Alvis Fourteen

Long before the name of Alvis was a gleam in T.G. John’s eye, the world of British Motor Racing was born.
Probably if the question was asked in a Pub Quiz, many would submit the name of Brooklands but they would be wrong.
In May 1902, cars hurtled along the Bicycle Boulevard, De La Warr Parade at of all places Bexhill upon Sea.
The 8th Earl De La Warr, Chairman of Dunlop had got together with the RAC’s predecessor organization and thousands attended the event with over 200 entries.
Cars hurtled down the straight in time trials and even more terrifying would have been the sight of 2 cars racing side by side, some 8/9 litre Leviathans. The age was also somewhat before ‘Health and Safety!
Another first was achieved by the first French Motor Racing Victory on British Soil, no doubt doing little for entente cordiale!
Earl De La Warr had plans to develop a large race track outside the town but the plans came to nought. Motor Racing moved to Brooklands in 1907.
The RAC approved the designation of Bexhill as the home of British Motor Racing after extensive research by Brian Hazell. For further reading, Google Bexhill Motor Racing and there are some lovely photos of the event courtesy of Alastair Hazell.
So when musing over the exploits of the TA 14 Racing Car at Le Mans, remember, the link goes back to Bexhill on Sea.
More next month.

Fourteens were exported all over the world when they were new but only one had the honour of being the one exported to Finland.
More next month.

As a postscript to the reemerging of the Carbodies Drophead in India, an AOC Member recalled seeing the car in India in 1969 and talking to the previous owner and next month there will be photos to prove it!

OPU 438, chassis 22302, Tickford Dhc., mentioned last month has been snapped up and we look forward to seeing her with her new owner.

The bargain complete Tickford for sale for £6000 has also been snapped up and moved to Wales.

The mostly restored TB 14 has also sold but for anyone who missed her, there is a running and part restored one in Germany that could be available to discuss with seriously interested parties.

A very interesting Utility, Coachbuilder unknown, is soon going to come up for sale, chassis 21954, CRS 788.
Formerly owned by the late Tom Poole, it is believed to be the only car he ever sold. A gentleman was over from Tennessee some years ago buying up Morgan spare parts to take them back to the USA. He needed a car to collect up the spares and ship them. He bought this car and duly shipped the spares back. She (Tilly) then passed through the hands of several owners before returning to the U.K. Must have had some interesting experiences.
She is a very attractive and unusual Utility with a narrow back and predominance of glass, absolutely oozing 1940s style, a real headturner. Photos will be be available on Gallery 1 very shortly. She is a complete running car but would benefit from some more restoration.

The gentleman looking for a TA 14, as mentioned last month, has been beguiled by a 3 litre and acquired the next Model on, a Tickford TA 21, next best thing to a Fourteen! There is a very interesting Article in AOC Bulletin 398 showing the development of the TA 21 from the TA 14.

For those who wish to expand their stable into 3 litres there is a very nice one that has just now become available. SNW 9, Chassis 25100 is the first of the 100 series and is described as being ‘surprisingly quick’ and similar in performance to a TC 21. I can send photos and put you in touch should you want to talk with the owner.

The Alvis Archive Trust is now actively seeking material for it’s new premises, details on the main site, alvisarchive.com. Should you have interesting Memorabilia make contact with them to see if it is of interest. The Trustees are working to transfer material and it should soon become a very interesting place to visit.
For those who have not bought the disc or stick of all the old Bulletins and programmes up until recent times now is the time to do so. For an Alvis Owner Club Member you can receive the disc for a minimum donation of £25 or otherwise £50 to become a Friend of the Archive Trust. Your computer must be capable of reading a dual layer DVD, otherwise a USB memory stick can be supplied instead for an extra £10. You can use the index on this site. Also Adobe reader (free download) enables you to read the contents and search for specific items using shift+ctrl+F. Can take about an hour. Well that’s it for the tech bit!

A Jack Hawkins film features a Tickford with the number plate LPL 271. This plate is not known to us but could have been put on the car for filming. Unfortunately the film has been taken off the ‘you tube’ site as posting it up had infringed copyright. Will be interesting to see the film when located else where. The name is ‘She played with Fire’ but also called ‘Fortune is a Woman’.

Another potential Pub Quiz question would be how many Alvis Cars are estimated to still exist? See the end for the answer, maybe more than you think and they are still emerging.

