News – Page 30 – Alvis Archive

Alvis entries in the Tulip Rally

The first Tulip rally was in 1949 and during the 1950s there were some Alvis entries. In 1954, Lincolnshire farmer J W E (Bill) Banks drove a TC21/100 saloon, 25385 registered MTM 1 to 6th place. Mr Banks was notable for becoming the UK distributor for the Dutch shock absorber manufacturer, Koni, fitted as standard by Mr Graber for his creations.

In 1955 Trevor Boothroyd with “Young Ron” Walton on board managed 83rd place in MLY 913 which survives in the custody of Peter Milne. The story of the search for “Emily” is told in AOC Bulletin 455, January 1999 and also appears in the 50th Anniversary Collection by Newby and Fletcher.

24312 MLY 913 Tulip — 24312 – Peter Milne’s TA21 Tickford DHC enjoyed a past life as a Rally car in the Tulip Rally, evidenced by the extra windscreen mounted light and holes in the rear bumper where extra reversing lights were fitted.

1955 Tulip Rally Number 52 – photo Trevor Boothroyd via Peter Milne

In 1956 it was entered once again

1956 Photos by Trevor Boothroyd via Peter Milne

Our Netherlands correspondent reports five Alvis among the Alfas, Volvos, Porsches etc. in the 65th Tulip Rally of 2018 see https://www.tulpenrallye.nl/competitors2018/?lang=en which starts on May 7th in the south of France

Racing drivers and innovations

Much new material has been added this month with articles on Major Harvey, Sammy Davis, innovations of the 1930s, and the 1999 Brooklands Exhibition.Photo galleries have been added for each item so that some previously published black and white photos can now be seen in colour.

The Crested Eagle was first to have ifs and a synchro gearbox. A pristine lubrication chart has been scanned, courtesy of Eric Ody, to add to the data on this model.

And as if there were not enough attractions at Bowcliffe Hall, another new one has flown in….Click on these links to open the new pages…..

Major Harvey

S C H (Sammy) Davis

Synchromesh Gearbox

Independent suspension

Crested Eagle Lubrication Chart

1999 Brooklands Exhibition

Rivers Fletcher

Among the many files we hold in the archives is one marked “Rivers Fletcher Photos” and they came to the top of the pile for scanning. Some are easier to identify than others and here are the ones we need help with….

rivers fletcher collection Speed 25 Charlesworth Dhc

More of Rivers’ Speed 25 photos have been added to the Speed 25 page, click here

rivers fletcher collection 14317 4.3 EGT 51 13367 Speed 25 BVC 834 -where are they now?

A new page has been added to Alvis People, click on Rivers Fletcher

A selection of detailed photos taken by Tony Phillips-Smith of an SB Speed 20 Vanden Plas have been scanned by Chris Bluer and can be seen on the SB page, together with some photos from the new owner of the March Special in its restored condition and David Salter’s latest acquisition, click on BKP 564.

Some reproduction Vanden Plas plates are available from Steve Horne, click on VDP

Some new detail on the construction of the Three Litre prototype 3L2 has been revealed from the George Moseley collection which is held by the W O Bentley Memorial Foundation. Will Morrison has written an article on Harold Radford coachbuilders in the Bentley Drivers Club Review of February 2018 which also features the Speed 20 of Archie Scott-Brown.

The Silver Eagle of the month can be seen by clicking on Silver Eagle

Today’s the day we were at Bowcliffe

A new expanded page is now available, click T G John

John Kelly drove his TD21 from Salisbury to join some thirty others who had come from as far as Kent, Essex and Oxford to join us

Five Alvis braved the salty roads including John Foster in his Fourteen and Charles van Ingen in his TE21 from Cheshire.

Tim Perks in his TC21/100 and Hugh Westlake in his TD21 joined us from Lincolnshire

Our new Persian carpet – thank you Veedon Fleece!

Oldtimermesse St Gallen

Followers of http://www.Zwischengas.com may have spotted an Alvis umbrella in the report of St Gallen’s Classic Car Show, but no mention of any Alvis. However your roving reporter saw some and also bumped into several Alvis owners visiting the show in the rain. Inside the hall was an SA Speed 20 and an advert for a Fourteen woody, not seen in the UK for some time. Outside in the rain Rolf Huegli had brought his TD21 four door. Have you visited the Fourteen website? It has a new post about Le Mans, click on Fourteen

On the same trip further Alvis related visits are described in Jottings and details of a Graber TC108G are in Cars seeking new custodians

The 3½ Litre and Freestone & Webb

Having covered the less expensive 1930s models in the last two posts it is now the turn of the most expensive introduced in 1936 as a bespoke model, the 3½ Litre with model designation SA25.63.

Alvis turned to coachbuilders Freestone & Webb and commissioned four cars to be given the full publicity treatment. The result is covered on two new pages – click on Freestone & Webb and 3½ Litre

If you have any information on Alvis with Freestone & Webb coachwork we would like to hear from you.