Description

1950 Healey Silverstone

D-Type number D16; Wade supercharger; front disc brakes; a veteran of many competitive events; current owner 22 years

Only 104 Silverstones were built between 1949 and 1951. LTJ 577 was the 16th car made and is referred to as D16. The first 50 or so Silverstones were known as D-Types, later cars were called E-Types. The main difference was that the E-Type was slightly wider, allowing more room in the cockpit and also had a cowling on the bonnet to allow more air into the engine compartment. Although it is a D-Type, LTJ 577  has this cowling, fitted by the previous owner as he saw this to be of benefit.

First registered on 3^rd June 1950, the previous owner appears to have had the car from new, according to the V5C, our vendor acquiring it in 2000. The true mileage is 86,297 but the odometer reads 5,337, having been changed by the first owner who used the car for racing.

The current specification is as follows: Engine – Riley 2,443cc four cylinder; Wade supercharger blowing 5 to 7lbs per sq inch; Block – re-sleeved to STD with step liners, Carillo hand-forged conrods, Ford flat top pistons, special heavy duty big end shells, strengthened push rods, high pressure oil pump. Head – crack tested, inlets bored out and sleeved to 50mm and both inlet and exhaust gas flowed, both inlet and exhaust valves are 250mm and specially hardened, valve seats are converted to lead free, valve guides are made from special Lotus bronze camshafts and reground to give fast road use; Gearbox – Rover 5 speed, but the original Healey gearbox is with the car. The flywheel is lightened and fitted with a competition clutch. The whole engine is balanced. It has a four branch stainless steel exhaust system. There is a large Kenlowe fan welded to the radiator and also an oil cooler. There is electronic ignition with auto-retard control on acceleration. The braking system is servo assisted, with front disc brakes. There is comprehensive information on the care of specific items on the car.

When the car was purchased in November 2000, it had previously only been used for racing for some 40 years, but unfortunately we have no information as to the racing successes. The owner must have taken his racing seriously as they had added the supercharger, front disc brakes and a nitrous oxide kit (which has been removed by the current owner). There is a list of references that has been researched together with some photographs in the history file.

LTJ 577 comes with hood and supports (not thought to be very practical), door side screens (also not terribly useful), two wide wheels for hill climbing, two spare 3-speed gearboxes (one of which is original), extra spare wheel (requiring new tube), tonneau, cover for spare wheel that is attached to the car, original jack, dust cover. Just one ignition key.

Well maintained in the current ownership, the latest thorough service was carried out in June 2021 including: engine steam cleaned; all lights and electrics checked with fog light sealed beam unit replaced; fuel sender gasket replaced; o/s/f shock absorber bush replaced; new electronic ignition fitted; new coil fitted; front brakes deglazed; two new batteries fitted in addition to normal service items. This work was carried out by Warren Kennedy (early Healey aficionado) at Classic Restorations and cost £6,844. The car has a comprehensive history file with invoices, photographs, literature and green logbook. 

The vendor is of advancing years and no longer able to enjoy using this rare and exciting car which is currently on SORN. The car is ready to use for classic events, rallying in UK and Europe or just blatting around the B-roads. Silverstones don't come up for sale very often and this car, with it’s interesting provenance and specification, offers exciting opportunities whether on road or track.

Contact - nigel.mainard@brightwells.com