The Racing Queen
The Austin Healey 100/4 BN1 in Coronet Cream looks like a Royal Promise on four wheels – graceful, elegant and yet full of sporting power. A British Roadster dedicated to a Queen, whose Colour has become particularly rare in our Days.
The Austin Healey 100/4 BN1 in Coronet Cream looks like a Royal Promise on four wheels – graceful, elegant and yet full of sporting power. A British Roadster dedicated to a Queen, whose Colour has become particularly rare in our Days.
The Car
Austin Healey 100/4 BN1 from 1953 with a very rare original Colour Combination: Coronet Cream with Blue Interior (Special Colour for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II).
One of only ca. 300 Examples built with this Royal Colour Scheme and the Austin-Healey Club-Register only lists 20 Vehicles worldwide with this original "Coronet Cream" Colour, but only 15 still have this special paint finish today.
Matching Numbers (Chassis/VIN, Engine, Body etc.)
Date of Manufacture: 16.12.1953
An original left-hand drive Car which was delivered as a new Car in the United States with British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate (BMIHT), with FIVA Passport and registered in the Mille Miglia Registro (eligible).
Less than 45,000 original Miles; complete History since 1966; Historic License Plate (German H-Kennzeichen); still partially with original Paintwork.
The History
From 1947, Donald Healey built high-priced Sports Cars and Sports Saloons in small Series in Warwick. Donald Healey presented the first "Healey 100" at the London Motor Show in October 1952. The Designer was Gerry Coker.
The first Austin-Healey 100 (internal code BN1) were then built in the Healey Factory in Warwick from the end of 1952. These Vehicles were used for Racing and as Dealer Demonstration Cars. The Austin Factory in Longbridge then took over the Assembly of the Austin-Healey 100 at the beginning of 1953, with the aim of building up to 100 Examples of the "Austin-Healey 100" per Week.
The Car had a 90 HP (67 kW) 4-Cylinder Engine with a Displacement of 2.7 Litres. In a test conducted by "The Motor" in 1953, a Top Speed of106 mph (171 km/h) was measured for a standard Austin-Healey 100. The Test Model accelerated from 0 to 100 in 11.2 Seconds.
The Colour
The Donald Healey Motor Company introduced the Colour “Coronet Cream” in Honour of Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953. To celebrate this event, the BN1 was available in the Special Colour "Coronet Cream", combined with a Red or Blue Interior. It is estimated that only 300 of each of these Colour Combinations were built in December 1953 and January 1954.
Only a handful of these Vehicles have survived to this day. One Example can be found in the Healey Museum in the Netherlands. Only 20 Vehicles in this Special Original Colour are still listed in the Austin Healey Club Register. Of these registered Vehicles, only 15 are still painted in this Special Colour today.
It is therefore extremely rare to see an Austin Healey 100/4 in its original "Coronet Cream" Paintwork on the Roads or at a Classic Car Event.
The Racing
After its arrival in Germany in 2017, the Car was converted into a "Racing Queen" by Peter Bazille (B.F. Touring Garage), Randy Hauck (Hauck Classic) and Detlef Kroh (Automobilmanufaktur) to prepare it for exciting Rallies across the Continent.
Overview of Participations:
Mille Miglia 2020
Ennstal Classic 2018 and 2025
Gran Premio Nuvolari 2025
Luxembourg Classic 2025
Paul-Pietsch Classic 2019 and 2025
The "Racing Queen" is equipped with a mechanical Halda Tripmaster. If digital support is permitted, a RallyeMaster Professional from Prestel Rallyemetrie is also used as a combination device to measure both the distance travelled and the average speed. In addition, a WP Timer is used, which can display various time trials and can also be operated with a hand switch. The countdown for the last 10 seconds is also supported by acoustic signal tones.
Rallyes
The Concours
But the "Racing Queen" is clearly also a "Beauty Queen," as she has already impressed the Jury at several Concours d'Elegance Events. While the Exterior of the Car has remained almost untouched in its Original Condition over the Years, the Interior was completely restored in 2024/2025 by Randy Hauck (Hauck Classic) using Parts from AH Spares in England. This was necessary because only a little of the original Blue Interior was still recognizable, but now the beautiful Blue is visible again. In addition, a badge bar was added to the front for the additional headlights, on which, after a very long search, the original car badge from Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 can now be seen once again.
Overview of Exhibitions:
Goodwood-Revival 2020
Classic-Gala-Schwetzingen 2025
Cincinnati Concours Ault Park 2003
Schloss Bensberg Classics 2017
Concours
The Results
Gran Premio Nuvolari 2025
At the Gran Premio Nuvolari, which is sometimes also referred to as "little Mille Miglia", we were able to reach 1st place for the nation classification "Germany" and were thus the best German team in a very international competition. A total of 235 participants went to the start, 33 of them from Germany alone. With the overall place 46 we were also in the top 50, with almost only participants from Italy before us.
Concours d'Elegance Schwetzingen 2025
At the 21st edition of the ASC Classic Gala, one of Germany's most traditional international Concours d'Elegance event, with around 160 classic cars from all eras, we were able to take home two awards. Firstly, 3rd place in the FIVA class E1 (1946-1954) and 3rd place in the "Best Original" category (ASC trophy). The jury of the Classic Gala has now honoured this special rarity and the largely preserved original conditions.
Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance 2003
The car won an "Award of Distinction" at the Ault Park by a previous owner.
Paul Pietsch Classic 2025
At the 12th edition of this classic car rally, organised in the Schwarzwald by Motorpresse Germany in honour of the famous racing driver and motoring journalist Paul Pietsch, we finished 15th overall out of 106 participants and even took 2nd place in our era, bringing home another trophy.
Schloss Bensberg Concours d'Elegance 2017
The car took 3rd plae in the "post-war cars" category via a previous owner.
Partnership
Are you interested in discussing the Austin Healey 100/4 BN1 in Coronet Cream? Do you perhaps have one in this Color? Would you like to invite the "Racing Queen" to your Event?
Then please write to:
racingqueen1953 (@) gmx .net
(c) netSTART GmbH 2025
Photos: Fabian Gallucci, Official Photographer srls, RS_pics, Alois Strimitzer, Foto Kurz, NK, KK, TK
Are you interested in discussing the Austin Healey 100/4 BN1 in Coronet Cream? Do you perhaps have one in this Color? Would you like to invite the "Racing Queen" to your Event?
Then please write to:
racingqueen1953 (@) gmx .net
(c) netSTART GmbH 2025
Photos: Fabian Gallucci, Official Photographer srls, RS_pics, Alois Strimitzer, Foto Kurz, NK, KK, TK
Are you interested in discussing the Austin Healey 100/4 BN1 in Coronet Cream? Do you perhaps have one in this Color?
Would you like to invite the "Racing Queen" to your Event?
Then please write to:
racingqueen1953 (@) gmx .net
(c) netSTART GmbH 2025
Photos: Fabian Gallucci, Official Photographer srls, RS_pics, Alois Strimitzer, Foto Kurz, NK, KK, TK
The Racing Queen
Are you interested in discussing the Austin Healey 100/4 BN1 in Coronet Cream? Do you perhaps have one in this Color? Would you like to invite the "Racing Queen" to your Event?
Then please write to:
racingqueen1953 (@) gmx .net
(c) netSTART GmbH 2025