Description
This is a car we are very excited to once again own. We first sold this very special car in our Huddersfield Grundy Mack Classic Cars showroom during the 1990’s, we sold it for a second time from our West Knapton premises in 2003 and 22 years later LXY 879 returns to us once again. LXY879 is a very interesting car that was built on a 1951 Healey Tickford Chassis with an Aluminium Body and is equipped with the correct 2. 4L Riley RM Big Four Engine that the company’s founder, Mr Donald Mitchell Healey raced and rallied in his early life. Whilst LXY 879 is essentially a Recreation, it has been built with authentic components and appears incredibly correct.
With less than 150 miles since its engine rebuild and having been subject of a full wiring overhaul and 50-hour recommissioning program just 2000 miles ago, this excellent Healey is a very reliable, usable and very fun car to enjoy on the open road. To drive the car is a real pleasure, a true British 40's sportscar design with racing pedigree that can easily keep up with modern traffic. The rebuilt 2. 4L Riley RM Engine with RMF camshafts and cylinder head and twin SU carbs pulls exceptionally well. The Nuffield Gearbox as seen in the Riley RMF changes gear very smoothly and has very strong synchro's. The brilliant Blockley tyres complement the unique suspension set up very well as you tackle the corners on our wonderful back roads. The body panels are very straight, and the paint presents well with a few signs of lovely patina. The leather interior has aged superbly and presents immaculately well along with the high-quality green carpets that run throughout.
In 2011 a Classic Car Restoration specialist based in Milton Keynes carried out the 50-hour recommissioning program on the Healey. To begin with, the interior was stripped out, the gearbox was removed, the clutch was replaced, the oil seal was replaced, and the clutch slave cylinder was serviced. The braking system was recommissioned with new wheel cylinders front and rear, a new brake master cylinder, and new brake shoes front and rear. The suspension was next on the list with the king pins being stripped and rebuilt with a new kit, shock absorber bushes were replaced, and new suspension check straps were fitted. A full engine service was also carried out along with having all other fluids flushed and replenished.
The Donald Healey Motor Company was set up in 1944 by the remarkable Mr Donald Mitchell Healey along with a select few friends and former colleagues from Healeys impressive career working for some of the top Motor Companies of the early 20th Century. With no premises, no engines, and no bodybuilders producing the first Healey was by no means easy, but with Mr Healey using his extensive network the dream soon became a reality. Peter Skelton, the Director of the Humber Distributor in Hereford offered to produce the chassis for Healey. Victor Leverett of Riley suggested the use of their 2. 4L Big Four Engine and offered a month's supply of engines in advance. Wally Allen, Chairman of a Concrete Mixer Factory offered a corner of his facility for the assembly. Achille ‘Sammy' Sampietro, the former Maserati designer, designed the chassis with coil springs all round, and trailing arm front suspension. Ben Bowden the former Humber body specialist sketched out the body in his dining room and soon brought the design to life. Alas, the first Healey was completed in 1945 and offered to the press. Popularity soared as the Donald Healey Motor Co. saw huge racing success and production increased eventually allowing Healey to move into The Cape Premises in Warwic. In 1947 a Healey Saloon broke Belgium's sportscar record with 104mph surpassed in the Belgium Speed Trials, in 1948 the Healey Saloon took 1st place at the Mille Miglia and again in 1949 as Healey Roadster claimed the number 1 slot.
The Healey Silverstone we have today is a great reflection of all that went into the Healey cars and the racing pedigree that they pertain. This car must be seen and driven to be appreciated and would make for an exceptional open tourer for weekend use.
