1950 Healey Silverstone Roadster

Donald Healey, a British rally racing driver and car manufacturer, founded the company bearing his name in 1945. Healey had started out racing, and then, turned to car manufacturing. He was a Technical Chief at Triumph, and also, had helped Riley build some of their proven race-winning engines. At first, the Donald Healey Motor Company manufactured box-section chassis. Riley supplied the engines and the rear axles. The Riley engine Healey used was 2,443 cc. It had overhead valves actuated by twin, high-mounted camshafts and pushrods. Healey used his box-section chassis and independent coiled spring front suspension in conjunction with the Riley engine to create two chassis models. Healey created a roadster known as the Westland and a saloon called the Elliot. Both were unveiled in 1946.

Healey then decided to make a car truly made for sports car racing. In 1949, Healey introduced the Silverstone. Virtually a single-seat styled grand prix car with fenders, the chassis consisted of what was a heavily-rounded box chassis, made up of aluminum. The nose was rounded off and fell steeply at the very front. Interestingly, behind the vertical-bar grill set the car's two headlights. The front suspension incorporated a trailing link design similar to the German cars of pre-war design. In addition, the tires were neatly covered by cycle fenders. One of the other interesting design aspects of the Silverstone was Healey's placement of the spare tire. Healey dramatically rounded the rear end of the car and pulled it in slightly from the sides. A slot was cut out of this rear end. This slot was used to house the tire. The tire then doubled as a bumper.

Healey had created two generations of the Silverstones. The first example was known as the D-Type. The follow-up was the E-Type. The E-Type improved upon the D-Type, specifically by making the car a bit wider and the cockpit more comfortable. By making the car a little wider, the lightweight E-Type chassis experienced great success on the race track, especially in club events.

The Silverstone offered at the 2011 RM Auction in Arizona bore chassis number E-69, and was owned and raced by A.G.H. Rimmel. Rimmel received the car in 1950 and competed with the car extensively at Silverstone over the next couple of years. E-69 had the standard Riley 2,443 cc OHV four-cylinder engine that developed 104 bhp. It sports a four-speed manual transmission, coil spring independent front suspension, a live rear axle with coil spring suspension, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

From 1952, until 1954, the car was raced by Mr. B. Simpson. Then, in 1965, the car was purchased by Leslie Cato.

Mr. Cato was the founder of the Healey Driver's Club and, by the early 1960s, was instrumental in establishing the Healey Register. The Healey Register became the Austin-Healey Club in 1962. When in the possession of Mr. Cato, the car didn't sit around. The car took part in both touring and racing events. Mr. Cato had even published his account of driving the car on a London-to-Rome tour.

In the 1970s, the car was sold and made its way to the United States. It was seen quite often at tracks throughout the New England area. Bill Emerson decided to purchase the car in the late-80s. By that time, the car was still running rather well, but, was nowhere near its original condition. Just as with its race-track namesake, this 1950 Healey Silverstone has been through troubled times, but has been rescued and restored to incredible condition. In all, the car's restoration took 12 years. What has emerged from restoration is a prodigious show winner. The car has won Best of Show honors some 16 times.

As it appears for the auction, the Silverstone Healey has been meticulously taken care of; ready for either the concours or competition. This fast and delightfully handling car was estimated to fetch between $155,000 to $190,000. Only 105 Silverstones were built. Truly, this car upholds the Silverstone name and honors well the memory of Donald Healey.

Sources:
'Buy: Feature Lots (Lot 128: 1950 Healey Silverstone Sports Roadster)', (http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=AZ11&CarID=r340&fc=0#). RM Auctions Arizona. http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=AZ11&CarID=r340&fc=0#. Retrieved 3 January 2011.

'How Stuff Works: 1950 Healey Silverstone', (http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1950-healey-silverstone.htm). 1950 Healey Silverstone. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1950-healey-silverstone.htm. Retrieved 3 January 2011.

By Jeremy McMullen