Category: News

Sorting through a box of ancient publications, I discovered this painting in an Autocar article. No mention was made that the car is an Alvis 4.3 Vanden Plas pillarless saloon, one of 17 made. It had been mistaken for a Jaguar. However the artist was mentioned and with the wonders of the interweb I was able to make contact and obtain permission not only to reproduce it but also to receive a full colour version. For a photo of the actual car, click here. For more about the artist, click Henrietta Manning, now resident in Tasmania.

In the same box was the 1998 Brooklands magazine, The Spirit, featuring Roy Nockolds’ painting of the 1927 Grand Prix car. For the Alvis article penned by Ken Day therein, click 1999 Brooklands Exhibition

More of APSLEY’s work has been scanned and some further images have been added to APSLEY

In the same box is a full colour bound photo album of the restoration of this car completed by the late Barry Ward. Anyone interested is knowing what horrors might lie under the skin of a Park Ward should peruse this album.

Following the refurbishment of the Bowcliffe Drivers Club, Alvis has been added to the ceiling lights.

Members and guests meet monthly for lunch. To join us, leave a comment.

Click Events for other news.

As Alvis owners anticipate the upcoming Weekend based in Hampshire, more photos of the first International have been added to the 1975 report thanks to Ralph Schwarz. He recorded the Graber owners’ journey from Switzerland.

Five Grabers made the journey. They met with Madame Graber who flew over for the event. She is seen here being interviewed by Peter Thompson. AOC Chairman Eric Oakman is alongside her, holding a Swiss cheese aloft.

To view the photos click 1975 Knebworth

Graber also features in the June 2025 copy of The Automobile. It features the TD21 cabriolet of Christoph Grohe seen here in France.

This year’s Graber Treffen is being held in the Bern region of Switzerland on the weekend of September 13-14.

For a gallery of photos of The Petwood Revival, Lincolnshire Spring Break, click Events

As a retired anaesthetist, Adrian had also been fascinated by Smith-Clarke’s work in medicine and other scientific fields and researched our extensive archives files for material, much of it donated by the Smith-Clarke family.
The Alvis link extends further with 3-litre owner Dr. Geoffrey Spencer who wrote about his experiences in the May 1999 AOC Bulletin, another Julian Collins masterpiece, reproduced here:

Adrian has kindly donated copies of his book to the Trust and is now available to members for the cost of postage and packing.

He was asked to provide a replica iron lung for a recent episode of the BBC period drama “Call the Midwife”.

The ex-Spencer TC21/100 is alive and well and appears at the Tealby Noggin and Natter with other Alvis and British marques.

The Annual General Meeting of the Alvis Archive Trust will be held remotely by Zoom this year to enable more members to attend. The date is May 15th 2025, start time 6pm. Members will receive joining details and documentation shortly.

If you would like to become a member, download this form:

In the 1960s taking photos in colour was expensive. Prints tended to be small. Slides that needed a projector to view them were common but destined to be hidden away and gather dust. Converting slides and colour negatives into digital form is now easy and part of our digitisation programme.

A new page has been created with 90 images which with further donations will be expanded in the future. With thanks to Ted Sayer for sending slides of his father’s Alvis cars click 1960s to view them.

Clive Taylor was appointed as official AOC photographer in 1989. As a result, we have several albums from 1989 and later. These are in full colour. To view some of these and the first three Bulletins (in black and white), click 1989 – Coventry and Duxford

The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs has asked members for participation in the National Historic Vehicle Survey.

“The Federation will have to argue even more strongly for historic vehicles to retain their current access and freedoms on our roads in the coming years as we navigate the most challenging period in our history. To defend our freedom to use yesterday’s vehicles on tomorrow’s roads, we need your help completing this crucial survey.

The Federation represents more than 500 clubs, museums, and individual members passionate about historic vehicles older than 30 years, such as cars, motorcycles, buses, coaches, lorries, agricultural, military, or steam vehicles.

Due to changing political and environmental influences, the historic vehicle community, events, the freedom to use the roads, and even the fuel we use are under increasing threats and pressures.

The FBHVC aims to lobby the Government against detrimental legislation and restrictions that could impact the future of historic vehicles. However, to secure a successful outcome, the organisation needs dependable data on the significance and scope of the historic vehicle movement. The responses you provide will help shape the future of historic vehicles in Great Britain over the next five years by providing crucial data.

The Federation first conducted research in 1997 and has repeated the process at least every five years since then. HM Government values this research for providing a consistent approach that demonstrates accurate traceability and the development of the historic vehicle movement over time. Such transparency fosters trust in the government and ensures that the 1.9 million historic vehicles recorded on the DVLA database are treated fairly and appropriately.

The survey encompasses all historic road vehicles, including cars, bikes, lorries, vans/motorhomes, military vehicles, buses/coaches, tractors/agricultural vehicles, and steam vehicles. Details of the previous research can be found here 

Over 15,000 enthusiasts participated last time around. We want to make this survey the largest and most comprehensive of its kind in the world, so please take part, have your say, and help keep the historic vehicles that we love on the road for the benefit of everyone in the future. Depending on your responses, the survey should take approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Kindly ensure that you finish it in one sitting.”

Please complete it by clicking www.fbhvc.co.uk/survey

Yesterday’s Vehicles Supporting Today’s Children. National Drive It Day was created by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs in 2005. It is the occasion when historic vehicle enthusiasts and the public at large have the opportunity to celebrate the One Thousand Mile Trial organised in 1900 to prove the viability of the new invention, the motor vehicle. It’s also a chance to raise awareness and support amongst the public for the historic vehicle movement and keeping transport heritage on UK roads, while fund-raising for charity. For how to support the event and buy a fundraising ‘rally plaque’ click www.driveitday.co.uk

To support the Day, the Archive Trust is holding an extended event. To enter, click Lincolnshire Spring Break.

A new article is also now available to read – The story of 7692 in South Africa