The story of 25930 (Ceppi)

Robin Willmott writes: The 1975 pictures showing my 1958 Graber Bodied Alvis TC108G  no 720 en route to Knebworth when in the ownership of Hans Dietrich and with the Arnet TD21, spurred me on to continue its saga.

In 2006 l became the third owner of “Ceppi”, the name of its first owner, from the Dietrich estate in Switzerland. Mme Ceppi, of Frésard SA, lived near 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. Looking at the Graber Brochure 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 in reverse. 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.

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Ceppi was a show car and featured in the publicity of the day. Madame Ceppi replaced her car in 1967 with a TF21.

Hans Dietrich was a friend of Graber and we believe he acquired the car in 1967 and restored it.