Following the popularity of Wayne’s 4.3 page on this website Wayne has assembled a wealth of further information which we have now put on a separate website, click here
During 2018 several 4.3s have participated in Concours events..
13645 4.3 Vanden Plas FMP 888 – Jeremy Coleclough’s concealed hood VDP 4.3 as private entry at Hampton Court Concours of Elegance 2018, being present for the whole 3-day event and competing for the coveted Pegasus Trophy amongst those invited to participate.
14824 OCE 43 see comment from Ben Lenthall14846 vdp SC tourer circa 1969 as found by Svein Storsveen in a Norwegian scrap yard
14303 4.3 Litre SA Mayfair Carriage Saloon, DXU 870 scrapped in Clink’s Pump Farm in 1967
4.3 Litre SB Windovers Saloon 14804, ERW 780, finished in Jewelescence Pearl with Special Red Leather. A one off body ordered by the original owner, John Wormell a roofing contractor of Berkswell, Warwickshire
A Mayfair 4.3 – probably a publicity photo
A period photo, circa 1938, of 4.3 Litre SC Offord short chassis Drophead Coupe 14333, DOM 655. I have two copies of the photo, one from Ernest Shenton, the other via Mike Cummins and Dave Culshaw, reportedly supplied by a former M. D. of Galts of Glasgow. Written on the back of one is “J. R. Weir + Gerald Kafferata + his 4.3”. 4.3 Litre 14333, originally “Black. upholstery – Red leather as pattern approved by client”, was despatched from the Alvis Works on 12 November 1937 to Patrick Motors, Ltd., Bristol Road, Birmingham. The original owner, also on 12 November 1937, was G. W. Cafferata, “Fairways” Radcliffe on Trent, Notts. % Messrs. Cafferata & Co., Ltd., Newark on Trent, Notts.
We know from 1992 correspondence between Bernard Nield and George Roy, son of James Roy, that in 1939 DOM 655 passed through the hands of James Roy, an Austin dealer in Edinburgh for over 30 years, who dealt extensively in nearly-new British, Continental and American quality cars. It was sold to a Mr. Gerald Cree of Balermo, a suburb of Edinburgh. Somehow DOM 655 later found its way to South Africa. In the early 1980s it was with Selby James Cunningham of Johannesburg. Back in England in the late 1980s, in a Cambridgeshire collection, later in Germany where the current photo was taken, see below and http://www.vimeo.com/51826142
14333 in 2012
Period photos of 4.3 Litre SB Offord Drophead Coupe, 14803, DRW 361, circa 1941- 1946, when owned by Leonard J. “Leo” Joseland, supplied, via Greg Wrapson, by Mark Joseland, archivist and former Secretary of the Midland Automobile Club. Leonard Joseland, Mark’s father, was the brother of Charles Percy Joseland, an early employee of T G John Ltd. The car was in use throughout the War, as Mark’s father had an essential user’s petrol ration. After the War, the car was returned to Alvis to be refurbished as new, but the size of the bill prompted him to sell it.14803Scott Greenhalgh & Baddy Walker drove DRW 361 on the Peking to Paris rally in 201014342 Gurney Nutting4.3 Litre Abbey Coachworks Dhc 14298, EXK 80, for Erwin Goldschmidt – more details in the pdf link below
This is a Charles K. Bowers & Son publicity photo of 4.3 Litre SC Vanden Plas s/c Tourer 14330, EGP 759. A note of the back of the photo reads: “8th Oct. 1937. Picture: V. Brodzy (owner) with model”. Julian Collins wrote that, through a newspaper cutting from the Illustrated London News of 31st December (1937?) the young lady in the Bowers photo is revealed to be Miss Pearl Argyle, “the well-known ballet dancer”.Circa 1941 photo of 4.3 Litre SC Vanden Plas short chassis Tourer, chassis 14320, AJY 33, which was supplied by Michael Mather-Lees. AJY was with his family from 1939/40 to 1966. First with his mother, when the photo was taken, and later with him. His mother’s brother, home on leave, is in the photo.4.3 Litre SA Offord Dhc 13158, CYX 658, the 1936 Olympia show car. First owner, Sir George Stanley White Bt. of The Bristol Aeroplane, Co.. Believed taken at White family home in Rudgeway, South Gloucestershire. Last heard of with M. D. Dye, 14 Comiston Road, Muswell Hill, London N.10 circa 1959.This Offord Dhc is the ex Arnold Lees 4.3 Litre 14316, DYW 68 (see SWISS TOURS). The original owner was Brian McIlwraith McGowan of 10 Victoria Road, London W.8. Just prior to the war it is believed to have been with Capt. A. C. Dick of Tonbridge. After Arnold Lees it went, circa 1959, to W. W. B. Sroner of Chelmsford and circa 1962 to Ed Norris of Cambridge. After his death it was advertised by Clink in March 1989. Then to Diana Russell of Vintage Racing Cars who sold it to Col. Phil Adair, now resident in Virginia, who has owned DYW 68 since 1969.
