Lot 189 - 1949 Healey Sportsmobile *AMENDED ESTIMATE*
| Lot Number | 189 |
| Registration | KXS 668 |
| Chassis Number | B1750 |
| Engine Number | B1661/N750 |
| Odometer reading | 63,649 miles |
| Result | Sold - £17,920 |
- Very rare car
- Comprehensive history file
- One of three believed to still exist
Having achieved considerable success in motor sport, Donald Healey took up a job with Riley in 1933 before being recruited by Triumph to serve as its Experimental Manager. He was soon made Technical Director, becoming responsible for the design of all Triumph cars, but remained directly involved with motor sports. When Triumph folded, Healey moved to Humber, meeting fellow engineers Achille 'Sammy' Sampietro and Ben Bowden where the trio's thoughts were soon centred on the prospect of building a new sports car, though actually getting it into production would have to wait for the war's end. After the war, Healey's new enterprise focused on producing expensive, high quality, high-performance cars. It was based in an old aircraft components factory off Miller Road in Warwick. The cars mainly used a tuned version of the proven Riley twin-cam, 2.4 litre, four-cylinder engine in a light chassis of their own design. Advanced design allowed soft springing to be combined with excellent road holding.
One of only three cars believed to have survived, one in Germany, one in the USA and this one, these were the rarest of the Healey’s with only approximately 23 having ever been built, they are much rarer than the desirable Silverstone Healey. These four-seater convertibles were advanced and boasted high-performance and precise road holding for the period. Having been freed from storage in 2017, the car has since benefitted from new tyres, new brake cylinders and shoes, new fuel pumps and various other parts. The car is reported to run and drive well and to have solid bodywork. This car has two registered keepers, the first for 43 years and is supplied with a V5C registration document together with a substantial history file which includes the original buff logbook, letters and an original handbook as well as the bumpers for the car. This is your chance to relive the opening of the Silverstone race circuit in 1948 when John Cobb, driving one of these cars, was escorted by the winning TT motor cycles.
Interested parties should satisfy themselves as to the description and condition of each Lot prior to the sale. Accordingly, buyers are on notice that each vehicle is offered ‘as is/as seen’ subject to the Terms and Conditions for the auction. All registration numbers, engine and chassis details are sourced from registration documents provided to Historics by the client or representative or HPI checks and buyers are to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of these details. Buyers are advised to inspect the vehicle in person or use a professional to carry out this service. Historics will not entertain disputes over descriptions.