-Healey display stand and drew exceptional public and press attention, described as the show's most talked-about vehicle.
- 20122012 Concours d'Elegance of Texas
Displayed under current ownership following pre-show preparation by a specialist restorer in Taylor, Texas.
- 20152015 Kuwaiti Concours d'EleganceBest Restored
- —Annual Healey Club Show, Charlotte, North Carolina
Phillips entered the car at this gathering shortly after completing the restoration, which motivated the show-quality rebuild in the first place.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1958Modification
Production 100-Six was extensively modified for the Earls Court show: all brightwork gold-plated to 24-karat standard, bespoke interior fitted with reversed Connolly kid leather and Champagne Diadem Mink, Dunlop four-wheel disc brakes and brake servos installed, and chassis work carried out primarily for cosmetic purposes that incidentally stiffened the structure.
Work was carried out covertly outside regular working hours in the period before the October 1958 show.
- 1986RestorationHealey Surgeons
Comprehensive show-quality restoration returning the car to its original Earls Court specification: extensive metalwork, accurate reproduction of the mink and kid leather interior, re-plating of bumpers and major brightwork in England, custom wire wheels made by Dayton, and installation of a period-correct overdrive unit with associated wiring routed beneath the dashboard.
Restoration was initiated around 1983 at the encouragement of the Healey Club and completed in 1986. Commissioned by Bruce and Inan Phillips.
- 2012ServiceJeff's Resurrections
Pre-concours preparation including repainting of the lower engine bay and cleaning, detailing, and repainting of the suspension and undercarriage.
Work carried out in advance of the 2012 Concours d'Elegance of Texas; Jeff's Resurrections is based in Taylor, Texas.
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