The Offord Dhc , DYW 68 when with Capt. A. C. Dick of Tonbridge. This photo with the car full of people is (via Nick Walker) from Richard Dick, son of Capt. A. C. Dick.4.3 Litre SA Vanden Plas Pillarless Saloon 13156, CKV 161, from The New Zealand Observer of 29 November 1939 captioned “Combining Speed, Comfort and Hansome Appearance – Mr. Pascoe’s Alvis with its sweet lines and Imposing front end is one of the outstanding cars in New Zealand at the present time.”
The glorious driver’s view from a 4.3 pictured at IAD 2012 – AAT photo
and these are more photos of the same car…..
4.3 Litre SC Whittingham & Mitchel short chassis Concealed Hood Drophead Coupé 14844, DVB 1. From the Car Record: “Special Body Throughout, Black, Wings & Wheels Black. Special Brown Leather. Adjustable arm rests fitted to both doors. Phillips radio set fitted. Stop watch fitted. Special high compression engine fitted.” Rumored to have been prepared to be entered in the1939 Monte Carlo Rally. Interesting, but not yet confirmed. I have a copy of the original log book. All owners are known.The only photos known, probably publicity shots, of 4.3 Litre SA 14334, Maltby’s, Ltd. Redfern Saloon-Tourer, supplied by Charles Follett, for His Exalted Highness Sir Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam of Hyderabad. The Redfern Saloon-Tourer featured a hydro-electrically operated hood. Two compression plates were supplied and fitted to lower the compression ratio. Apparently premium fuel was not readily available in Hyderabad. Some of the Nizan’s cars are known to survive. Is the 4.3 Redfern Saloon-Tourer among them? The photo below was first published on the front of Bulletin 246 in June 197414334 MaltbyA 4.3 saloon chassis 13171 when owned by Clive Hutchinson.
The three photos (below) from Joseph Santos-Fernandes are of 4.3 Litre SC Vanden Plas 3685 short chassis Razor Edge Saloon 14969 15354 20239 BD 11 12 despatched 11 October 1939 to Fernando E. S. Moniz Galvao, Ruacomercio 107, Lisbon, Portugal, the original owner and now still in Portugal with Louis Manuel C. Sousa Riberiro.
14969 last known with Louis Manuel C. Sousa Riberiro
Continuation…….. (images by John Fox at Midland Alvis Day 2013, Gaydon)
Hallo There – wonderful documentation abt the 4.3ltr. I have a question : I own chassis nr 14343 car nr 19925 OFFORD and SONS cabriolet ex FGW 409 – is this the only 4 door cabriolet known to have been build by OFFORD & SONS or are there any more cars known ? Thanks -yours for the longer bonnet Lutz Burchard nr 6748
As far as I know, from Alvis records, your chassis 14343 is the only Offord & Sons 4 Door Cabriolet on an Alvis chassis. In addition there were nine Offord Drophead Coupes on the 4.3 chassis, one 4 Door Tourer and two Drophead Coupes by Carlton Carriage to an Offord Design. All but three Offord and one Carlton Drophead are known to survive with their original bodies.
I know of three Offord bodies on the Speed 25 chassis, two Drophead Coupes and a 2 Seater Tourer. One Drophead and the the Tourer survive.
What a great facility.
