It was the evening of November 14th, 1940, and the German intruders had just watched the heaviest air raid yet seen in the war. There was virtually no opposition as the planes made their bombing runs in the crowded air space over the target. Down below was the object of it all, Coventry! Certainly Coventry was the heart of the British motor industry, also a major centre for machine tools and light engineering. It wasn’t a large city, either, with a population of only 125,000-odd in 1940. In fact, Coventry was so small that the raiders scarcely had to aim. They’d hit something for sure. The “something” included Alvis, Riley, Armstrong-Siddeley, Daimler & BSA, Lea-Francis, Humber/Hillman, SS Cars (Jaguar), Standard Triumph, also Morris Motors big engine and body plants. Alfred Herbert Limited was another, famed for its machine tools. Most were clustered within the city proper, which took some doing with a community as small as Coventry. “The Daimler” was a 10 minute walk from the central station, Morris Motors body plant was even closer, just next door to the depot. Coventry wasn’t big and spread out like an American city though it is now with the UK’s brand of urban development. Not all the plants were giants, carrying names of international fame. If Rover, Rootes and Riley took a pounding that night, so did many of the smaller outfits, older plants for the most part, unfamiliar as well but with origins back to the dawn of the British motor industry when Coventry was also a center for bicycles, machinery and carriages including Charlesworth Motor Bodies Limited.
(An extract from Bulletin 376, from Best of Old Car Weekly by Rolland Jerry)
Alvis always made the engines for their cars but sometimes owners chose to try something with more power, like the 4.2 litre XK unit pictured here in a 4.3 but also in a TD21 and an earlier unit in a hot-rod TA14.
13174 4.3. litre VDP saloon in the 1980s DRR 91 with a Jaguar XK unit
Neither the 4.3 or the TD21 has them installed now, having reverted to the Alvis unit. In the late sixties I used to drive 40 miles to Nottingham in my Grey Lady, then 14 years old, and change cars to drive my new employer to London in his nearly new Jaguar 420. I never regretted getting back into the Grey Lady on the return trip – the sound, the feel, the style.
25842 RLX 367 in 1969
Jaguar, like Alvis and Rover ended up in British Leyland before being acquired by Ford and then Tata.
Good news came this week of another Graber restoration being completed in Switzerland and of another being rescued after a long and neglected hibernation.
Not the original colour, inside or out, this TD21 764, now rescued.
On Saturday 14th November the NEC Classic Car Show goes virtual and at 12 noon David Whale, Chairman, and Paul Chasney, Director of Research for the FBHVC, reveal what the survey results mean for us preserving our heritage. YouTube https://bit.ly/3nnrChQ
As most of Europe goes into lockdown to fight Covid, most planned events have had to be cancelled, deferred or in some cases, prolonged. One such was the Graber Exhibition at the Pantheon Basel, which ran for a year instead of six months but has now finished. Meanwhile in Germany a fine collection of Alvis cars and educational material remains on show, but behind closed doors for the moment until the restrictions have eased.
Manfred Fleischmann and Ken Day’s son Tony, meeting at Central Garage on 6th September 2020, 100 years since Ken’s birthday
Planned to run until February 2021 it is hoped it may be extended. In the meantime we are delighted to provide a virtual tour courtesy of Manfred Fleischmann who masterminded the exhibition, Click Frankfurt exhibition 2020
A note from Peter Barratt questioned the description of the Stafford Pup on display at the Shuttleworth Collection. The National Motor Museum has had one on display for some time.
An early venture of T G John was involvement with Stafford Auto Scooters Ltd in the motor scooter, the Stafford Mobile Pup. Mr Stafford had a shop at the bottom end of the T G John works in Hertford St.
The frame was supplied by The Birmingham Motor Guild and the engine was built and fitted by T.G. John Ltd.
More information can be found in “The Vintage Alvis” (1995 edition) from page 8.
Among a large collection of 1980s photos donated by Ben Lenthall, one time editor of the AOC Bulletin, are these of an Offord 4.3 drophead.
The Offord page has been updated to include these and changes of custodians on two others.
