Alvis Archive

The story of a 1927 12/50 TG Carbodies ¾ Doctor’s coupe finding a new home is told in the popular UK TV programme Bangers and Cash tonight at 8pm on the UK’s Yesterday Channel Freeview 27, Freesat 159, Sky 155, Virgin 129. Having had very few owners in London and Kent, the journey to Thornton le Dale resulted in another new owner in Kent.

On ITV4 at 7 pm on the same evening is Silverstone Classic.

The second Tuesday lunchtime car meeting at the Blacksmiths Arms in Rothwell, Lincolnshire produced a fine selection all the best marques and a full car park.

The meeting prior to the AGM of the AOC was an opportunity to make a presentation to the Board and Officers about the work of the trustees and for those interested in such things to visit our archives at Bowcliffe Hall.

Rob Onslow was alone in driving his Alvis some 250 miles from Perthshire while older Directors resorted to the three pointed star for their similar mileage from the south.

We received an enquiry about a rare Alvis resident in India – you identify the model and coachbuilder?

A reminder that we hold the stock of Roy Probert’s book – here is the review from the VSCC editor when it was first published kindly forwarded by John Boswell who now handles all enquiries on Leonides matters:

We have an attractive offer on this book for new members joining in October, please leave a reply if you would a copy. See also AERO ENGINES

The Hampton Court Concours included James Sprague’s Offord Speed 25, a two seater with disappearing hood, and he came away with a prize.

For more pictures, click on Speed 25 and scroll down to the gallery. More information is also on Offord.

Trust members have attended some new classic car meetings in Lincolnshire to show Alvis cars in the wider setting of the classic car fraternity. Six Alvis from 1931-1966 joined a wide variety of vehicles at the home of Larry Riches in West Ashby.

The VSCC/Riley meeting at the Blacksmiths Arms, Rothwell is every second Tuesday from 12.00. Four Alvis attended.

Two cars up for auction from the Gene Ponder collection on 24th September are:

and a close relation (came third in class after the Alvis Graber)

My doormat was covered in some heavy post this week, all of it expected. The most eagerly awaited for over two years was the latest tome from Dave Culshaw, our Consultant Historian, finally published by Veloce in August 2022. The culmination of a lifetime of car spotting, number recording and diligent research in company archives, public libraries and registration offices this book is published 64 years after his first. His next book is already in preparation. More information from the publishers Veloce. Existing orders may take a while to filter through from other booksellers.

This website also benefits from his prodigious output over the years, including many of his PPS articles, P P S by Dave Culshaw and his invaluable contribution to the many Model Registers published in the 1980s and 1990s. These registers are constantly updated as errors are discovered.

For example, Clive Taylor tells us in AOC Bulletin 596 the registration of TE21 27111 was wrongly recorded in Dave’s 2003 book Alvis Three Litre in Detail. The correct number is recorded in this latest book which lists all the known original registration numbers on Alvis cars (at the date of compilation).

In contrast, the latest edition of Octane is dated October 2022, which gives it a long shelf life. Not much about Alvis this time but a good read about rare and interesting cars, not least an article by Mark Dixon on why the late 1960s is a good place to find a comfortable driving seat. He also sets the hare running about substituting the propulsion with electricity.

The July/August 2022 AOC Bulletin showed up just in time to be in August together the Annual Report and Accounts with the Chairman proclaiming the Club to be in fine fettle.

The Bulletin itself devotes space to the subject of Orginality and in particular the Club’s policy thereon. We devoted a page to this some years ago ORIGINALITY and Specials. Comments are welcome on that page. It should be noted that in response, we created the Preservation Class for Concours entrants – how did that turn out?

Also included was a note of correspondence between Adam Gilchrist and the Chairman on the subject of AAT funding which the trustees had not seen before. They will be considering their response and advising members accordingly.

Further photos from Pebble Beach and the results are now included in a new gallery on Graber.

News just received from Christoph Grohe is that in 2023 there will be an Alvis Class – anyone for a Alvis Tour of California?

Christoph Grohe was influential in the creation of a Graber Class at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and four Three Litre Alvis are among the fourteen cars with Graber coachwork. Fabulous examples of Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Delahaye, Duesenburg, Packard and Voisin will compete in two classes, covering 1930-1946 and 1953-1964 on Sunday 21st August. See Graber for details.

In what was a perfect summer’s day in Lincolnshire six Three Litres took part in the Petwood Concours last Sunday.

– see Petwood-Concours