Out of the blue we have information relating to a Mulliners TA 14 that had disappeared from sight nearly 70 years ago. The car is chassis 23722 and has the unusual numberplate of FF 7788, not transferable. 7788 is a good Poker hand. Evidently the car was owned by a professional gambler who arranged a garage for the car and paid the first month’s rent. He then disappeared over 30 years ago. Not Lord Lucan as far as we know. The car was last taxed in 1973. The car is in pieces and in very urgent need of a new home.

Next time you look at your sump or spare sump, see if there is a counter take off point on the nearside adjacent to the oil pump. Should you find this on a TA 14 then you have one that was made for a TB 14 that may be sought after by the owner’s of TB 14s and be somewhat more valuable.

When Factory Records were completed for our cars, many of them, including Carbodies and Mulliners showed the body number given by the Coachbuilders. Unfortunately this was not done for most of the other cars including Tickfords. We are trying to fill in as many blanks as we can so if you have a Tickford please check the body number and let me know. It will be a 4 digit number starting with 2. There is an even bigger complication in that the body numbers did not run sequentially just for Alvis but were mixed up with the other cars bodied by Tickford. The numbers were stamped on the rear of the original pram irons, written on the wood behind the dashboard and also on the back of each piece of wood trim. When checking the wooden trim pieces it is important to check two pieces of wood at least as there are instances where the wrong piece of trim was used, for whatever reason, all those years ago. Well it beats train spotting!

Fewer people fettle their own cars these days to the degree that it was done years ago. Many of our spares can be quite expensive so a description of exhaust system fettling has been quite inspirational. The recent action report below, with the permission of the author, is unedited to ensure the full experience is conveyed!

‘Adapting Toyota Yaris downpipe and front silencer box into Alvis TA14 second silencer box and tailpipe

I got the exhaust parts from EU Car parts and Exhaust Distributors (Cambridge Branch).
The part number is TY617.
It is a Yaris 13VVTI 16V HB 5/02-12/05
(All the above figures and part numbers taken from the sales invoice.)

So that’s The Ingredients…..
The Method involves two blokes, a fair amount of standing about and some head scratching.

(Tea may be drunk throughout…….)

First, measure carefully.

Twice.

Offering up the new part to the existing old part which has been hung back on the car gives the best clue as to where to make the first cut.

You need to cut off the Yaris manifold flange and the curved part of the downpipe (some 4 – 6 inches…. this may vary from car to car….) and throw it over your shoulder into the long grass.

Now get a socket of appropriate size and, using some percussion engineering, (put the socket in the pipe and hit it several times very hard with a hammer), spread the short end of tube the other side of the silencer box to which you have just made the cut to accept a joining piece that will go inside the new section and inside the old section (still sound on my car…… if you need a full system, then more research and experimental work is required.)

It’s handy to have some straight tube of the right dimensions in stock.

If you don’t, either go and beg a bit from the scrap bins at your friendly local Exhaust fitters (it’s amazing how helpful some people are when what you are trying to do is explained thoroughly and politely….), or go to a steel stockholder and see what they can do (interior and exterior measurements essential so add ‘vernier caliper’ to the tool roll if you can’t face turning up with the various bits and stuffing bits of pipe on until you find one that fits……)

You now need a lot of heat. a strong, firmly mounted bench vice and a long lever.

We used a Bernzomatic gas torch for heat and, with the new part firmly held in a Record Fitter’s Vice, heated the appropriate bends up to cherry red, then levered the exhaust to where we thought it ought to be by stuffing a four foot trolley jack handle down it and tweaking gently.

This was done in two stages, with different bends getting the treatment each time.

Drink tea for a while at this point: The modified part will now be at the “effin’ ‘ot” end of the temperature spectrum and should be left to cool until safe to handle.

Here, a combination of luck and skill (the reader can supply their own ratios here…..) resulted in us getting it to line up perfectly when offered up to the car first go!

It doesn’t need that much!

The tailpipe was then fabricated from a length of straight stainless tube that we had been keeping because “it would come in useful one day”.

If you don’t have any of this, then refer back to previous comments regarding scrap bins and stockholders.

Two things to bear in mind: you will need to cut 3-4 inches off the pipe exiting the first silencer box on the TA14 side of the system to bring the Yaris silencer box away from the rear axle/diff. You will need to insert a joining piece here too.

