The Austin-Healey 100M represents the ultimate factory development of the 100/4, incorporating lessons learned from the marque’s successful competition programme at events including Le Mans and the Mille Miglia.

The model was born from Donald Healey’s long-standing involvement in motorsport and engineering.

After working at Humber during the Second World War, Healey established his own company in 1946 alongside Achille Sampietro and Ben Bowden, initially producing sports cars using Riley-based mechanical components.

Healey’s competition ambitions were quickly rewarded.

The Healey Silverstone achieved an outright victory on the 1949 Alpine Rally and Coupe des Alpes with Donald Healey himself at the wheel.

A subsequent partnership with American manufacturer Nash helped develop the business further and ultimately contributed to the creation of the Austin-Healey marque, which would become synonymous with lightweight British sports cars.

The 100M was introduced in 1955 as a road-going...