The 1975 picture showing my 1958 Graber Bodied Alvis TC108G no 720 en route to Knebworth when in the ownership of Hans Dietrich spurred me on to continue its saga.
25930 TC108G Graber 720 in 1985 with the late Hans Dietrich in Interlaken
In 2006 l became the third owner of “Ceppi”, the name of its first owner, from the Dietrich estate in Switzerland. Mme Ceppi, of Fresard SA, lived on the border between Switzerland and France.
On driving Ceppi back to the UK. I quickly realised all the basics were correct, its styling looked very enticing and seductive, it was right hand drive, had Borrani wire wheels and Nardi steering wheel.
I firmly believe that Hermann Graber’s ethic was correct by which if he could improve the driver appeal of a car he adapted it. Thus Ceppi now has a 5 speed ZF S520 gear box , the front brakes are now discs and the engine has now been fully rebuilt using an adapted TD21 oil pump.
Last but not least the sills have been restored and it now gleams in its original colour Princess (shell ) Grey.
When l first acquired Ceppi l was told that it was originally Left hand drive but on looking at the Graber Brocure for the 1958 Geneva Salon Motor Show on which Ceppi is centre spread it looks to be left hand drive. Hermann took this picture in front of his house but used the negative backwards, to realise this one needs to look at the small Graber script behind the side air vent.
Looking back 20 years l was very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time, when at the Alvis weekend at Horncastle John Fox was showing Archive footage of the 1975 Knebworth lnternational showing Ceppi and letting us know it was for sale.
Alvis Archive 