Swallow Doretti

The Swallow Doretti was built in Walsall by the Swallow Coachbuilding Company and launched in 1954, with the California market in mind. Few were made, and this 1955 car is a rare survivor of a short-lived Triumph-engined British roadster.

It has been restored twice. The first rebuild, with the body off, was documented in the mid-1990s. A second, more thorough job was carried out by TR Enterprises in 2007. The body was taken back to bare metal and repainted, and the brightwork was re-chromed and the interior re-trimmed. The mechanicals were rebuilt for touring. The engine has a balanced crankshaft, ported head and performance camshaft, lifting output from the standard 90 bhp to about 110 bhp. Other changes include a lower-geared differential, front disc brakes, an uprated clutch, a stainless exhaust and an alloy fuel tank.

The gearbox is a four-speed with overdrive. The car was shown at Goodwood in 2007, and its long-term owner averaged around 3,500 miles a year on trips including Spain and France. It is finished in Old English White. No mileage or registration is given on the page.