1948 Healey 2.4-Litre Westland Roadster
Of the 64 Westland Roadsters built between 1946 and 1950, 42 were produced on the B-type chassis. The model represented Donald Healey’s first effort as an independent manufacturer following his pre-war years at Triumph and an accomplished career as a competition driver, having placed well repeatedly in the Monte Carlo Rally during the 1930s.
The Westland body sits on aluminum panels over an ash wood frame, keeping curb weight to roughly 2,200 pounds (approximately 1,000 kg), depending on specification. The front suspension used independent wishbones with coil springs, combined with a live rear axle on coil springs located by trailing arms. The result was an unusually compliant and capable chassis for the period.
Under the long hood sat Riley’s 149 cubic inch (2.4 liter) four-cylinder, with a hemispherical head and twin camshafts mounted high in the block operating overhead valves via short pushrods. Modified to Healey’s specification with twin carburetors and revised exhaust manifolds, it produced approximately 104 horsepower at 4,500 rpm through a Riley four-speed gearbox.
Top speed was around 100 to 104 mph, a notable figure for an open British two-seater of 1948 and sufficient to make the Westland competitive in international road events of the period.
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