Dave and Ruth Larrigan's   1956 Austin Healey BN4

 

My first association with an Austin Healey was in 1959 when I was in the RCAF at Gimli, Manitoba learning to fly T33 jet trainers.  Most of my colleagues were into sports cars, mainly TR3's and MGA's so it was normal for squadrons of little cars driven by brand new jet pilots to take to the roads of Manitoba on weekends in search of companionship. 

Due to my somewhat strained financial situation, I was afoot and consigned to being a willing passenger.  However, good fortune was with me and I met a young lady who purchased the first Austin Healey 3000 in Winnipeg and prevailed on me to teach her how to drive her new acquisition.  The lessons eventually led to the altar and we drove off into the sunrise with all our worldly possessions. 

Sadly, the practicality of life in the military with frequent moves and the reality of Canadian winters dictated the Healey had to give way to something larger, warmer and less temperamental.  Today the trials of trying to get the beauty started in the winter and trying to cope with snow drifts with three inches of ground clearance are a distant memory.

Flash forward to the late 1980's and the auctions at the Seaforth Armories.  There was the usual collection of British cars along with the big V8's but I didn't really think that I wanted to get into a little car. In a weak moment I did get a bidder's card and came away with a TriumphTR8.  I didn't realize what I had ended up with but it was fun. I sold it a couple of years later for what I had put into it and figured that I was well out of the old Brit car world.

In 2000 a friend offered me his TR8 and because it was much better than my first one, I bit.  I still have the TR8 and have enjoyed the shows at Van Dusen and other events with the TR Register.  However, I always really wanted a Healey. Ruth and I went to Barrett Jackson in 2006 and were really impressed with the three Healeys that Kurt Tanner brought to the sale.  Of course the prices were astronomical and well beyond my budget.  I did however, come home with a TR3 that I purchased privately.

In 2006, Bob Cutting of Richmond decided to restore a Healey.  Bob has built many aircraft and most recently had restored a prize winning TR3.  So I watched as Bob began the restoration of a Longbridge BN4.  The car is a very early 100-6 built in September 1956 and according to the Longbridge BN4 Register that is kept in the USA, it is 5,000 numbers older than the next one on the register. 

The restoration was finished in time for Van Dusen in 2007 and won best in class and best debuting restoration under $35,000.  I was thrilled when Bob decided to let the Healey go in order to build another aircraft.  In June 2008 we completed the transaction Ruth and I became the proud owners of the 100-6. We really enjoy the joys of "top down" motoring and look forward to the continued association with fellow Healey owners.      

 

Dave Larrigan