Panelcraft
The word 'Panelcraft' has been used by a number of businesses who built bodies or body panels for car manufacturers, and some of these specialised in short runs for car manufacturers or special versions of their production models. Based at Woodgate, Birmingham, Panelcraft Sheetmetal Co. Ltd built Nash-Healeys and the Healey Sports, as well as the Swallow Doretti. FLM Panelcraft were set up by Nobby Fry, Dick Lee and W McNally (F.L.M.) in London, formerly from James Young, Corsica and Alpe and Saunders coachbuilders in the 1950s. They built some estate conversions on cars as diverse as Rover P6, Mercedes-Benz, and Aston Martin. Other 'Panelcraft' companies have existed.
Healey Sports Convertible
Healey Sports Convertible. Gerry Coker designed the bodywork for the Nash-Healey first exhibited at the 1950 Paris Salon and powered by the 3.8-litre straigh six Nash engine. For the 1951 London Motor Show Healey presented the 'Sports Convertible', a version of the Nash-Healey for the European markets and built on a new G-type chassis. Panelcraft built the bodies for both the Nash-Healey and the Sports Convertible.
Rover 3500 V8 1971 Estate
Rover 3500 V8 1971 Estate. The estate conversion was often carried out when the car was 12 months old to avoild purchase tax, and the work was jointly done by FLM Panelcraft (structure) and Crayford Engineering (interior). Cars were sold by HR Owen.
Swallow Doretti
Swallow Doretti. Frank Rainbow designed the Healey-like body in 1953 and the Doretti was in production by 1954