The one and only 1958 Earls Court Motor Show display car Factory-appointed with 24-karat gold trim/brightwork and special ivory paint Lavishly trimmed from the factory with Champagne Connolly kid leather and Champagne Diadem Mink fur Documented by an extensive history file Well-preserved former restoration by marque experts at Healey Surgeons One of the most flamboyant and recognizable Austin-Healeys extant Purpose-built to create excitement on the Austin-Healey stand at the October 1958 London Motor Show at Earls Court, this one-of-one Austin-Healey l00-Six that looks like it holds the key of the Midas Touch upstaged Britain's 'Big Five' / automakers as the unqualified hit of the event. Today, it remains the most famous example of one of the definitive British sports cars of the 1950s and 1960s. Featuring audacious gold-plated brightwork, kid leather with mink upholstery, and real ivory controls, this stunning car was conceived by Ken Gregory, Donald Healey's personal public relations manager. As a successful racer, team owner, and former personal manager of none other than Stirling Moss, Mr. Gregory clearly understood that something very special was required at Earls Court to continue captivating Britain's motor journalists and enthusiasts, despite Healey's limited marketing resources. While Gregory sold Donald Healey on the promotional value of a radically outfitted 100-Six to dominate the floor traffic at Earls Court, Healey quickly reconsidered due to the projected costs. Undeterred, Gregory persisted and finally obtained Healey's approval, provided a buyer would commit to purchase the car at a fixed price. Following a meeting in a Fleet Street pub with Daily Express motoring correspondent Basil Cardew, who conveyed the proposal to his Editor Tom Blackburn, the newspaper agreed to purchase the show car from Austin-Healey and award it as the grand prize in a contest. With little time, a regular-production 100-Six (model BN6, Two-seat) Roadster was plucked from the Austin-Healey assembly line and prepared in secret after regular working hours to maximize impact. While essentially stock mechanically, Dunlop four-wheel disc brakes were fitted, making this 100-Six one of the only non-racing Healeys so equipped. Brake servos were also fitted, which were not to become standard until 1964. A special ivory paint finish was applied, and all brightwork was plated in 24-karat gold right down to the tiniest trimming washers and screws: the wire wheels, disc brakes, bumpers, and instruments were give the same treatment, as Gregory later recalled in his autobiography. The cockpit was similarly flamboyant, with the seats, dashboard, inner doors, and side panels all trimmed in reversed champagne kid leather by Connolly. Luxurious Champagne Diadem Mink by London furrier Lorna Doon Snow adorned the inserts and back squabs of the bucket seats. Genuine Ivory replaced the normal plastic interior parts and control knobs, and the factory steering wheel was replaced by one beautifully fashioned from intricately joined sections of Ivory. Appropriately rounding out the incredible package, the Austin-Healey even included a gold-plated ignition key and key ring, complete with a solid-gold scale replica of the car itself. Valued at approximately 4,000 when new, nearly four times the price of a regular-production 100-Six, the Earls Court Motor Show car was dubbed the most flirtatious car in the Motor Show by the Daily Express. Once unveiled, the special Healey achieved its objective and took Earls Court by storm. A steady stream of press reports and excitement around the Daily Express' Super Austin-Healey contest, in addition to hordes of onlookers, provided a massive public relations coup for Healey that normal advertising techniques never could. The Daily Express contest winner sold the car almost immediately. Records on file in an extensive scrapbook confirm the very special 100-Six was first road-