I owned EGP759 in the early 1970’s , Bought, I think, from the dealer Mike Berry in central London, at that time it looked rather drab in maroon. I had the wings and usual two tone areas painted black. Sadly I didn’t enjoy the car, much preferring the SA speed 20 that I also owned. I sold it via the Alexandra Palace auction.
Wayne: as you know my 4.3 Alvis now resides in the Uk where it belongs, I have made a copy of the Reg papers (not complete) so you can fill in ownership of some of the people. also have Reg # of KClark or other owner from a magazine archive. See if Reg #OL 5679 shows up anywhere, I have no further info on that one, hope to see you at Hershey again this yr.
Good afternoon, am I right in thinking you once owned DUL 601, now in my care in the UK? If so I’d love to hear something of your time with the car. I’ll keep this brief for now in case I’m on the wrong track. Regards, JD
DUL 601 sounds like mine, 4 door, green, sold at UK auction, Wayne would know
Hello – You did indeed own DUL601. It was sold at auction over here to someone who had some recommissioning work done with Red Triangle but then sold it on at auction. A dealer then acquired it and I got it from him. I do most of my own work, where I can, and have been working on the car slowly for a couple of years. I’ve found that essentially it’s in very sound original condition and drives well too. I also have a Jaguar 3.5 litre sports saloon and it’s interesting to compare the two cars – in fact I’m writing an article on that topic right now. I’d be most interested to hear something of your time with DUL601. Me email address: skodajag@aol.com. Kind regards, Jonathan
Ben,
Peter Blenk told me he sold the 4.3 in 1990 to James Boland, Bolands of Clondalkin, New Road, Clondalkin, Dublin, 22 Ireland, 01 4643913 / 0818 333 223, http://www.bolands.ie, an Opel dealer & “Fairwaws”, Dublin Road, Naas, Ireland. The last I heard it was with him. Have never had any communication with Mr. Boland. A couple years ago on a rally I met a chap from Ireland who claimed to know Mr. Boland said he has a collection of old cars and the 4.3 was still in that collection.
Happy New Year.
Yours for longer bonnets,
Wayne
Posting this on behalf of the grandson of the chauffeur in the picture who has just found the photo. Bonnet louvres etc suggest it’s a 4.3, but who was the coachbuilder? Suggestion on coachbuild.com is possibly Mayfair? Photo taken on the Camborne estate in Cornwall (date unknown but likely in the 40s) and car belonged to the Rosewarne family.
Thanks for the link to the most interesting photo.
I don’t believe it is a 4.3 Litre, at least not one that I’m aware of. However, I knew the very distinctive body looked familiar. I believe it is 3½ Litre Mayfair Coupe de Ville, chassis 13089, engine 13539, car 17644, registration CGW 693, despatched from the Alvis Works on 31 July 1935 to Charles Follett, Ltd. 18 Berkeley Street, London W.1. The original owner was Lionel Edward Richard Bellairs, The Hall, Binfield, Berkshire. CGW 693 is said to have had a fixed metal head with a removal hood over the chauffeur’s compartment. 3½ Litre CGW 693 was last heard of (by me) with Colin Fine Thompson of 14 The Green, Bonehill, Tamworth, Staffordshire, circa 1951.
I would like to know more.
Charles Louis Rosewarne of Chy-an-Goon, Gwinear Road, Connor Downs, Hayle, Cornwall had a number of Alvis:
’35 Silver Eagle Holbrook saloon BCV 999
’36 Speed 25 Charlesworth Saloon DGW 599
’37 Speed 25 Charlesworth Saloon CVC 313
’51 TA21 Mulliners Saloon OAF 306
Possibly others
Bentley, might be a Mk VI, registration LRL 2
All the above is correct. Do you know if any of these are still in existence?
My father, from the Rosewarne family, says it was not a 4.3 but possibly a Speed 25. It was delivered with red flashes on the wings which he didn’t like – it made it look as if it belongs to a circus – so they were sprayed out. It was very dark inside at the back
That is a most informative reply Wayne, thank you very much. I will pass this on to the chauffeur’s Grandson. He has said that he is contacting the Camborne estate to see if they have any info and if comes up with anything else I will pass it on.
Isn’t the photo printed the wrong way round? Either that or it’s a left hand drive Alvis which I think highly unlikely. Anyway, a superb body and surely a worthy subject for recreation on a chassis which has lost its original.
