Swallow Doretti

The Swallow Doretti was a two-seat sports convertible made ​​in England for the American market.

Manufacturer of the vehicle was the company Swallow Coach Building Co. in Walsall, England. The company built only one model: the Doretti. The vehicle was planned as a small-scale model for the market on the U.S. West Coast. The company Calsales in California was involved from the beginning in the planning. The daughter of the owner of Calsales, Dorothy Dean, gave the name. Between 1954 and 1955 274 series models and two prototypes were built; some additional copies were assembled from remaining parts after the end of production.

The engine, transmission and axles came from the Triumph TR2. It has a larger frame is used, whereby the vehicle is longer and wider than the TR2. The body shell was made of aluminum.

The Doretti was contrary to previous assumptions are not overpriced. The price was above the price of the TR2, similar to the Allard Palm Beach and the Austin Healey 100/4 and was significantly cheaper than the AC Ace and Jaguar XK 120 compared to the TR2 offered the Doretti a much more extensive standard equipment: aluminum body, folding top, heating, door handles, wider track at the front similar to the later TR4, stainless steel chassis, guided by trailing arm rear suspension and leather seats.

The car sold very well especially in California and England, but was also exported to Australia. 1954 were more Swallow Doretti sold as AC Ace or Allard Palm Beach.

1955, the production was stopped after only 10 months because, among other things, Sir William Lyons, the owner of Jaguar, the sales success of the Doretti saw a problem for the distribution of its products and the parent company of Swallow Coach Building Co., Tube Investments, threatened, no to award contracts more at Tube Investments, if one continues to carry on the production of the Doretti.