Make your own measurements and line it all up carefully by sight , comparing it with the original back box and tailpipe, before cutting anything…..

Also we used pipe of closely fitting interior and exterior diameters throughout,, so when bolted up using exhaust clamps and a healthy dose of silicon sealer on all slip joints, it was gas tight when we ran the engine.

So it can be done…..

If attempting this yourself, remember this is just a guide: you will need to make your own measurements as no two TA14s are the same and your exhaust may have been “modified” (see also ‘bodged’ ,’buggered about’ etc ) to accept different modern parts previously.

When buying the Yaris part, I turned up at the Exhaust factors with the TA14 bit under my arm on a quiet Saturday afternoon. (Crucial this – go when they’re rushed off their feet with Trade enquiries and you’re bound to get very short shrift indeed…..) and wandered around the warehouse with the guy until we found a section that looked like it might fit, as indeed it did.

Use the Yaris part number as a starting point but be prepared to adapt and improvise.

If you think this all seems like a lot of hard work, then consider that a well known and respected bespoke exhaust supplier quoted me £700 plus Vat at 20% and carriage for a full TA14 system in stainless.

A whisker under £50 to get FFU 297 MOT-worthy in the exhaust department plus a day’s worth of sodding about seemed a good deal.

It’s all part of the fun!’

For more descriptions of the restoration project of chassis 22814 use a search engine to go to WB Pippin Alvis and read much more. The highs and lows of the restoration.

Finally as we enjoy the delights of the summer with our cars the following puts into words the enjoyment of Fourteen ownership, in this case a Fourteen Special that you may see on the Liskeard Peninsula having fun roaring around the country roads.

My jolly Alvis

You can reckon on an Alvis to be a jolly car
There are many other lesser makes that never get that far,
I’ve had my jolly Alvis for more that I can say
I had had hair, and younger, when it bore the light of day.
You could say it was my hobby, to keep it on the road,
But people in my village now, just think of me as Toad.

My Alvis is a special, and Alvis through and through
It’s only made of Alvis bits as only Alvis do,
It’s open and it’s airey , as specials tend to be,
It’s practical and cheerful and all designed by me.
I’m sure Mr Johns would like it, if he could take the wheel,
Solid engineering quality, that comes out in the feel.

For years it’s been our family hack, and taken kids to school,
Many trials and competitions and casual is the rule,
We call her Aunty Alvis, she’s always been around,
Pulling trailers full of muck or seaweed, logs, boats or anything else we’ve found,
A sunny day with her ears pricked, we’ll speed the lanes for miles,
Then return to her stable, with the driver full of smiles.

I wrestle as we all do, with the mounting cost of spares,
Some R.T. bits are such a price they bring me more grey hairs,
But Alvises are strongly made, and go from year to year,
No wonder they make tanks now , and other battle gear !
‘Running Restoration’ is the trendy catch these days,
We put things off, but lots to do in many different ways.

I use old Aunty Alvis as often as I can,
It helps to keep things going,… and not going down the pan !
The trouble is the driver is getting older too –
Modern traffic is a nightmare, not like when the car was new,
I wave my arms at junctions, but no-one seems to care,
They think, ‘ Oh silly bugger’, and all they do is stare !

I’ve been a member of our club since 1972,
The Bulletin and Pink’un I always read right through.
We gather now on SWAD. Days, to meet our friends and chat,
Swop stories and experiences and…. acting like a prat !
We all uphold the Alvis make and honour Alvis gear….
Then drive off homeward with a smile, until another year.

Rob Moor

The answer to the question above. It is believed to be 4791. Do you know where 4792 is?

eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

The picture of the Woodie last month has created considerable interest.
The location has been identified as being next to the ‘Coat of Arms Bridge’, Stivichall, Coventry, Warwickshire. For those who wish to visit, the Postcode is CV3 6PY. Maybe you recognize the car and she can go back? She may well have had the publicity photo taken before or after she was checked for her Guarantee.
Should you visit Coventry you could take a look at ‘Alvis House’, Manor House, Drive in the City Centre, what an address.

Look after your original style TA 14 Driver’s Manual. An original is currently advertised for £140. For those needing a replacement or spare, copies can be purchased from Red Triangle, parts@redtriangle.co.uk

The news that The Alvis Car Company is offering to build another continuation Model on the lines of the 1966 Graber bodied TF 21 is news that has been most interesting. No sign of the offer relating to TA/TB 14s but no doubt if you win the lottery they might be persuaded if there are any unused chassis numbers.

