1950 Healey Silverstone E-Type

The Donald Healey Motor company completed its first car in 1945, going into full-time production the following year with a 2.4-litre Riley-powered sports saloon with a welded-up chassis and Healey's own trailing-arm independent front suspension.

For the 'clubman' racer, they offered the dual purpose Silverstone, a model equally at home on the circuit or on UK-roads. Designed by Len Hodges, the lightweight two-seater body was crafted in aluminium, whilst the car's purposeful look was enhanced by cycle wings and closely-spaced headlamps mounted behind the radiator grille. Another unusual feature was the spare wheel protruding from its compartment in the tail, thus doubling as a bumper. 'The Motor'  magazine, when it announced and featured the model in July 1949, described the Silverstone as a light 'competition type' two-seater for sale at the basic price of £975. This latter figure was important as getting the price down to less than £1,000 had been an important consideration in the Silverstone's development, as that was the level at which the swingeing 66% Purchase Tax was levied.

With a weight of only 18.5cwt, the new Healey offered improved performance for competition work, yet remained entirely suitable for normal road-use and soon made a name for itself in rallying and circuit racing. Donald himself, together with co-driver Ian Appleyard, secured a second in class and second overall in the 1949 Alpine Rally and they were the highest placed British car. Other noteworthy international successes included Peter Riley and Bill Lamb's class win in the 1951 Liege-Rome-Liege Rally, Peter Simpson's sixth place overall in the 1951 Isle of Man Manx Cup Races and Edgar Wadsworth and Cyril Corbishley's victory in the 1951 Coupe des Alpes. Many future stars gained their first track experience in the Silverstone, most notably Tony Brooks.

There were two generations of the Silverstone, designated D-Types and E-Types, in addition to two prototype 'X' models. The D-Type had a front anti-roll bar and stiffer springs and retained the Riley power plant and rear axle. An improved E-Type, with a wider body and more comfortable cockpit, was introduced in 1950.

Offered here is chassis #E95 which remarkably has been in current family ownership since 1966. First registered in November 1950 to its first owner a Maj. D. Taylor, LLO 495 is one of only 54 examples of the rare and more desirable E-Type with the slightly wider body and cockpit area which makes it the car of choice for competing in special events such as the Millie Miglia, Goodwood etc. It was subject to a ground-up restoration carried out by the owner in the late 1980s (there is a photograph album documenting the whole process) and the car continues to present very well, a real head-turner. The car is well known to the Healey Association and considered to be one of the best available.

It's accompanied by an excellent history file containing its original 'buff' logbook, previous logbooks, an original instruction book, old MOTs, and period photographs etc. There is too much to list here so we encourage all interested parties to come and study for themselves at the Silverstone Festival.

This is a wonderful and rare opportunity to take ownership of this brilliant British 1950s sporting classic, available for the first time in 57-years.