1949 Healey Elliot

The last owner of this rather magnificent Healey Elliott (he also had a later convertible Healey Abbot) bought it in the mid Sixties and then promptly parked it up in his storage unit, with the plan to eventually refresh it and then return it to action. Alas, the best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley... 

What he did do though, was to investigate and piece together its intriguing history. The car’s main protagonist was a chap called Ray Playford, an avid motorsport enthusiast, who went on to purchase and compete in Sir Stirling Moss’ Jaguar XK120 FHC (LVC 345) and found the Jaguar Drivers’ Club. 

There are some lovely period shots in the car’s history file of Mr Playford, taking part in numerous regularity rallies and races, as well as indulging in a bit of under-bonnet fettling and a shot or two of it barrelling around what appears to be an early Snetterton racetrack.

Others show DVG 34 competing on numerous events including The Scottish Rally (June 1951) and the East Anglian M.C. rally, with another after the 1951 ‘Festival of Britain’ prize giving which proved, judging by Ray’s hands in the photo, particularly successful for him. 

Accompanying these are various period motorsport reports and some letters of correspondence with former owners, of whom a full list is supplied (although, not published in our Photographic Gallery for reasons of GDPR and good old-fashioned discretion).

The Snetterton racetrack link is apt, as the documentation reveals the car to have always resided in East Anglia. Today, it looks to have survived in very good condition, although it will of course require a proper going over. It’s believed to be largely complete and comes with a whole plethora of spare parts.

What a wonderful find.

When ‘discovered’ or rather that should be ‘rediscovered’, the vendor says that Elliott sat under cover with just its dusty nose poking out. He reported a palpable air of intrigue in the air and that with the car fully disinterred things simply got more and more curious. 

“It’s an elegant looking vehicle,” he says. “The rear three-quarter view is particularly alluring, with the swooping back end and double sweep of the wings lending it a Batmobile-esque feel – it took a while for us to peel our eyes away from it”.

The alloy (all they had post-war!) body panels look to be in nice solid condition. As you’d expect, having spent the best part of six or so decades in storage, some of the paint is peeling in places, there are a few bumps and grazes and the chrome overriders have a covering of rust, dust and grime. 

“The Healey currently wears black paint but I believe it to have originally been an elegant pale green. Interestingly, there is also a picture in the history file where it looks to have been white or similar, but whilst there is evidence of both the black and green hues, there’s not a trace of white!”

It’s worth noting that all the Elliott’s glass is intact and that all exterior trim parts, including the Healey embossed hubcaps and both rear overriders, appear to be present; both key points, as having to find either would no doubt have been the motoring equivalent of searching for unobtainium! 

“There are a few signs of mouse homes inside… but no obvious hardcore damage! There is some spare carpet included in the spares, as well as interior panels and most of a wiring loom”. 

Again, it’s dusty, dirty and grimy in here. However again, it has survived remarkably well. The cream headlining is relatively mark-free, with no signs of historic water ingress. 

The original green leather covering the seats looks to be salvageable; there are a few surface grazes and indentations on it, and it’s filthy in places, but crucially it’s intact. 

Up front, it’s easy to gaze at the elegant Jaeger dials and wood dashboard and let your mind wander to the future and the ambience that this cabin could offer its next owner, once restored. 

Documentation in the Elliott’s history file suggests that it had a Mangoletsi downdraught carburettor conversion at some point (in the Sixties judging by the date on the paperwork) and peeking under the bonnet reveals a dusty pair of SU carbs standing proud. That, of course, means that the last time it functioned it was possibly kicking out a soupcon more than the standard 100bhp. 

“Incredibly, the engine isn’t seized! We checked and it moves freely, which means the previous owner did all the right things when prepping it for storage. The car too rolls easily on its wheels, whilst underneath the wooden flooring even seems stronger than it has any right to…”

The Healey’s interior and boot space was rammed full of spare parts; the vendor emptied both and very handily our photographer has snapped them, so they can be viewed in our Photo Gallery below. 

They include:

• Brake drums
• Internal engine parts
• Cabin panels
• Spare carpet
• Gaskets
• Spare bonnet
• And much more…

Yes, there’s a touch of surface corrosion in places on the car’s underside but as with the exterior, the underside also looks to be nice and solid. Genuinely dry stored.

The included Vehicle Registration Document confirms this car’s first date of UK registration as being the 1st of August 1949. Also present is a ‘buff’ continuation logbook, with a handwritten entry from the 31st of May 1963, and the original Healey 2.4 Litre Instruction Book. 

The aforementioned Mangoletsi documentation is included as are wiring diagrams, workshop manuals, 2x Healey books and copies of the Association of Healey Owners Gazette. 

Of course, it’s the motorsport photographs and reports that fascinate and bring the car’s rich history to life. As do the various letters of correspondence between owners, and to and from owners and the various Owners’ Clubs and specialists. 

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos to support our claim that this car has a captivating motorsport history. Our photos and video also confirm that it has been stored well, and also that it’s ripe for resurrection!

When it comes to any historic motorsport vehicle it’s all about the black’n’whites and, to paraphrase Latina songstress Shakira, in the case of this captivating Healey Elliott, the pics don’t lie. 

Up until being parked up during the 1960s it led quite the life. In period, judging by reports, Mr Playford proved particularly competitive in it but the times change of course, so as he moved onto a Jaguar XK120 and the Elliott found its way to various new owners, before entering stasis. Today, it’s a time warp survivor. 

It’s also the perfect starter classic. A wonderful doer-upper project that could be enjoyed by a solitary restorer, a couple of friends, or even a father and son (or daughter), or come to that, mother. 

Everyone is invited.

Let’s find this lovely old girl a new home and then let’s see her back out, perhaps for a bit of VSCC action, with that kite-shaped grille thrusting forward as it does what it’s best at: competing.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.