Between July 1929 and July 1930 seven Alvis cars are recorded as having been despatched to South Africa, specifically to agents T B Carruthers & Co in Johannesburg, comprising one SD 12-50 2-str sports, and six Silver Eagles, three TA 16.95s, one SA 16.95, one TB 16.95 and one of the rare 2-litre SD 15.7 cars. Following the recent posting on the website of the article Racing the Blue Train, John Worrell got in touch to say that he had sent a copy to his friend Paul Devitt, a post-war owner of one of the three TA 16.95s, who kindly provided details of his experiences with the car, and also of some of his other motoring interests.
By way of introduction, the car concerned was the TA 16.95 Silver Eagle Car no 12507, chassis 7692, which was despatched to Messrs T B Carruthers & Co, Meischke’s Building, corner of Market & Harrison Streets, Johannesburg, South Africa on 31st October 1929. It was fitted with a 6-light Alvista saloon body by Carbodies finished in red fabric with red furniture hide upholstery (‘Colonial Type Hides’) and with the back of the front seat arranged to ‘fall back to make the car suitable for sleeping.’ The car was also fitted with an extra spare wheel, an Atlantic spot light, an ignition lock, Bluemel flexible steering wheel and Elephant bumpers front and rear (‘Corner type at rear’). To make the car more suitable for local conditions, the car was also fitted with an air cleaner and a two-bladed fan. The Guarantee Card for the car is noted ‘T B Carruthers’ car.’ The Car Record notes that in October 1930 the single Solex carburettor was replaced with the three SU set-up standard on the sports Silver Eagle.
South African Adventures
Paul Devitt writes as follows:
In early life I fell in love with Bugattis, before I had even seen one. In Johannesburg I met ‘Tiny’ Hindle, a large man, an engineer and owner and restorer of three Bugattis – a Type 37, a Type 51 and a Type 59. Neither these nor any other Bugatti were obtainable or affordable in South Africa, so a Silver Eagle became my ersatz Bug.
The Silver Eagle was my first car, bought (for £25) in the 1950s while I was farming in western Transvaal. It was a wreck. The body was a modified Weymann saloon – modified because some of it had come loose on the bad roads and dropped off. It had been repaired by converting it into a ‘fast back’, but most of the fabric had rotted off so the car was transparent. According to the owner the engine had done 250,000 miles, without a rebore. It started easily and blew out so dense a cloud of smoke that the rear view was totally obscured. I bought it in Johannesburg and drove it, with several cans of oil and water, the 120 miles to the farm. A few weeks later I drove it back to my mother’s house in Johannesburg and left it in the back garden. These journeys were draughty and noisy as the shreds of fabric flapped in the wind, and the rear-view mirror showed nothing but a swirling white cloud.
Later I left the farm and worked on a gold mine near my mother’s house. I set about dismantling and inspecting the Alvis. Most of the mechanical parts were useable or fixable, but the engine needed a rebore and new bearings, valves, etc. A local engineering works bored the engine, ground the crankshaft and fitted new white metal bearings. The necessary parts were ordered from the Alvis works, including a more suitable ratio crown wheel and pinion to suit the reduced weight, and they arrived promptly by sea and rail. The original dashboard instruments were present and working.
I made some of the new parts on my Myford lathe and got the car running without a body. It was very light and nippy. I made a two-seater body out of ali. All very boy racer with ‘Brooklands’ outside exhaust in line with the row of three beautiful bronze SU carbs. The chassis was rather high as the springs had been relieved of a fair amount of weight. I had wanted it to be low, like a GP Bugatti. Forlorn hope! It could have been lowered by resetting the springs, but I didn’t think of it at the time. I considered lowering the radiator as its top was about a foot above the valve cover. Fortunately, I realised in time that this might incapacitate the thermo-siphon cooling.
At the time I did think the Alvis looked rather odd, even without its two occupants, who are setting off for the passenger’s wedding (to my sister). Nevertheless, I was delighted with it and drove it daily as my only transport for some five years, in addition to several journeys of three or four hundred miles. It probably would do 80 to 90 mph and had thrilling acceleration on its three useable gears, first being completely redundant. The gear change was tricky at first, but soon mastered, aided by a clutch stop. The exhaust gave a rich and melodious sound, gratifyingly increasing the sensation of speed. I sold the Silver Eagle to raise some money when my wife Margaret and I were married in 1963.
Thirty years later, back in the UK, and being a bit more affluent, I bought the makings of a 1.5 litre Type 37 Bugatti. The parts had been acquired over many years by a life-long Bugatti specialist. Before he could build the car he became too infirm even to begin the job. Some major parts like the crankshaft and diff were missing and that marvellous firm Brineton Engineering made them. The rebuild took five years, at a total cost of less than £40,000. I drove the Type 37 for twenty years, with complete reliability and much excitement.
As age advanced and car components seemed to be heavier than before, I resumed an interest in motorcycles. Then eyesight began to deteriorate and DVLA withdrew my licence, so I sold the T37. One of my earliest motorcycles, in South Africa, had been a Scott. I began a series of Scott restorations, the current one being an early (1927) Flying Squirrel. Most of them have been in bits or immobile for decades. They are beautifully made, beautiful in appearance and a delight to work on. Importantly, I can handle all the parts myself. Some people even regard them as ‘Two-wheeled Bugattis.’
Return to the UK
Following Paul Devitt’s ownership, the car passed through a number of hands in South Africa, until in 2000 it was reimported into the UK, photographs from this period revealing its abbreviated pointed tailed 2-seater body and the striking colour scheme of grey and blue.
The car was sold via Mathewsons in North Yorkshire in 2022, and is now believed to be with an owner in Cumbria.
Greg Wrapson, Historian – The Alvis Register
9th January 2025
Alvis Archive 