The Donald Healey Motor company completed its first car in 1945, going into full-time production the following year with a 2.4-litre Riley-powered sports saloon with a welded-up chassis and Healey's own trailing-arm independent front suspension.

For the 'clubman' racer, they offered the dual purpose Silverstone, a model equally at home on the circuit or on UK-roads.

Designed by Len Hodges, the lightweight two-seater body was crafted in aluminium, whilst the car's purposeful look was enhanced by cycle wings and closely-spaced headlamps mounted behind the radiator grille.

Another unusual feature was the spare wheel protruding from its compartment in the tail, thus doubling as a bumper.

'The Motor' magazine, when it announced and featured the model in July 1949, described the Silverstone as a light 'competition type' two-seater for sale at the basic price of £975.

This latter figure was important as getting the price down to less than £1,000 had been an important consideration in th...