The 2 Fourteens, Carbodies, chassis 22094 and Mulliners, chassis 21076, both owned by the late Geoff Stobart, have found new homes, following their Auction on the General Election Day. Unsurprisingly this news was overshadowed in the National News. The Carbodies Drophead, with the delightful name of Persephone, (The Greek Goddess of Spring), sold for £5500 plus 10%. The Mulliners Saloon, with the interesting description that you would not be worried about parking in the Supermarket Car Park, sold for £4070 plus 10%. As far as is known the latter does not bear the name Persephone’s husband Hades!

For those looking for a Special with not too much work to be done to finish off, Car and Classic is showing one that has recently become available. The advert says most of the hard work has been done and the price asked is only £68 000.

Tickfords are now coming along like buses! Once almost Hens’ teeth,  on Car and Classic several are Tickfords so never a better time.
One interesting Tickford for sale is the well known car OPU 438, chassis 22302, once in the long term ownership of the Deputy Chairman of the Alvis Owner Club.

I have a prospective purchaser seeking to acquire a good running Tickford so contact me should you be thinking of passing your Tickford TA 14 onto a good new home. TA 21 & TC 21s would also be considered.

On the main Alvis Archive Trust site, alvisarchive.com there is the information about the 20th Anniversary of the revived Tickford Owners Club in Coventry on the 23rd July. Tickford bodied Alvis would be made most welcome.

A Carbodies is coming on the market soon and sounds very nice. Likely price to be in the region of £20 000.

It is possible that a Knibbs bodied car may be coming up for sale in Cornwall in the near future together with a quantity of Spares. The car requires restoration but is only 1 of 2 Knibbs bodied cars known to be left so a very attractive project.

For those not contemplating buying one of the above a model might be tempting. Whilst there seem to be plenty of Duncan Models for sale, not so many Saloons and Dropheads and the prices are creeping up. About £120 quoted for Mulliners in a choice of colours. Use a search Engine such as Google and you will see that some J &M models are currently available for 1/2 price.

We are still trying to track down 2 Tickfords, probably still in Western Europe. They are chassis 22301, now 42 A 86 and 23160 1 0AI 882 so should be grateful if anyone knows their current whereabouts?

When one has one’s Fourteen tucked up in the Garage it is important to keep the surroundings up to scratch
A product ‘Wet and Forget’ seems to get very good press, good enough for super yachts and designed to do away with Mould and keep it away. Useful on drives but can also be used on hoods and tonneau covers. Must be kept away from Decals.

Excellent to be able to get updates on 2 cars that were out of action. Chassis 22614 is now in a Cornish Garage and was once owned by a prominent Cornish Business Man, Simon Hendra. The name may ring a bell as his son  is the youngest ever Antique Specialist on The Antiques Roadshow. Whilst researching that car, a ‘thread’ took me to the poignant story about ‘Walnut’ the Whippet who single pawed rejuvenated the Newquay tourist industry. Walnut’s owner put out an online request for people and their dogs to be out on Newquay Beach for Walnut’s last walk. Needless to say it went viral with Media interest from all over the world and plenty of friends for Walnut’s last beach walk. Nothing to do with Alvis but Google for the full story and defy anyone not to have a lump in their throat.

Sadly must report that long term Alvis Owner, Tom Poole passed away recently and his funeral service has taken place. 
Tom owned a Tickford, chassis 22204, that is being rejuvenated. 
He owned several types of Alvis including a smooth-sided TA 14 Estate by an unknown Coachbuilder. An American was over here collecting Morgan Spares and needed a vehicle to take them back to the States. She returned in 1995 and is now living in Berkshire. According to Tom this was the only car he ever sold.
Tom was also well known for his popular East Anglian Jazz Days.
We have lost a character and our thoughts and condolences go to his daughters, Alison- and Joanna who is in a long term coma following a motor accident last year.

