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Michael Bartell's 1956 Austin Healey 100M Racecar

Owner: Michael Bartell
City: Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Model: 1956 Austin Healey 100M
Engine: Austin four cylinder (2660cc)
Prepared by: BJ McDonald

"M" for modified.

The first twenty or so Austin Healey 100 sportscars were built on a pre-production basis at the Healey works in Warwick. Once initial assembly and supply issues were worked through, serial production of the Austin Healey 100 model commenced at the large Austin factory in Longbridge. The month was May, 1953. These first generation production cars were to become known as the "BN1" series. BN1 was the prefix of their vehicle identification numbers, as can easily be found on their number plates and paperwork.

At some point in 1954, the Healey workshop in Warwick started marketing conversion kits to upgrade the basic model. Generally, the conversion kits included uprated (1/75" SU) carburetors, a suitable intake manifold and a cold air box, a high-lift camshaft, modified valve guides, and a Lucas distributor with special ignition advance curve. In addition to the kit many buyers ordered other optional parts. Items such as Alfin aluminum-finned brake drums, over-sized front anti-sway bars, uprated shock absorbers, different overdrive and rear axle gearing, and louvered bonnets were available. Over time, the upgrade kits became known as "100M" kits. The exact number sold wasn't recorded. The factory apparently didn't have any interest in keeping track of which customers were converting their cars. Indeed, since cars were updated with myriad different combinations of parts, in the context of a BN1 Healey the term 100M doesn't have a specific meaning.

"S" for Sebring. Starting in 1954, the workshop in Warwick started offering race-prepped cars for customers. The 100S feature set included much more ambitious modifications; basically the whole engine received a "going over." The crankshaft, bearings, connecting rods, pistons, camshaft, distributor, flywheel, clutch, gearbox, and exhaust system were all replaced with upgraded parts. A new aluminum cylinder head was developed and provided by Harry Weslake. Aluminum outer fenders (as used on the earliest 100 model cars) were installed on the 100S to save weight. Four wheel disc brakes were fitted. We could easily continue digressing for several more paragraphs, but the major point is that a 100S is not very similar to a 100M. The 100S came first, and demonstrated that customers would happily pay to have the Healey works upgrade cars to a premium specification.

In August 1955, production of a second generation Austin Healey 100 commenced. The main difference between BN1 and BN2 cars is that the latter came with a much tougher four speed gearbox. (BN1 cars had been fitted with a light duty four speed with its uselessly low-ratio first gear blocked off and usually forgotten.) Two other specification changes were 1/8" narrower front brakes and somewhat stiffer front springs.

Soon after BN2 production started at Longbridge, the Healey workshop in Warwick started converting cars to 100M specifications. In effect, aftermarket conversion kits became obsolete and a new model variant was born. The 100M was clearly a middle ground specification: significantly upgraded from the base model but not an all-out racing specification like the "S". According to Road & Track magazine's road test, the 100M offered a top speed of 109mph and a 0-60 time of 9.6 seconds. For comparison, they cited 102mph & 11.7s for the base model, and 119mph & 7.8s for the full-tilt racing car. Incidentally, Road & Track also reported that the 100M weighed 235# more than the 100 they had tested previously. (Partly that would have been because the earliest two hundred or so Healeys had come with aluminum bodywork.) Although Austin Healey VIN numbers don't include a code letter to differentiate the M variant, the Healey register can advise owners whether their BN2 cars were modified to M specification by Warwick. In this article, we feature the 111th of 640 factory-prepared Austin Healey 100M sportscars as certified by the Austin Healey LeMans 100M Car Registry.

AUSTIN - MADE IN ENGLAND
When Ordering Replacements Quote Car/Engine Number: BN2L 229049
(Note: the letter L designates left hand drive.)


Mike Bartell standing next to his 1956 Austin Healey 100M racecar.

The Racing History of Mike Bartell's Healey 100M

BJ McDonald purchased this Healey 100M and built it into racecar for his own use about ten years ago. BJ raced it successfully, then sold it when he was decided to start Classic Competitition Specialties.

Mike has owned and has been racing the 100M for about six years. He has enjoyed racing it at Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, Virginia International Raceway, Pittsburg, and now Summit Point.

Features and Specifications

Engine Installation

Austin four cylinder engine (nominally 2660cc, 3.44" bore x 4.38" stroke).


Girling brake fluid reservoir.


Dual S.U. H6 (1.75") carburetors, with velocity stacks.


Saldana Racing Products aluminum radiator.


