Healey Silverstone D43 — A life well lived
Few post‑war British sports cars embody the purity of purpose, mechanical honesty and motorsport pedigree of the Healey Silverstone. Among the 105 examples built, chassis D43 stands out not through myth or embellishment, but through its documented, uninterrupted, and unusually rich life story — one that spans continents, decades, and generations of passionate custodians.
This is a Silverstone with character, continuity, and credibility.
A true driver’s car from day one
Delivered new in November 1950 to Peter Simpson, D43 immediately entered the world for which Donald Healey had conceived it: fast road use and club competition. Simpson campaigned the car enthusiastically throughout the early 1950s, entering events at Silverstone, Goodwood, Snetterton, the Isle of Man, and Davidstow. His period photographs and correspondence offer a rare, intimate glimpse into the early life of a Silverstone used exactly as intended.
A Transatlantic chapter and a remarkable restoration
In 1970, D43 crossed the Atlantic to the United States, purchased by enthusiast Earl Clere. His detailed personal journal chronicles a meticulous, months‑long mechanical and cosmetic restoration carried out with care, method, and a deep respect for originality. Clere stripped the chassis to bare metal, rebuilt the suspension, refreshed the engine, rewired the car, and polished the aluminium body from the inside out. His notes read like a workshop manual written by someone who truly loved the machine.
The car remained in the US until the early 1980s, passing to Edsel Pfabe, before returning to the UK under B. Sweetman and later moving to Italy with Gianfranco Mazzola, who kept it for nearly two decades.
A Modern 1000 Miglia regular (1997–2018)
D43 distinguishes itself among Silverstones through its outstanding modern Mille Miglia record. Between 1997 and 2018, it was accepted 14 times into the world’s most prestigious historic road event — a level of participation matched by only a select few eligible cars.
This long streak reflects the car’s mechanical reliability, impeccable documentation, and consistent compliance with the event’s strict regulations. With 2027 marking the 100th edition of the 1000 Miglia, it is a centenary not to be missed! A car with such a proven record becomes especially compelling this way.
For collectors seeking a Silverstone with top-tier Mille Miglia credentials, D43 is firmly among the best and it remains certified in the Mille Miglia Registro until 06/2029.
Belgian ownership and continuous maintenance
Since 2014, D43 has remained in Belgium under the stewardship of a dedicated enthusiast who invested significantly in its mechanical condition. Between 2015 and 2025, a specialist workshop carried out an extensive programme of work: a complete renewal of the fuel system, a full brake overhaul, repeated cooling‑system servicing with a new water pump, refreshed ignition components, upgraded electrics with dual Bosch batteries, and consistent routine servicing throughout. A file of invoices documents a decade of diligent, expert maintenance.
A Silverstone with provenance, personality and purpose
Today, D43 presents as a wonderful example: mechanically sorted, historically rich, and accompanied by a documentation file that would make most Silverstones blush. Period photographs, the 1970s restoration journal, Healey Register records, and recent invoices all contribute to a provenance that is both transparent and compelling.
This is not a car that has lived in silence. It has been driven, raced, restored, exported, repatriated, and celebrated — and it carries every chapter of its story with dignity.
For the collector who values authenticity over mythology, and documented history over hearsay, Healey Silverstone D43 represents a rare opportunity: a car with a life fully lived, and a future still wide open.
Feel free to come and discover it in our brand‑new showroom in Ternat, Belgium, close to Zaventem airport.
