1954 Swallow Doretti
1 of just 276 made

Registration No: VPF 228
Chassis No: 1138
MOT: Exempt

• Subject to an extensive restoration
• Uprated engine with ‘fast road’ camshaft and very rare Le Mans inlet manifold
• Offered with Brown log book and a collection of invoices
  

The Swallow Doretti was built by Swallow Coachbuilding Company of Walsall. The name Swallow was purchased from Jaguar just after the second world war. The Swallow Doretti was a sports car introduced in 1954 and was designed by Frank Rainbow. His design was based on the running gear of a Triumph TR2 and was offered only in convertible form. The car was powered by the Standard Triumph 90 bhp four-cylinder engine and drove the rear wheels via a 4-speed gearbox. The chassis was Swallow’s own design. Thought by journalists of the time to be a better handling car than the TR2 as the engine was placed further back in the chassis. Just 276 examples were built before production ceased in 1955.

Offered here is an attractive example that was first registered in September 1954 and has a traceable history. It would appear the car was then put into storage for some 20 years and did not emerge again until the early noughties. The car was acquired in 2016 by a retired engineer who then set about a major restoration. The car was found to have the incorrect engine and thus necessitated the acquisition of a correct TR2 engine. At the same time, the opportunity was taken to include a number of performance-enhancing upgrades, such as 86mm pistons and liners, increasing the engine capacity to 2,138cc. A ‘fast road’ camshaft was employed plus hardened valve seats. A very rare Le Mans inlet manifold was found, enabling SU 1 ¾ HS6 carburettors to be fitted to the low port cylinder head. The transmission, including the desirable Laycock overdrive, underwent a complete overhaul.

During the restoration, major items were renewed, including a new hi-torque starter motor, new fuel pump and a new hydraulic master cylinder. The car was totally rewired. The wire wheels were rebuilt with the rear wheels rebuilt in order to achieve a wider track. A new bespoke hood was ordered and the car comes with a tonneau cover and side screens. The car has covered just 500 miles since the restoration and overhaul was completed, and it is now ready to enjoy. Offered with a collection of invoices, Brown log book and photographs of the restoration.

For more information, please contact:
James McWilliam
james.mcwilliam@handh.co.uk
07943 584760