The Swallow Doretti was the brainchild of a coach-builder named Eric Sanders and California Tubing Company boss Arthur Andersen. Following a visit by Eric Sanders to California in July of 1952 both men felt that, as was to be demonstrated by the Austin Healey 100 and Triumph TR2, there was a market for sports cars in the USA and at home (at the right price).

The Doretti design concept was based on a tubular frame chassis as used fairly extensively on sports racing cars of the time. The layout was very similar to the TR2 but of a more advanced design thereby providing a stiffer frame. The drive train was direct from the TR2, using a virtually standard engine and gearbox including the rear axle bought in from Triumph. The engine was mounted further back in the car enabling a virtual 50/50 weight distribution. The body was designed with an Italian influence that showed through on the front Ferrari-style grille and the very Healeyesque rear of the car.

Specifications for the car were drawn up by Arthur Anderson and Frank Rainbow (the designer of the very successful Swallow Gadabout Scooter). The specification had to include the TR2 engine, transmission and running gear because of availability, the special relationship with the Standard Triumph chief Sir John Black and the advantage of having common servicing and spares inventories in the USA for both cars.

The production bodies were built by Panelcraft Ltd. of Woodgate, Birmingham who were already making special bodies for Healey cars (among other high quality items). The body was constructed of a front and rear inner tub of steel bolted to the chassis with the outer panels made from alloy bolted onto the steel inner tub. The car was just one inch longer than the TR2 but offered smaller accommodation in both the interior and the boot. The dash layout used the central pod of the TR2 but the tachometer and speedometer were mounted to the left and right of the pod, presumably to ease changeovers for the left-hand drive market.

The complete car was built to an extremely high standard having a totally up-market appeal at a price higher than that of the TR2. The name of the car came from the Italianization of Arthur Andersen’s daughter Dorothy Dean’s name. The performance of the car was not quite as good as that of the TR2 delivering a 0-60 time of 12.3 seconds and returning 27.9 mpg.

The Sports Car Art Swallow Doretti limited edition fine art print is faithful to the original car in every detail and is available in either 12″ x 24″ or 18″ 36″ sizes. Illustrations are printed on acid-free, archival quality paper using naturally pigmented inks and are provided in your choice of exterior and interior trim color combinations, including a selection of period accessories and options with which you can further personalize your artwork. Each print is numbered and signed by the artist and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.