Before the June Post we shall know the identity of the next Government of Great Britain. One lesser known fact relating to June 8th is that hopefully 2 TA 14s will have found new homes on that Day. The Dorset Auction House DVCA, email Brian Chant at brc@dvca.co.uk for details, has 2 for Auction at very competitive guide prices particularly for the Carbodies Drophead. Both cars have been with their former owner in Cornwall for the majority of their lives but sadly they must now move on.
Mulliners Saloon, chassis 21046 is declared as a 1947 car. She has the engine from chassis 20710 and a declared mileage of 70031, that may of course be around the clock. She was with the late Geoff Stobart in Cornwall since 1958, almost 60 years so lovely if she can find a kind new home. Many cars in such long ownership tend to remain quite original. Her Guide price is £4000-£5000. Plenty of photos on the Auction House site.

The second TA 14 for sale on June 8th is the pale green Carbodies Drophead Coupe that also belonged to Geoff Stobart. Geoff and Joan were stalwarts of the West Country Section of the Alvis Owner Club. The Edgecumbe Arms, Milton Abbott and even the legendary Jamaica Inn were graced by the Stobart TA 14s. Geoff was a Member of The Alvis Owner Club since the early 1960s and owned this car since 1962. His obituary was printed in the March/April 2017 AOC Bulletin No. 564. Very sadly Joan his widow recently passed away at the age of 93.
Geoff’s Carbodies, chassis 22094, engine 23318, has a declared mileage of 78871 but again that may be around the clock. The guide price of £5000/£6000 seems very competitive and a good opportunity to acquire a good Fourteen Drophead to restore. For those who appreciate American cars, Geoff’s red 1964 Cadillac convertible is also for sale at the same Auction.

The details of the Auction were sent from England to an Alvis owner in New Zealand who very kindly forwarded them on. The global Internet can be brilliant for the old car world.

Another example of global assistance comes in the form of the search for a Tickford Drophead. The search has come from the owner of the car in the 1960s and initially our records drew a blank on the numberplate KLE 746. With the assistance of the Archive Trust Motoring Historian the chassis number 22301 was identified and then our American Alvis Guru confirmed the 2014 advert for sale to save waiting for a visit home. So now if you own, or know of the whereabouts of 42 A 86 please get in touch otherwise the search will be ongoing in June. The good news for the former owner is that the car was offered for sale in 2014 for 60 000 dollars and appears to be in very good condition. She is 2 tone red and cream with tan hood and interior.

I was going to report on the availability of a very tidy Mulliners  but she has been snapped up before being advertised and went off to a new life in Scotland. There has been bit of a dearth of Fourteens coming onto the market recently but now there is quite a choice for prospective owners.

Car and Classic has a new entry for the Auction of a nice looking Carbodies on the 2nd June, chassis 22830, JPW 835. Guide price is £15/17k plus of course buyer’s premium at 15%.

Added to the above Car and Classic is advertising a Tickford for sale that has been stored in a dry garage since 1973 and with the same family since the 1960s. With only about 77 made at about £6k this is a great opportunity to acquire a restoration project.

It really is a good time to buy a Drophead at the moment.

Finally not to forget the Mulliners Saloon that has been part restored in Sweden near Stockholm to a really high standard. Price is negotiable and the only sea crossing necessary to bring her back is across the Channel, the rest of the trip from West of Stockholm is on very good roads.

A visit to The Herbert Museum in Coventry produced some interesting and useful information. Unfortunately the Museum is currently very short staffed and anyone wishing to carry out research may have to wait until staff numbers increase. The TA 14/TB 14 box file had gone missing but hopefully will be found in due course.

There was a fascinating map showing the Luftwaffe’s bombing plan for Coventry. It is later than the Coventry Blitz on the night of the 14th/15th of Coventry when one Alvis Factory was obliterated and the Cathedral almost destroyed. Copies of the full size map can be purchased from The Herbert Museum Coventry.

Main factory aerial view

Location of factory

The later box file for the TA 21 had some TA 14 photos misfiled and one lovely professional photo of a Woodie is below, who is she?

Not content with voyaging to Uruguay to deliver the Nave Plate, our intrepid enthusiast is now in possession of the 2 headlamp rings and glasses ready for his next trip out. Members of the AOC should by now have enjoyed his Article about his first trip in the latest AOC Bulletin, May/June 2017, Bulletin 565.

