Page 1 of 1 Donald Healey worked for Triumph before the Second World War. His name will always be attached to the Triumph Dolomite, which sported a highly advanced inline 8 cylinder engine; a close copy of the Jano designed Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 engine. In fact it was such a close copy, that after long deliberations, Triumph agreed to supply the Italian government (owners of Alfa) with 500 police motor cycles as compensation.
After the War Healey decided to develop his own cars and already by 1946 his first two products appeared on the market. One was called the Elliott Saloon, while the other was called the Westland Roadster. Both were actually named after the coach builder. Healey only produced rolling chassis which then were sent away to be clothed.
The Donald Healey designed chassis was a rudimentary, but efficient steel ladder frame with an X-type cross brace. Suspension was by trailing arms at the front and a live axle at the rear, sprung by coils on both ends. The power unit was the well proven 2.5 liter Riley engine, which could easily develop well over 100 bhp. In fact the Elliott saloon was for a period of time the world's fastest four seater production saloon, clocking 110 mph at the Belgian Jabbeke straight. This top speed certainly benefitted from a quite aerodynamic body design, but it turned the Healey into a popular rally car. The Westland Roadster was technically the same but as the name indicates, had an open top.
In 1950 the Elliott was replaced by the Tickford, while the Westland got a further development as the Abbott. Some other versions of the same car appeared, such as the Duncan and the Sportsmobile, while later on the Pinin Farina designed Nash Healey became rather popular.
In the meantime Healey also designed the Silverstone, a thinly disguised racing car for road use. In 1952 a radical new model was introduced, using an Austin engine, which proved to be so eminently suitable for mass production that Austin stepped in and from then on the Austin Healeys became world famous.
Of the 101 made Elliotts about 25 are estimated to have survived, and two of them are shown here, both appearing at the 2008 Goodwood Revival Meeting. Chassis B1708 was offered at the Bonhams sale, while Chassis B1649 participated in the Fordwater Trophy for cars for production based sports cars from 1948-1954. Page 1 of 1
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Donald Healey worked for Triumph before the Second World War. His name will always be attached to the Triumph Dolomite, which sported a highly advanced inline 8 cylinder engine; a close copy of the Jano designed Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 engine. In fact it was such a close copy, that after long deliberations, Triumph agreed to supply the Italian government (owners of Alfa) with 500 police motor cycles as compensation.