A recent addition to YouTube about the Alvis collection of Chris Prince will fascinate those who have never ventured into Shropshire to source parts for their Three Litre or Fourteen.
Martin Wickham writes “A fascinating film that I recall seeing in the Apprentice School back in the dark ages demonstrates the effective performance of Stalwart, on land, and in the water, and especially important, getting in and out of the water (the weak point of most amphibious vehicles)in Sweden.
I am reasonably sure that the success of that particular trial led to excessive celebration in the mess and the decision to have an unscheduled play with the vehicle after that. When it started to sink it was realised that the hull drain plugs had not been refitted. The Chief Engineer was recalled to Coventry and sacked. That led to Mike Dunn’s appointment soon thereafter. “
This photo of PV1 is “the Beastie”. PV stands for Private Venture – if you would like to know more click on Sweden and the Stalwart to view the film.
The Stalwart also featured in this Bulletin from 1999
Some new photos been added to several pages and new pages created.
All posts and pages have links that you can click on and open a new tab. If you click on The Acorn you will discover what this Alvis is.
We have a growing archive on fighting vehicles and new pages have been created for the Stalwart – including one by Brian Hartley confirming the superiority of Alvis engineering in his article Two Men’s Alvis. Complementing this is a chapter from the late Roy Probert’s book “One Man’s Alvis”.
Chris Heyer has been trying to track down a photograph of the 1962 Alvis stand at the Earls Court Motor Show which displayed his TD21 Series II drophead. We haven’t found one, has someone somewhere got one?
Meanwhile in South Carolina the Alvis marque has found favour with Scott and Natalie Bluestein who have sent photos of their TD21 and Speed 25 at this recent event.
Scott wrote to Wayne: Natalie was written up in the program for the recent Hilton Head Concours. I thought I would pass it along for the Alvis archives. The car won best British Sports Car and was asked to be in the Chairman’s Parade. The following day we showed the Speed 25. While we did not place, we had a lot of fun with the car but did win the best couples costume contest. We are trying to fly the Alvis flag. Only 1 out of 4 people asked if it was an Elvis!!
The Speed 25 photos have been added to the gallery on Speed 25
John Worrell has sent in details and photos of his Firefly “the Carpenter Special” which have been added to the gallery on Firefly
Bruce Gorie sent this photo for identification…..
Greg Wrapson writes “ Alvis TJ 12-50 C&E 4-seater de luxe was despatched to Galts of Glasgow on 6th December 1930. Fawn with red leather and black hood. New to Capt. G S Rawstorne MC of the Seaforth Highlanders who had a distinguished military career in both World Wars, and served as Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland from 1950 until his death in 1962. The car (which survives) was in the ownership of Reginald C Linton (Alvis Register member 624) from 1936 until some time in the 1970s, and as it would appear that he also served in the Merchant Navy, it must be likely that he is the driver of the Alvis in the photo.”
Bruce then found Reginald Charles Linton died in St Austell in the last quarter of 1971. “I am still on the search for information on the background to the Alvis TJ 12-50 C&E 4-seater de luxe in the photo of my uncle. I have been in correspondence with Capt., later Brig., G S Rawstorne’s daughter and she sent a photograph, attached, of him standing by the car with its hood up and windows in place. What is fairly clear in that picture is the mascot of what appears to be a hare sitting on its hind legs – an interesting and curious mascot. I wonder if this has stayed with the car? As an aside, I note that the wing mirror on the driver’s side, at least, has changed from round to rectangular.“
Are you by any chance able to throw any light on the mascot?
“Claire Stewart Rawstorne gave me a link to the Rogart Heritage Society’s Facebook page where three or so years ago a Tom Johnston spoke about making a visit to Rogart in his Alvis. I sent him a message but have heard nothing from him. Are you able to say if he might be the present owner?“
John King enquired about the availability of the 2001 International video, clips of which have appeared on YouTube. We do have a collection of films on VHS and DVD and available to members to borrow. In due course a list will be published on ALFLIX. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in collating our collection, digitising them and creating new videos from them for the website please contact us.
Dick Wilkinson’s book The Vintage Silver Eagle is selling well and copies are still available. If someone you know deserves one for Christmas, order it now from Dick
Greg Wrapson sent some photos which were amongst a batch kindly sent to him a while ago by former Register member and Silver Eagle owner Geoff Burdett. It includes this one of a Woodie owned by Adam Gilchrist who has donated the Fourteen now in “barn” condition to the Heritage Skills Academy in Brooklands, see here
Taken in 1970 at Stoneleigh Park – TA14 chassis 21018
Michael Reeves sent some Alvis photographs from the 1950s mostly of Basil Chevell with his Alvis and his father (Gordon Reeves) with his Alvis, a Speed 20 KLL 99. Where are they now?
By coincidence this photo was among the Geoff Burdett collection – the Chevell special later raced by Tony Charnock
KLL 99 Speed 20SB 11325 Vanden Plas – where is it now?
Alvis Archive 