There is no stopping the global village of Fourteens.
The latest copy of The Alvis Owner Club Bulletin shows a new Member joining from India with a Carbodies Drophead. Chassis 22987 was indeed exported to India in 1949 and has survived looking pretty good to this day, see her on Gallery 2. Can you imagine driving around Mumbai in a TA 14?
Her current owner, since 1971, knows her history from 1956 and it is believed that her original owner may have been a Bollywood Star.
Another theory is the following:

Two TB 14s were exported to Mandinalla Motor Car Company of Karachi.
Mandinalla is also sometimes represented as Mandi Nalla a province of Bhopal 1934 the Rajah of Bhopal took delivery of a late SB Vanden Plas SB Speed 20 Drophead Alvis, chassis 11856, never U.K. Registered as far as we know. Is it possible he liked it so much he purchased a new Alvis Drophead after the war? Maybe a friend saw the car and decided to buy a new Alvis, more research to do.

For those who don’t rate TA 14 Specials as desirable cars, a recent trip in a 4 seater Special around the winding roads of Cornwall demonstrated just how much fun they can be. This one was constructed from the base of a Mulliners Saloon over 40 years ago and has preserved much of the car that would have been long gone otherwise. With the usual adaptation to twin carbs and improved back axle the car was very spirited but retained that unique Fourteen sound.

Plenty of Spares still remain to be inspected and purchased in Norfolk from the TA 14 Technical Advisor, details in The AOC Bulletin or send me an email. Also there may be a cache of Fourteen Spares becoming available in Cornwall.

Finally go to the main Alvis Archive site on alvisarchive.com to see 2 items of interest to us all:

The Trust has signed a lease for accommodation at Bowcliffe Hall, between Leeds & York. This will allow for Alvis Memorabilia etc. to be stored in one place. Later this year, by prior appointment this collection may be visited.

The Trust has applied for Charitable Status.

eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

As our cars look to venture forth, many just on Sunny days for short jaunts, twas not ever thus.

The 1954-55 AOC Membership Year Book declares a time when Fourteens were out mixing it with the best!

On the 7th/8th May 1955 ‘A Night Rally was held. The Bentley Drivers Club and The Lagonda Club were invited and 17 cars took part. The weather was terrible for most of the night but even so it was a most enjoyable ‘do’. The start was from the Hodder Bridge Hotel near Clitheroe following a route of about 150 miles through the Lake District and back to the Hodder Bridge Hotel for Breakfast. Out of this group of fine motor cars a certain Mr H.P. Allen came 3rd in his TB 14, chassis 23517, NHT 11. 4th was a Bentley and 5th a Speed 20- shame. Sadly we have no idea what happened to the TB 14, Mr Allen moved on to a TC 21/100 after a few years and then left the Alvis Owner Club in the 1960s.

  Arthur Varney’s registration of an Austin 1200 might have had something to do with Alex Issigonis at Alvis.  After he designed the Morris Minor he had a spell at Alvis and designed a car with a  2.5 litre V8 engine.  A prototype was built, if OJO 697 was registered around the same period, and if Austin and Morris had joined forces by that time, then it just might be a lead worth following? the following has the best provenance possible from a Senior Alvis Executive.

 ‘On the day that the Austin (or Morris) 1100 was announced, there was a flurry of activity at Alvis, with orders for the maintenance department to completely destroy the prototype car.   (One of the apprentices wanted to liberate a completely standard Laycock overdrive unit on the vehicle, but that too was cut in half with a blow torch.  It was he that told me the story, which must have happened in 1962 or 1963.)  Apparently when Issigonis left Alvis he took with him some intellectual property rights and Alvis should have destroyed the car at that time.  I understand that the interconnected suspension on the 1100 (which was announced with a great fanfare, as an amazing innovation) was included in the Alvis prototype.  A very large roll of drawings (always referred to as “Issigonis”) survived well into the 1980s, in the corner of Alan Russell’s office, when he was a Chief Designer and a V8 cylinder block lurked in the basement some time after 1970.’

As the Fourteen related indexing of old Bulletins continues slowly but surely the indices will soon be updated and there is more useful information that you can put your hands on via old Bulletins, either paper or electronic, see Articles Index. A reminder to those who still do not have access to this wealth of informed knowledge is that for the modest sum of about £30 it can still be acquired in stick or disc form. Go to the main Alvis Archive Trust site alvisarchive.com for details. As a postscript, in Bulletin 403, you can find an index to technical Articles written between May 1978 and April 1992. Many may not relate specifically to Fourteens but may cover similar topics to those where information is required and not immediately sourced by reference to the Fourteen Articles schedule.

