So much to do, the garage to be decorated and a nice present to be sourced for the occupant(s) of the garage.

With the usual whirl around Christmas preparations, the world of Fourteens continues apace with new information and items of interest (to most of us) continuing to surface.

Recently we were approached by a lady with items of interest. Now available to the first owner of a Fourteen to come forward! You may think ‘what on Earth’ but in reality they are rare and rather charming.

Five spares bags used by Alvis Limited to send out items in the post to Alvis owners. These bags were probably almost always thrown away eventually but now form part of our Motoring history. It would be a shame if they were lost so if anyone would like them, no cost and p&p free please email the address below.

In any event they bring back memories of the wonderful packaging by the Alvis Spares Departmemt, perhaps you will also be reminded of the du Maurier red cigarette packets containing small items that were sent through the post. One can only surmise that these packets were highly sought after by the Spares Department being almost crush proof having contained cigarettes of appropriate quality. No items ever arrived in a Woodbine packet!

Connected to the above bags, we should like to trace the whereabouts of the TA 14 Carbodies Drophead that carried some spare parts in those bags in the late1960s/early 1970s, frightening to think that is over 50 years ago!

She is chassis 23377, GDK 922 and was last heard of residing in Abingdon, Oxfordshire around 2010. DVLA has a SORN and shows that the car is still around and is white in colour. We hope to get some photos soon from an early owner but if anyone knows her whereabouts please use email below to contact us.

It has been a month of finding photos of lost cars.

When one enters TB 14 in Search engines, somewhere near the top comes the entry on Wikipedia. Does anyone know the identity of the red TB 14? Photo taken in The Limes, Barnes London. Any clues to help identify the car would be most welcome.

Some new early photos of 3 cars have now been put up in the Galleries. The first one is the only known photo of chassis 23331 and was found due to diligent checking of a donated album supplied to our man Clive in New Zealand. Able to assist with research in that the car was exported to New Zealand privately and probably with a Presbyterian Minister. The registration AV 8166 was not as first thought from Aberdeenshire but the New Zealand registration plate given to the car. We still need to identify the original British number plate and chassis number so any information welcome.

The second car now to have a visual identity is chassis 20826, ARC 314. No trace exists of this Shooting Brake having survived and in 2023 her number plate was put on a Volkswagen. This photo came to us from the family looking their old photo album and taking the time and trouble to send the photo through. The lady is likely one of the happy children in the photo.

The third photo comes via our man in America, Wayne and shows chassis 22076, ECO 727. This intrepid Mulliners Saloon had made her way to Reno, Nevada so maybe she is tucked away somewhere and surviving. Hopefully she is not entombed in a concrete overcoat somewhere in the desert. No trace of her environmentally friendly registration exists with DVLA.

Back in the day many Alvis owners were the font of practical self help information.

In 1966, the late President Emeritus of the Alvis Owner Club, Ken Day returned home from a long trip away and became concerned that his Alvis might suffer the dreaded winter sticking clutch. This was the experience of many owners with cars that did not have the good brick or heated garages of today. Cars had to be cars in them days! The usual remedy was to start the car in gear and let the clutch out.

Another remedy however was put forward by a fellow Alvis owner to the former President Emeritus as follows.

‘ connect a large tractor to Alvis with locked clutch, put car into second or third gear and pull-start car; then cast off tractor and alternately accelerate and brake until either clutch frees or car disintegrates’! Do not try this at home!

Should the above focus the mind on the approach of winter below are the Alvis Company recommendations for winterising your Alvis including the obligatory warning to avoid the risk of mice and rats enjoying a cosy and well fed winter at the expense of your Fourteen. Now an electronic rodent clicker is a good deterrent for the furry friends, they do not like the noise.

So now the run up to Christmas is hotting up and perhaps give thought to a less hectic time.

Whilst taking a break back in 1948 what could be nicer than to pick up a copy of Country Life and take a considered view as to what your next new car purchase should be. Alvis would be one of the makes that had a strong following before the war and was to be considered. Life was getting back to normal after the war and a new car was confirmation of back to life as it had been known. There was still the consideration of soft top or hard top but the numbers produced show the prevalence of a hard top for the TA 14 market.

This Article would have been studied carefully to help with the decision making process.

The above would have perhaps reinforced an earlier visit to the 1948 London Motor Show, the first after the war.

Many of us are familiar with the Pathe News film of the show including Norma Raffles demonstrating the TB 14 Cocktail shaker. Whilst of interest the buyers would have wished to see the ‘mainstream’ Alvis cars on offer and be looking to see them up close and discuss with the sales team. Also at the show were the BBC outside broadcast team and for those who could not make the show their film gave a good review of the cars on offer.

So enter the Tardis and back to 2024, what to suggest for a Christmas present for the Alvis enthusiast who has absolutely everything.

In addition to various items of clothing as described in the past one can now add a further item to the sartorial elegance of being top to toe in Alvis.

These boots come in various colours and whilst not the best for double declutching from 2nd to 1st do complete the Alvis wardrobe.

Search Alvis boots on the internet to acquire, many sites offer them for under £100, ladies or gents to wear with trousers or skirts.

A surprising newcomer to the Alvis Christmas present market comes with a browse on the Etsy website. Put in Etsy Alvis and quite a lot comes up much of which can be personalised. Metal signs and posters are particularly popular and the posters for framing can be very striking as this example for a yellow Ford shows. Pictures of your car can be customised into very striking modern Art.

There is even the opportunity to snuggle up under the iconic brand name.

Should something a little larger be on Santa’s list there are still 2 TA 14 Saloons available with superb provenance and a rare opportunity to acquire well maintained Saloons. They have been mentioned in previous Posts and are the red Mulliners, HHP 703, chassis 22464 and Black one off Raine, KPT 873, chassis 21865. Contact email address below for further details. When they are gone they are gone!

A further car with top rate provenance is definitely not for sale. Many will recall ‘Ron Buck’s car ARB 14. Now sporting her original numberplate PRF 865 is happily living in North Yorkshire and still looking superb. A recent photo of her engine shows standards are being maintained and setting an example to us all. Memo to self put polish on Christmas List.

Ron gave us an insight into the origins of his polishing enthusiasm and it reminds us that standards were standards in those days.

Tomorrow is the first day of winter, the first day of Advent. As the year draws to a close time to focus on the past year. The theme song of the Return of the Likely Lads gives pause for reflection.

‘Tomorrow’s almost over, today went by so fast, It’s the only thing to look forward to, the past’.

But, but, but, we can reflect for December as the night’s shorten and then we are on the up ready for another year of Alvis TA and TB 14s. Amongst other things as we shall enter the second quarter of the 21st Century. Before we know it we shall be entering 2026 and the 80th Anniversary of production of the TA 14

So finally from Eileen, Terry and of course ‘Aunty May’, chassis 21830, we wish one and all the Very Best for Christmas 2024 and thank you for reading these Posts. As our French friends would say.

Joyeux Noel!!!

eileen4ta.tb14s@ rocketmail.com