Denis Welch Motorsport's narrow fan belt conversion kit eliminates high RPM vibration problems.


Crankshaft pulley.


Taylor Spiro-Pro spark plug wires. NGK spark plugs.


Weslake aluminum cylinder head, marked "Weslake Patent No. 565394 and Patent No. 610114."


Lucas distributor and ignition coil.


Lightweight and compact Nippondenso alternator on a custom bracket.
(Notice that only one wire is hooked up, and that it's very light gauge.)

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Lucas voltage regulator.


Lightweight gear-reduction starter. Note that this engine block is marked "Weslake" too.


19-row aluminum oil cooler.


Right: "The New Jersey Vintage Grand Prix Festival - 1st Inaugural - Oct. 24-26, 2008"
Left: "Tire pressure: 26 psi all around"


Fram HPG1 fuel filter.


Dual Facet solid state "cube" fuel pumps.

Front Suspension / Etc.

Armstrong lever shock absorbers.


Spacers on the spring pan have been used to lower the front suspension.


Heavy duty anti-sway bar. Noted Denis Welch Motorsport finned aluminum oilpan in background.

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Rear Suspension

Note anti-tramp bars, Panhard rod, lowering blocks, and adjustable shock absorber links.

Interior

Cockpit.


OMP five point cam-lock safety harness.


Denis Welch Motorsport drivers seat.


Tourist Trophy 15" laminated wood rim steering wheel with drilled holes and satin finish.


At left: Smiths dual oil pressure (0-100psi) and water temperature (90-230F) gauge.


Moroso tachometer (0-11000rpm), Lucas ammeter, and Smiths oil temperature gauge (40-140C).
The car is equipped with a radio transponder (id# 6107526) for timing and scoring purposes.


Fabricated aluminum dead pedal. OMP billet aluminum pedal surfaces.


Fuel shut-off valve.


FireBottle fire suppression system. Accusump oil reservoir.


Foam padding on the roll hoop, wrapped in black electrical tape.


FIA-spec battery disconnect switch.

Exterior

"Racing's important to men who do it well. When you're racing, it... it's life.
Anything that happens before or after... is just waiting." -Mike Delaney


Gerry Coker was the sole body designer of the Austin Healey 100,
including the front grille and the two-tone paint line.


Gerry Coker is also credited for the louvered bonnet and leather bonnet strap of the 100M variant.


"F-111" - The Austin Healey 100M Car Registry recognizes Mike Bartell's racecar,
BN2L 229049, as the 111th of 640 factory-modified cars in the 100M series.


Pennsylvania Antique / Historic Car license plate.


Polished Austin-Healey wings badge.


The Healey works at Warwick converted 640 "BN2" series cars to 100M specs between 1955 and 1956.


Louvered aluminum bonnet.


Leather bonnet hold-down straps.


Hood reinforcements feature 36 punched and bell-mouthed lightening holes.


Brooklands windscreen.


Fender mounted mirrors were never installed by the factory. Driver-side door-mounted
mirror's were a factory option but mirrors were usually installed by dealers or owners.


The Vintage Sports Car Club of America - 50th anniversary sticker.


M. Bartell (U.S.A.) and A Thruxton (U.K.).
SVRA: Sportscar Vintage Racing Association.
Classic Competition Specialists.
PCGP: Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.


Aluminum heat shield.


Vintage Sports Car Club of America patch (sewn onto the tonneau cover.)


Terry stainless steel hold-down.


Austin Healey boot badge.


Austin Healey 100 tail light.


Moss Motors reports that BN2 Healeys came with 15x4J steel wheels as standard equipment, and the
factory also offered optional painted 48-spoke 15x4 Dunlop wire wheels. Moss offers 48-spoke wire
wheels, painted or chromed, in 15x4 and 15x4.5 sizes. Moss says you can't fit Dunlop 60-spoke
wire wheels to the front on these cars because the brake drums are too wide (2.25"), and the
spokes will hit the drums. Moss also offers 72-spoke 15x5 wire wheels, painted or chromed.


These are sixty spoke wheels. We don't know what trickery was applied to make them fit.


Dunlop Racing tires (5.50 L-15 size, CR65 Mark II tread pattern, 204 tread compound).

All photos are from November 2011 when we viewed the car at the VRG's Turkey Bowl at Summit Point Motorsports Park, West Virginia. Photos by Curtis Jacobson, Ellen Jacobson, and Susanna Jacobson for BritishRaceCar.com, copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

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