 For those with a Special interest in the Mulliners Saloon the Article on pages 12-16 of Bulletin 401, April 1992 makes fascinating reading. Written by a gentleman who joined the drawing office there in July 1946 he takes you back through the early design origins of the Mulliners TA 14 body as he was told by those who were there at the time. He follows with his own experiences.

The car design below is his entry for an International Competition organized by the British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers. He won first prize in that competition for his 1948 design for a Saloon body for a TA 14 chassis. Very interesting to look at how he modernized the design but not sure about the radiator although the TB 14 prototype without the Alvis radiator was around then. Does anyone fancy putting it on a spare Fourteen chassis?

Despite not putting the design into production he did design the Estate bodies  for Riverlee of Birmingham in 1948/1949.

  Despite the above the very first car on our chassis run was 23500 with a Charlesworth body from Charlesworth Bodies (1931) Ltd., Coachbuilders of Much Park Street, Coventry. Sadly on the 14th November 1940 it was oil bombed along with the Radcliffe Daimler Works and Coventry Cathedral. It goes without saying that was also the night The Alvis was also hit. The drawings below give a flavour of the Charlesworth site as it was before obliteration.

 Sometimes some of us might just be accused of being a little anthropomorphic but yes a family tree does exist for our cars.

Whilst there is a lot in common with the dignified Crested Eagle, our descent shows us following the lineage from the Silver Eagle through the 12/70 and onto the TA 14. Thereafter all the three litres lead through this line.

 For those seeking a Drophead now that Spring is here there is a smart one for sale with Kranz Old Timer in Germany. She is chassis 23249, original English registration was KYX 743, now 26-PT-01. Looks like the car has been restored and is two tone black and white with blue trim and black hood. The seats are not trimmed as Tickford and it is not easy to see whether the hood is lined. The back window is certainly wrong. Go to http://www.oldtimerservice.kranz.de to see more information and photos. The asking price asked is 52500 euros, the boys and girls are going up in price.

 They also have chassis 22069 ex Mulliners Saloon and now a Special. She was originally GFS 878, also KSL 410 and now GEL TA 14H.

She was for sale last year on EBay. Current asking price 20000 Euros. Shame I still have 2 people looking for Mulliners Saloons!

 For those contemplating a car purchase the following words by John Ruskin may give guidance.

 ‘it’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s unwise to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money. That is all.

When you pay too little you sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing you bought it to do.

The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and obtaining a lot. It cannot be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run.

And if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.’

Wise words from the 19 Century.

 Another ‘Celebrity’ TA 14 owner is highlighted in an Article in Bulletin 410, 1993 by John Price Williams.

Frank Wootton OBE has been described as possibly the finest aviation Artist ever and he was also a designer for Alvis on fighting vehicles.

His brother was the manager at Caffyns of Eastbourne, this may have influenced the choice of car but more likely he was sold by the quality.

The Mulliners Saloon was chassis 23126, a Mulliners Saloon, body no. M1345, registration EPM 474.

John writes:

 ‘On one of the occasions on which Mr Wootton was asked by Rolls- Royce to picture a car for their brochure, he made an unusual suggestion. Rather than be paid for the commission, he told them. ‘I’ll paint your Rolls if you paint my Alvis’.

The Rolls was brought down to Sussex and the Fourteen taken back to Crewe. It returned with an immaculate finish. Has it stood the test of time?

To answer that we sadly have no record of the car since Mr Wootton’s ownership. Does she lie gleaming in some darkened garage?

 ‘Alvis-The PostWar Cars’ by John Price Williams is a highly recommended addition to the bookcase of any Alvis enthusiast.

 Anyone already in Oz or contemplating a trip down under will have another great tourist attraction to add to their list. The recently opened Gosford Classic Car Museum in Queensland is described as one of the top 5 Motor Museums in the world. It is the largest private car collection in the world. It also houses ‘Marilyn’, no not that one! The beautiful pale blue TB 14, chassis 23509, has been recently restored and now she ‘is a highlight in the Museum’. Whose a Marmite Car now then? The Museum houses 450 cars in a former retail warehouse comprising 11 000 sq. metres. The current value is about 75 million Australian dollars. For more details of the Museum use Google or another search engine.