…and for these dark winter evenings another good read from Julian Collins in 2000…
Index
483 Alvivacity 487 South East Alvis Day 494 Lost And Found TA 21s In The U.S.A. 498 Ancestors 508 Our New Zealand Tour 520 Letters To The Editor 535 The Rebirth of A Speed 25 SC DHC – Part 1 543 Hot Air ln West Sussex 544 The Macmillan Cancer Relief Run .. 545 The AOC Web Site 547 Alvis Grey Lady Gearbox 553 “The Malvern Link” 558 Archive 565 Section Notes 574 Index 2000
Given the entirely justified obsession that most of us have about our cars, perhaps we occasionally forget that some of the remarkable individuals who have brought these pleasures to us and our predecessors over the last century, also had interests and experiences totally divorced from that of the cars.
Just such an individual was that polymath: Captain George Thomas Smith-Clarke, the subject of Adrian Padfield’s scholarly biography. Writers up to now have, of necessity, covered his life story relatively lightly, as an accompaniment to the cars, which deficiency has now been more than adequately addressed.
By way of illustration, I am minded to compare this exercise with the famous Carlsberg advertisement, since the author has clearly reached into hitherto unexplored territory, producing on the one hand , refreshing new evidence, and on the other, elaboration upon what was partially known. As of now, it’s clearly all here: from cradle to grave, a life of undiminished inventiveness, encompassing astronomy, radio communication, aircraft engines, military vehicles, firearms, numerous contributions to medical science, and even cars – especially the technically advanced Front Wheel Drive.
Examples abound: The reviewer was impressed by the story of when GTS-C was about to undergo some nasal surgery. The operation was halted for lack of an appropriate pair of surgical scissors. The patient discharged himself so as to design and construct a suitable appliance (via the Alvis toolroom), then offering it to the surgeon upon returning to the operating table at a later date.
Also, on a personal level, as the one-time owner and restorer of GTS-C’s last Alvis, JDU 674, I particularly warmed to the letter, reproduced verbatim, from the Company, awarding him the car, upon his retirement. Often I have thought that such a document must have existed, and here it is in confirmation, never before published. Just two pertinent examples: one typifying the character of the man, and the other showing the esteem in which he was held by others.
Publication of this book is especially timely, coming as it does when Coventry becomes the ‘City of Culture’ for 2021. I have no doubt that the organisers of suitable commemorative events will be quick to laud the achievements of such notable past city residents as Capel Bond, Sir Frank Whittle, Sir Frederick Gibberd, Dame Ellen Terry, and Philip Larkin. It is abundantly clear that GTS-C should be recognised along such distinguished company, given the advocacy (and accuracy) within this most interesting book.
DAVE CULSHAW
208 pages; Price £20 plus £5 UK postage. To order a copy from the publisher, call 01386 803803 Email: hughescompany@btconnect.com
208 pages in hard case cover, see November post
Working alongside Smith-Clarke was Arthur Varney..
Arthur’s grandson has sent us a note on the design of the all synchromesh gearbox, and in particular these words on the back of the patent….
A more complete story of Arthur’s contribution is set out in Ken Day’s Fourth Edition “ALVIS – The Story of the Red Triangle” which can be ordered from the Trust.
Just some of the books and brochures we can offer you
Proving it was possible to comply with Covid restrictions and enjoy Alvis motoring Chris Taylor took his Firebird to Velbert in Germany for a locksmiths weekend conference.
Locksmiths gather in Germany
“The Firebird did 650 miles without a hiccup, I tanked it up 10 miles out of Velbert and that got me all the way home to Disley, very economical these Firebirds! We had to run through the Netherlands from Rotterdam without stopping to avoid self-isolating upon return and that was both outward on Friday and return on Monday. The meeting was also classed as educational so it could take place.”
George Butlin driving very slowly to gain entrance to the RAC Club at 4.30 in the morning last month, the chairman of the Club’s motoring committee having requested that it be displayed in the Rotunda at the Club’s Pall Mall premises. “I would commend the experience of driving through empty streets in the early hours, and the echo off the walls of the Piccadilly underpass, to anyone- a rare opportunity to drive in our historic capital with virtually no traffic.”Graber 722 has found a new home in Reutlingen, Germany with a long standing TD21 owner. Eventually delivered after lockdown, sadly without its documented history, currently mislaid by Vintage & Prestige who handled the sale.
Robin was also in the Chair for the International Alvis Weekend in 2002. Our DVD of Programmes omitted the one for this event which was quite special as it had OXR 1 in pride of place following being recommissioned by Robin.
We have now digitised it and include it here to be downloaded. Click
Alvis Archive 