No British four-seater was faster than his Westland and Elliot models when launched.

Engineer and motorsport racer Donald Healey made a name for himself at Triumph before the war; after it, he formed his own motor company to build curvaceous roadsters and coupés using Riley parts. No British four-seater was faster than his Westland and Elliot models when launched. In 1949 came the Silverstone, a sleek and light sportscar aimed at weekend racers with stripped-down styling.

An alliance with American firm Nash resulted in an attempt to sell cars in the USA, but little came of this endeavour. Healey then designed his iconic 100 sportscar, which so bewitched the British Motor Corporation that it agreed to build in under the Austin-Healey name from 1954.