The car belonged to my Grandfather and my mother has fond memories and a couple of photos of all tghe Alvis’s they owned in het family album, but Ted and his father who looked after and even maintained the various cars (including Bentelys and I think RRs) and were trained by the manufucturers to do maintanence on the cars in the estate garages in Cornwall, and I know had a comprehensive photo album of all the cars they cherished and drove. I sadly never asked for a copy when I was a child knowing them, so if you can track them down I would be most grateful
Wayne,
Would like to know what became of the 1938 4.3 Tourer my dad, Zeke Bubnoski, once owned. I don’t doubt you recall the vehicle and my father as it’s the one the Franklin Mint came to our home to ‘immortalize’ many years ago.
Thanks and Regards,
Dave Bubnoski
I apologize for the delay in responding. Saw your inquiry last June while on holiday. Planned to respond when I returned home. Slipped my mind. Just noticed it again. Sorry.
Your father’s 4.3 Litre is now in a private collection. Please contact me on waynealvis@aol.com for an update.
Good day to all. I am fond of English classic cars. I read there are Alvis 4.3 with a saloon body from James Young. but I could not find his photos of a live or retro photo. or he did not survive ?. Would you like to see him? can you explain to me
Yes, I would like to see. it is a pity that the work is definitely unidentified. could you send me a photo by mail
WAyne to advise that my Alvis 4.3 FEv 355 currently fitted with a speed 25 engine and rebodied as a Alvis Alwil Continental Tourer is for sale and available via Fisher Restorations contact stefan@fisherperformance .co.ok
Good day
My parents Aubrey and Janet Gill, of Fen End, near Kenilworth, Warwickshire owned a two tone green metallic green leather 4.3 short chassis Van den Plas tourer in the 60’s. I believe they sold it in the 70’s and the new owner painted it black and trimmed in red. I wonder if it’s whereabouts are known? I now live in New Zealand, the home to many lovely old cars. Kind regards
Giles
Rosie & Giles Gill
34 Evans Pass Road, Sumner
Christchurch 8081
New Zealand
G (0064) 27 361 6927 gillfamily@ravenslie.net
Good day and thank you for following alvisarchive. Aubrey was AOC member 2113M and GRF 88 survives having had a number of owners since. Wayne Brooks, our 4.3 expert will follow up with more detail. If you have any period photos of the car we would be delighted to add them to our gallery. You can email them to alvisarchive@btinternet.com
Don’t know if anyone is interested, but I have my 1937 Alvis 4.3 Vanden Plas Pillarless Saloon FGO 200 for sale at Mathewsons Auctions, Thornton -Le -Dale, Yorkshire UK. It will be Auctioned on the 29th-30th July 2022unless a agreement as been reached before 15th July 2022. They don’t put much if any info on their website, but if inserted please email me
Alvis Archive 
Brilliant, enjoyed it very much
I read it to the end, so it must be good. Susie
Wayne, Very nice work, my 4.3 still doing well, Frank Opalka
Hallo There – wonderful documentation abt the 4.3ltr. I have a question : I own chassis nr 14343 car nr 19925 OFFORD and SONS cabriolet ex FGW 409 – is this the only 4 door cabriolet known to have been build by OFFORD & SONS or are there any more cars known ? Thanks -yours for the longer bonnet Lutz Burchard nr 6748
Dear Lutz,
As far as I know, from Alvis records, your chassis 14343 is the only Offord & Sons 4 Door Cabriolet on an Alvis chassis. In addition there were nine Offord Drophead Coupes on the 4.3 chassis, one 4 Door Tourer and two Drophead Coupes by Carlton Carriage to an Offord Design. All but three Offord and one Carlton Drophead are known to survive with their original bodies.
I know of three Offord bodies on the Speed 25 chassis, two Drophead Coupes and a 2 Seater Tourer. One Drophead and the the Tourer survive.
Yours for longer bonnets,
Wayne
What a great facility.
I owned EGP759 in the early 1970’s , Bought, I think, from the dealer Mike Berry in central London, at that time it looked rather drab in maroon. I had the wings and usual two tone areas painted black. Sadly I didn’t enjoy the car, much preferring the SA speed 20 that I also owned. I sold it via the Alexandra Palace auction.
