Dorothy Deen in the first Doretti
"In Search of the Swallow"'The Doretti in Design'
Thirty years of digging though a mired design history of the Swallow Doretti the chronology of events align and the whole story unfolds. The Doretti adorned with initial design awards and sales success was run-a-muck in part by a suggested conflict of interest clause relative to Swallow Coach Builder's prior ownership.
Recorded histories fall short in satisfactorily convincing one of its origin. Primarily due to the rush in which the Doretti and the TR2 get on line to fill the appetite of the USA and World market for sports cars.
Sports car fever was jump started by Ferrari's introduction and racing success with the 1948 166mm Bachetta (one of the first being shipped to Southern California). Adding to the Doretti confusion is the secret involvement Sir John Black collaborating in its development and sidestepping an initial commitment to Willy¹s to distribute the TR2 line.
The concept for the car begins in California with the Andersens and Swallow Director John Saunders in early 1952. Dorothy Deen reportedly drew up a suggested design, I suspect was similar to a Ferrari. Late in 1952 Sir John Black gets involved through Saunders after the introduction of the TR1, interested in a design similar to the Healey 100. The Doretti is designed and built in the same four months the prototype TR2 cars are being put together. While in England in the spring of 1953 to give input on the almost finished prototype Doretti, Dorothy rode in the Jabbekee speed test car with Richardson. It's at this time the distribution talks about the TR line start taking form, and the rights to the Doretti accessories name is sold to Tube Investments.
There is a lot more to the convoluted interlace between Dorothy, her Father Aurthur, and Triumph. The California involvement is considerably more significant than the history books credit. The initial major investment is committed via the Andersen's desire to get into the auto business after the sale of their Rome Cable Tubing Company interests.
Most of the initial 80 or so Doretti cars were committed to the USA. Cal Sales is formed and built after the spring 1953 trip to England and in full swing for the debut of the Doretti and introduction of the TR2 in Jan 1954.
The Doretti car badge was designed in California. The Triangle shape and overtop Doretti name were taken from the original accessories company logo. The inferred prancing horse is several drawing generations away from the creature that originally came off the drawing board. It originally looked like a Heraldic medieval fire breathing horse (visions of the headless horseman's steed) with some distinct Gryphon characteristics. The Hollywood animated British creation lent to some conservative clean up and resolution loss in badge production. However it kept its inferred posture sporting still the heraldic flair with a symbolic lions tail. Even without being able to specifically identify the equine creature, the result is a very elegant and favorable signature badge.
The laced cowl capping is shared with the 1948 166mm Barchetta. (These are the only two cars in history that are known to have used the treatment). It's not hard to see what all influenced the design when you take close look at the early history.
I sort of tout history by calling the Doretti a Heraldic California Ferrari.... and Triumph's Healey want-to-be. The world thinks it's Italian. The quasi-educated think it's British - the between-the-lines reality is that it is an American concept car, collaborated on and built in England, using some of the finest craftsmen of the industry.
The Doretti was formally designed By Frank Rainbow, who also oversaw the production at Swallow Coachbuilders. Frank hired Panelcraft LTD Woodgate to build the bodies. They had just built the first 140 Nash Healeys. (Check out the panel similarities sometime.) Panelcraft's experience with the similar lines without a doubt expedited the almost overnight completion of the prototype. Their experience provided superior quality in the resulting production.
The interaction with Sir John Black, with visions of a Healey similar design, provided the Doretti with a drive train. Sir John is quoted to have said in front of the 1952 Healey display. "This is the car we should have built." Weeks later he is in a meeting with Andersen, Saunders, and Frank Rainbow discussing design parameters. Design starts in January of 1953.
Black seals a deal early in 1953 with Willys to distribute the TR2 and then drops out of the deal, (following Willys merger with Kaiser) and pursues distribution with Andersen that spring. Black gets the first production Doretti, is involved in an accident with it, and the "Hush! Hush!" car is exposed. He is laid-up and then retired by the board, just as the TR2 and Doretti are making their debut in the USA.
Triumph fortunately ends up with Dorothy Deen - the exciting and multi-talented distributor who promoted both cars quite successfully, and her father Aurthur, who traveled throughout the Western USA selling dealers the new franchises. And we the public, are still obsessed with "Triumph Glory" and "Power Graced by Elegance."
Thank you Dorothy!
Written by and Copyright 2007 T.R. HouseholderSwallow Doretti Consultant
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