A very successful weekend was held by the Alvis Owner Club and Fourteens were honoured for their 80th Anniversary. In all 8 Fourteens participated in the weekend and many more sent their owners as representatives.

Fortunately the heat was not a major problem and Alvis cars were able to attend and participate in their chosen events.

Travelling to the event from the South involved the usual shutting of the M25, fortunately wise Alvis cars avoided that Motorway like the plague. Occupants of modern cars were not so fortunate and enjoyed up to eight hours of travel time! Incuding yours truly.

With a very full and varied programme one of the highlights on Saturday was a cavalcade of 14s and 21s running up and around the front of the hotel. Much waving and tooting and a very good audience enjoying the cool shade. One of the more unusual cars in the parade was the very attractive Special, chassis 20628, LPF 914 owned by Chris. Originally a Gaze Shooting Brake she was refitted with a very nice Special body and looked splendid as she came up the hill to the hotel.

Another fine Special came over from the Netherlands and attended on the Friday afternoon to Sunday morning. Chassis 23761, originally MWE 465, now DZ 08 94 she was reborn from the running chassis remains of a Mulliners TA 14. Rarely seen on British roads she was a very welcome attendee with her owner Dave and his daughter Rachel. See 3L3 below for his other car

Another highlight of Saturday’s programme was the fascinating talk given by the owner of 3L3. The last remaining car of the 3 prototypes her owner is restoring her to her former glory and the talk explained her importance in Alvis car production and the progress of her restoration. Frightening to think that she was close to being chopped up to become a Special. Currently away in the Czech Republic awaiting her glossy new Black paintwork, the restoration is coming on apace.

Saturday evening the Gala Dinner had a good display of 50s outfits and perhaps a few favouring the final days of the 1940s. Charity shops are an unbelievable source of vintage clothing at very reasonable prices so easy to get the look to match your car. No photos of the Dinner to protect the innocent!

Sunday was the main event in the field at the hotel. A line up of 6 Proud Fourteens gleamed in the sunshine in front of their successors, the TA 21s who were being honoured for their 75th Anniversary. The line up included Mulliners Saloon, Carbodies Dhc., Duncan fixed head coupe and a Tickford belonging to one of the newest owners.

With the rising heat some had decided a cool garage was a better bet and stayed at home but the above attendees flew the flag for our Model.

One unexpected attendee was the attractive TB 14, chassis 23574, OFO 952. She was a show stopper with her gleaming red paint and ivory trim.

She had gone up for sale the previous week with classicandsportscar.ltd.uk and sold immediately to a French car collector. Those with long memories may remember her as OPO 952 and she was restored in the 1960s by the well known Alvis enthusiast and fettler, Rod Jolley. Off to France soon she was the only TB 14 who made the event.

For those wanting to carry out a project for themselves there is a green TB 14 looking for a new home and the price guide from the owner is £24-26k for a solid runner that can be recommissioned or restored as the new owner sees fit. The car also comes with numerous spares. Contact me and I can put you in touch with the seller, no commission involved!

A second talk, relevant to both Fourteen and Twenty One owners, was given by the TA/TB Technical Advisor Colin. With standing room only Colin gave wide ranging practical advice on running our cars in the modern age. His tips using his wealth of experience were very well received and noted by the audience. As a young g man Colin was working behind the dashboard and his metal watch strap fused to a bolt, useful recommendation for a battery isolating switch! Finally several prompts had to be given to bring matters to a close so that we could get to the ceremonial cake cutting and consumption of the ‘75th Anniversary of the AOC’ cake.

One interesting item is that the 50th Anniversary Compendium is available in A4 size. The original 50th and 70th were A5 for the glove box. £25 from the AOC, stocks are finite. It is a much better size for referencing and browsing.

Several spares were available to be snapped up on the day and some remain for sale. The Alvis Archive Trust has a set of TA 14 horns, horn rims and horn gauze for sale, proceeds to the Trust. A gentleman who used to own chassis 22208 still has some spares for sale including mint oversized pistons, for re sleeved engines. A full list of the remaining spares will be published shortly. On the topic of spares, a new Tickford owner seeks a jack appropriate for chassis 21571. As always contact details at end. Whilst writing wise words from 1994 by former Chairman and TA/TB 14 Technical Advisor John are a useful safety prompt. ALWAYS USE A TROLLEY JACK.

The TA 14 attendees covered a wide range of bodywork styles. Sadly no Woodies attended and we are still looking for one to feature in an Article for a Motoring magazine with a Lea Francis Woodie. The requirement is for the car to be photographed and ‘interviewed’ in August in the Cotswolds, contact me to be put in touch with the journalist.

With the event over there will be a further opportunity to celebrate the 80th Anniversary on the 14th November 1926. The date is when the 3 Dealers came to collect the first 3 production Mulliners Saloons. This will not involve any travel and can be supported by all Fourteen owners and their cars. Details to come!

For any enquiries relating to the above, contact eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com and I’ll try and put you in touch.