Wayne: as you know my 4.3 Alvis now resides in the Uk where it belongs, I have made a copy of the Reg papers (not complete) so you can fill in ownership of some of the people. also have Reg # of KClark or other owner from a magazine archive. See if Reg #OL 5679 shows up anywhere, I have no further info on that one, hope to see you at Hershey again this yr.
Good afternoon, am I right in thinking you once owned DUL 601, now in my care in the UK? If so I’d love to hear something of your time with the car. I’ll keep this brief for now in case I’m on the wrong track. Regards, JD
DUL 601 sounds like mine, 4 door, green, sold at UK auction, Wayne would know
Hello – You did indeed own DUL601. It was sold at auction over here to someone who had some recommissioning work done with Red Triangle but then sold it on at auction. A dealer then acquired it and I got it from him. I do most of my own work, where I can, and have been working on the car slowly for a couple of years. I’ve found that essentially it’s in very sound original condition and drives well too. I also have a Jaguar 3.5 litre sports saloon and it’s interesting to compare the two cars – in fact I’m writing an article on that topic right now. I’d be most interested to hear something of your time with DUL601. Me email address: skodajag@aol.com. Kind regards, Jonathan
Wayne, Alvis speed 25 is for sale, Reg #ASF446
Hi Wayne, Do you know the current whereabouts of DVD1/OCE43 the 1937 Charlesworth saloon ex Mike Cummins which I once owned? I’m feeling nostalgic!
Ben,
Peter Blenk told me he sold the 4.3 in 1990 to James Boland, Bolands of Clondalkin, New Road, Clondalkin, Dublin, 22 Ireland, 01 4643913 / 0818 333 223, http://www.bolands.ie, an Opel dealer & “Fairwaws”, Dublin Road, Naas, Ireland. The last I heard it was with him. Have never had any communication with Mr. Boland. A couple years ago on a rally I met a chap from Ireland who claimed to know Mr. Boland said he has a collection of old cars and the 4.3 was still in that collection.
Happy New Year.
Yours for longer bonnets,
Wayne
Thanks Wayne.
I’ve sent a pic from the time when I bought it to John.
Anybody looking at the 4.3 DHC on eBay in the UK? Nice car, in the archives, known to the club I’m sure. eBay item #231145935694 on ebay.co.uk
Posting this on behalf of the grandson of the chauffeur in the picture who has just found the photo. Bonnet louvres etc suggest it’s a 4.3, but who was the coachbuilder? Suggestion on coachbuild.com is possibly Mayfair? Photo taken on the Camborne estate in Cornwall (date unknown but likely in the 40s) and car belonged to the Rosewarne family.
Mark,
Thanks for the link to the most interesting photo.
I don’t believe it is a 4.3 Litre, at least not one that I’m aware of. However, I knew the very distinctive body looked familiar. I believe it is 3½ Litre Mayfair Coupe de Ville, chassis 13089, engine 13539, car 17644, registration CGW 693, despatched from the Alvis Works on 31 July 1935 to Charles Follett, Ltd. 18 Berkeley Street, London W.1. The original owner was Lionel Edward Richard Bellairs, The Hall, Binfield, Berkshire. CGW 693 is said to have had a fixed metal head with a removal hood over the chauffeur’s compartment. 3½ Litre CGW 693 was last heard of (by me) with Colin Fine Thompson of 14 The Green, Bonehill, Tamworth, Staffordshire, circa 1951.
I would like to know more.
Charles Louis Rosewarne of Chy-an-Goon, Gwinear Road, Connor Downs, Hayle, Cornwall had a number of Alvis:
’35 Silver Eagle Holbrook saloon BCV 999
’36 Speed 25 Charlesworth Saloon DGW 599
’37 Speed 25 Charlesworth Saloon CVC 313
’51 TA21 Mulliners Saloon OAF 306
Possibly others
Bentley, might be a Mk VI, registration LRL 2
Wayne Brooks
waynealvis@aol.com
All the above is correct. Do you know if any of these are still in existence?
