1950 Healey Silverstone D-Type
Restored by marque specialist Warren Kennedy

Registration No: KSM 747
Chassis No: D49
MOT: Exempt

• Exhaustively restored by marque specialist Warren Kennedy
• Purchased directly from Warren Kennedy into the collection for the sum of £200,000
• One of only c.104 Silverstone examples produced
• Very minimal mileage since the completion of the restoration and still presenting excellently
• Potentially eligible for the Mille Miglia Storica
• Entered from the Loch Lomond Collection, a collection made up of excellent examples of predominantly 1950s, 60s, and 70s classics

"The Healey Silverstone is remarkable not only because it handles as well as any modern car we have driven and gives vivid acceleration and a maximum speed of over 100mph, but because it achieves this performance on less than 2.5 litres and with a 3.5-to-1 axle ratio, so that economy of petrol is quite unexpected. Over and above its performance capabilities, it is so docile and pleasant to drive that learner-drivers feel at home in it, it is entirely devoid of temperament, and, if it is not beautiful in appearance, its lines have a satisfying functional simplicity" (Bill Boddy, writing in Motorsport, November 1949).

Announced in July 1949, the Silverstone was arguably the most famous car to carry the Healey badge. Benefiting from the experience that Donald Healey, Achille 'Sammy' Sampietro (chassis guru), Ben Bowden (body engineer) and Roger Menadue (Experimental Department Manager) had gained via the earlier Westland and Elliot models, its steel ladder-frame chassis was both massively strong and commendably light (circa 150lbs). Boasting six-inch deep side members, the cruciform-braced structure was equipped with trailing-arm independent front suspension, a coil-sprung but Panhard rod located 'live' rear axle and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes (11-inch front / 10-inch rear).

Sourced from Riley to help keep costs down, the Silverstone's drivetrain consisted of a 2443cc four-cylinder engine allied to a four-speed manual transmission. Notable for its twin camshafts (nestling high on the block), the powerplant was fed by twin SU carburettors. Mounted notably far back in the chassis, it was credited with some 104bhp and 134lbft of torque, while the synchromesh gearbox was praised for its smooth but firm action (Bill Boddy musing that "someone in Lord Nuffield's establishment must be a gearbox-wizard"). Wonderfully purposeful, the model's stressed-skin alloy body incorporated several ingenious touches, such as a partially retractable windscreen and letterbox slot for the spare wheel that saw it double up as a rear bumper, etc. Fitted with cycle wings, rudimentary weather equipment and a 16-gallon fuel tank, the Healey Silverstone weighed just 18.5cwt. Thus, able to claim a power to weight ratio in excess of 100bhp per ton, it promised and delivered invigorating performance.

Although fast, easy to handle and surprisingly durable, the Healey Silverstone was not cheap. Priced at £1,246 11s 8d, it was only £20 less expensive than a Jaguar XK120. Nevertheless, the Works team's fantastic showing at Silverstone in August 1949 ensured a steady stream of enquiries from amateur and professional racing drivers alike. Campaigned on both sides of The Pond (Buenos Aires, Watkins Glen, Palm Beach, Goodwood, Dundrod etc), the pared-back two-seater also contested various high-profile European events (Mille Miglia, Targa Florio), not to mention distinguishing itself on the Alpine and Liege-Rome-Liege rallies.

Chassis ‘D49’ was manufactured in May 1950 and was supplied new to Preston Dentist, Howard Wall being registered ‘KSM 747’, with Mr Wall understood to have collected the car personally from the factory! One of the last Silverstones built using a D-Type chassis, the Healey boasts an almost fully traceable ownership history from new. Known to have been unfortunately damaged in period when it ended up in a ditch, ‘D49’ was then placed into long-term storage until 1979 when Tim Pryke was looking for a new body to be made to unite with his Healey Silverstone ‘D17’. He entrusted the work to the well-regarded TT Workshops and upon arrival was shown an original Silverstone body. To his surprise, it was a complete Silverstone (less chassis), ‘D49’. Comprehensively restoring the bodywork, upon completion, the body, engine, gearbox, instruments, and many other original parts of ‘D49’ were fitted to chassis ‘D17’.

Realising the significance of the survival of ‘D49’s significant original parts, Mr. Pryke had a new body crafted for ‘D17’ and upon the completion of the crafting of the new coachwork, all the original parts of ‘D49’ (including bodywork) were sold to Mr. David Richard Bell who completed the restoration of ‘D49’ with a new chassis, returning the Silverstone to return to the road. In two subsequent periods of long-term ownership (1988-2005 and 2005-2015), in 2015 ‘KSM 747’ was purchased by Healey aficionado and marque specialist Warren Kennedy. Thereafter lavished with an exhaustive restoration by Mr. Kennedy’s Classic Restorations Ltd., the Healey has pleasingly been returned to its original and attractive colour combination of Dark Green paintwork with Black interior upholstery.

Purchased into the Loch Lomond Collection in 2017 direct from Warren Kennedy for £200,000; the Loch Lomond Collection is one made up of excellent examples of predominantly 1950s, 60s, and 70s classics. Seeing very sparing use while a resident of the collection, the Healey started readily and both ran and drove well during the recent photography session. Therefore, still presenting excellently, the Healey is supplied with a history file that includes a picture of Mr. Wall outside his practice in period, an invoice for the vendor’s purchase from Warren Kennedy, an Association of Healey Owners (AOHO) Car Certificate, an AOHO letter confirming the car's history, a previous FIVA passport from 2016, original sales literature and road tests, and past MOT certificates. Potentially eligible for the highly prestigious Mille Miglia Storica and other distinguished events, this is a wonderful opportunity to take ownership of a decidedly rare and brilliant British 1950s sporting classic.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452