Description
- Mille Miglia eligible
- In Ray Fieldings car collection in Scotland for 50 years
- Incredible handling for a car of the era
- There is also a fascinating correspondences between Mr. Fieldings with the Donald Healey Motor Company dating from the 1970s
- 104 Silverstones were built between 1949 and 1951
- Its rarity, but also its sporty and powerful appearance, make this vehicle a very good choice for a subscription in the Mille Miglia
- Interestingly, behind the vertical-bar grill set the car’s two headlights
- One of the other interesting design aspects to the Silverstone is Healey’s placement of the spare tire, a slot is cut out of its rear end and is used to house the tire, the tire then doubled as a bumper
- This car is a very unique and rare appearance
The magazine Motor, when it announced and featured the model in July 1949, described the Silverstone as a ‘the new Healey offers improved performance for competition work, yet remains entirely suitable for normal road use.‘
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.
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 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 to the Silverstone was Healey’s placement of the spare tire.
Healey 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.
In all, 105 Silverstones were built between 1949 and 1951: 51 of the D-Type and 54 of the E-Type.
ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE
This specific Healey Silverstone was first registered on the 2nd. of May 1950.
The first owner of D26 was a Mr Howard Riddel.
As noted in the history file this delightful and rare Healey retains the same registration to this day (LGK 49).
In 1969, it was purchased by well-known racer and collector Ray Fielding of Forres, Scotland who kept the car in his famous collection till 2020, around 50 years!
In the history file there is a letter dated 7th of January 1970 where Mr. Fieldings writes to the Secretary of the Healey Register telling that he recently bought this specific Healey Silverstone and he can’t find records of the original color.
Originally Red, Mr Fielding decided to repaint the car in white.
Mr Fielding was very careful to keep the car as authentic as possible and corresponded and consulted with Donald Healey Motors and the Healey Owners club regarding works carried out on D26, to ensure that he was using the correct parts and materials whilst carrying out an engine rebuild and various cosmetic repairs to the upholstery.
During his long ownership, he used it on Hill Climbs and Sprints, participating at Fintray in 1994 and the 2004 Historic Wheels Club rally in Aberdeenshire.
Mr Fielding displayed D26 at his famous Motor Museum in Forres for a number of years alongside some other extraordinary cars in his collection.
Due to a reduction of cars in the collection of this gentlemen the Silverstone came up for sale.
In 2020 the car was sold to a resident in Stockport, an industrial town in Greater Manchester, England.
Without looking at the expenses this car was restored with invoices showing in excess of £40, 000.
Since the restoration the car has been used but on a very careful way.
CONDITION EXTERIOR
The Healey benefit from a total respray approximately 2 years ago resulting in a very nice deep shine paint.
A respray on a Silverstone is very easy as the car can be easily dismantled and all parts can easily be reached.
In other words, if one would like to change the color for example it is easily doable.
The body of the Healey Silverstone is absolutely amazing. The shape is great and the car has been so well designed. It was a smart design as the lamps were hidden behind the grille and the tire was used as bumper.
As described above, the paint on the car is very nice. The chrome shows a beautiful patina as it is still completely original. We personally like this historical touch but it’s off-course relatively easy to re-chrome the grill for example.
CONDITION INTERIOR
The seats, dash, floor, and rear shelf upholstery are all in a beautiful condition as they have benefit from a complete re-trim 2 years ago.
The dashboard and instruments are clear and fresh and all in working condition.
The tonneau cover has also been renewed so the cockpit can be closed when the car is parked or can be half closed when only the driver is in the car.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
We personally know very well how a Healey Silverstone is driving.
We have driven the 2015 the Mille Miglia with an Healey Silverstone and can confirm that the handling of a Silverstone is difficult to describe as it is seriously spectacular.
A Silverstone is a real race car which can also be used on a relaxed way on the normal road.
The car is very powerful and has an enormous torque. This makes the car great to accelerate on a circuit or in mountain areas.
The brakes are very direct so the car gives a safe feeling when it’s seriously raced.
The car is ready to be subscribed in the world’s nicest classic car events such as The Zoute Grand Prix, The Gran Premio Nuvolari, The Mille Miglia and many many other nice classic car events.
Due to the low production number this will always be a unique car to see in any of the events!
Its rarity, but also its sporty and powerful appearance, make this vehicle a very good choice for a subscription in the Mille Miglia.
We certainly hope to see this Healey in the next Mille Miglia at the start.
Disclaimer
The information provided on this website has been compiled by The Houtkamp Collection with the utmost care. The information contained within this advert is provided ‘as-is’, without warranties as to its accuracy whether expressed or implied and is intended for informational purposes only. The Houtkamp Collection is not liable for any errors or mistakes.