My father, from the Rosewarne family, says it was not a 4.3 but possibly a Speed 25. It was delivered with red flashes on the wings which he didn’t like – it made it look as if it belongs to a circus – so they were sprayed out. It was very dark inside at the back
That is a most informative reply Wayne, thank you very much. I will pass this on to the chauffeur’s Grandson. He has said that he is contacting the Camborne estate to see if they have any info and if comes up with anything else I will pass it on.
Best regards,
Mark.
Isn’t the photo printed the wrong way round? Either that or it’s a left hand drive Alvis which I think highly unlikely. Anyway, a superb body and surely a worthy subject for recreation on a chassis which has lost its original.
I don’t think there were any left hand drive 3½ Litres. So it does appear to be reversed. Without the negativeI don’y know how to turn it around
The car belonged to my Grandfather and my mother has fond memories and a couple of photos of all tghe Alvis’s they owned in het family album, but Ted and his father who looked after and even maintained the various cars (including Bentelys and I think RRs) and were trained by the manufucturers to do maintanence on the cars in the estate garages in Cornwall, and I know had a comprehensive photo album of all the cars they cherished and drove. I sadly never asked for a copy when I was a child knowing them, so if you can track them down I would be most grateful
Ben,
I will have to do some searching at home this evening and see if I can find the original thread the photo came from as it was a few years ago.
I may be a bit late about this, but most photo software can mirror-image a photograph with a couple of clicks. More info if you need it
I still have my 4.3 ERW 915
Wayne,
Would like to know what became of the 1938 4.3 Tourer my dad, Zeke Bubnoski, once owned. I don’t doubt you recall the vehicle and my father as it’s the one the Franklin Mint came to our home to ‘immortalize’ many years ago.
Thanks and Regards,
Dave Bubnoski
with chrome spokes.
David,
I apologize for the delay in responding. Saw your inquiry last June while on holiday. Planned to respond when I returned home. Slipped my mind. Just noticed it again. Sorry.
Your father’s 4.3 Litre is now in a private collection. Please contact me on waynealvis@aol.com for an update.
Wayne
Good day to all. I am fond of English classic cars. I read there are Alvis 4.3 with a saloon body from James Young. but I could not find his photos of a live or retro photo. or he did not survive ?. Would you like to see him? can you explain to me
We do not have a photo of a James Young 4.3 – do you? We would like to see one as we have an unidentified photo that might be a James Young.
Yes, I would like to see. it is a pity that the work is definitely unidentified. could you send me a photo by mail
WAyne to advise that my Alvis 4.3 FEv 355 currently fitted with a speed 25 engine and rebodied as a Alvis Alwil Continental Tourer is for sale and available via Fisher Restorations contact stefan@fisherperformance .co.ok
Good day
My parents Aubrey and Janet Gill, of Fen End, near Kenilworth, Warwickshire owned a two tone green metallic green leather 4.3 short chassis Van den Plas tourer in the 60’s. I believe they sold it in the 70’s and the new owner painted it black and trimmed in red. I wonder if it’s whereabouts are known? I now live in New Zealand, the home to many lovely old cars. Kind regards
Giles
Rosie & Giles Gill
34 Evans Pass Road, Sumner
Christchurch 8081
New Zealand
G (0064) 27 361 6927
gillfamily@ravenslie.net
Good day and thank you for following alvisarchive. Aubrey was AOC member 2113M and GRF 88 survives having had a number of owners since. Wayne Brooks, our 4.3 expert will follow up with more detail. If you have any period photos of the car we would be delighted to add them to our gallery. You can email them to alvisarchive@btinternet.com
Don’t know if anyone is interested, but I have my 1937 Alvis 4.3 Vanden Plas Pillarless Saloon FGO 200 for sale at Mathewsons Auctions, Thornton -Le -Dale, Yorkshire UK. It will be Auctioned on the 29th-30th July 2022unless a agreement as been reached before 15th July 2022. They don’t put much if any info on their website, but if inserted please email me
Can you give me your email address re 4.3
Trying to contact you re the 4.3 but keep getting sent in circles…trying again
Have you succeeded now? If not please reply to me
Trying to leave my addresss but having a problem. jeff-harvey@outlook.com
I have now put my email address above. But here it is again jeff-harvey@outlook.com