 Finally for those in the Alvis Owner Club there is an interesting and unusual Article coming up in a future Bulletin. A Club Member recently travelled to visit the ‘Last Alvis in Uruguay, (sounds like the title of a film) the Mulliners TA 14, chassis 21697. Needless to say they do things a little differently in Uruguay!

 eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

This Cartoon by ‘Apsley’, links a rather charming typo with a lovely Drawing from 1997, just right to bring out again for Easter. Who has not seen that look from their Fourteen!

 As the Motoring Season starts in earnest there are 2 separate enquirers each actively seeking a Fourteen Saloon. Should anyone be thinking about parting with their friend let me know and I can put you in touch.

 Those to be enticed into Alvis ownership would have had temptation put in their way at the 1947 Ostend Concours. See Publications. The Belgium TB 14 forerunner looking very stylish for the early post war years whilst the 1st Carbodies conveyed the prewar styling and solidity of the Alvis Marque. For the latter it is fitting to note that she is still going strong! It is not known whether either car participated in the record breaking Jabbeke-Aeltre standing speed test route. One for future sleuths.

The Carbodies featured above also played a prominent role in Alvis Advertising. Interesting to note the subtle changes made to the drawings as shown under Gallery 1 chassis 20599.

 For people wanting to check up on the initial history of their car, a good place to go to is The Kithead Trust, Droitwich. Many initial registration records for our cars are to be found there. Googling their name will take you to a very clear well laid out site that will take you through the research process and indicate if the Trust is able to help. For enquiries email kitheadtrust@live.co.uk and they are also a useful source of information on cars that may no longer be with us.

Regular readers may have recently noticed a new Banner headline, ‘Suppliers and Services’ on this site. This schedule from a few years ago should help with finding suppliers and specialists to help with the restoration and running of our cars. The list has been put up as is and as time permits will be checked and updated. Readers are asked to send any amendments and additions for the List. No Commercial Suppliers will be put on the List without the specific recommendation of an Alvis owner who has used the supplier. Hopefully this list will be a good starting point and our very grateful thanks to Richard Crabtree for his permission and help in publishing the list which he originally compiled in 2007.

A great opportunity to acquire spares has come up. The Alvis Owner Club, TA 14 Technical Advisor has decided the time has come to Spring Clean and part with his large quantity of TA spares in Norfolk, near Great Yarmouth. His details are in The AOC Bulletin and The Membership List. Items may be purchased individually but there is no List. Unfortunately there is no email address, only telephone no. or post.

 Whilst trying to sort out an historic possible mix up of chassis numbers a registration record shows Arthur Francis Varney of Alvis Ltd. registering an Austin 1200c.c., OJO 969. Surely only for comparison purposes!

 Whilst over 70 years on some of our senior citizens may have the odd creak, rattle and blemish, Duncan bodied chassis 20602 obviously had an unhappy owner right from the start. The 2 page letter dated 25th August 1948 from Duncan to Alvis responded  to complaints that.

1 It was extremely difficult to jack the car up due to the design of the Duncan body.

2. The chrome was rusting after only 5 months.

3. Vibration at the front end of the car and rattles.

 No doubt, after the extensive rebuild years later, the car is now free of all those problems. The letter is reproduced in full under chassis 20602, Gallery 1.

 Research into the last TA 14 in Uruguay, chassis 21697 continues and it is strange where research into one topic leads into another. It looks as though chassis 21697 was first owned by Saul Caviglia Staricco of 1210 Salt Street, Montevideo. The invaluable Google shows that he was a student of Anaesthesia before the war. It appears that some 10 years later he was a Doctor with the means to afford a new Alvis in 1948. Little could he have known that we should be carrying out research about him based on application to get the car approved and registered for the road in June 1948.

 Those who have ventured onto the Blog for Pippin and followed the ‘adventures’ of the Carbodies TA 14 may be interested to see a new picture on Gallery 2, chassis 22814. The  Drophead has forgone a respray back to her original Grey. Instead a rather fetching ‘Jaguar’ Blue from the 1960s has been used, reminiscent of the later Alvis 3 litres.

 Finally, Happy Easter to all and good luck to all those who venture out on Drive It Day, Sunday 23rd April, the Season begins.

eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

Eileen and Terry report from their travels in Ca.

Quite a lot of recent TB 14 activity recently, particularly bearing in mind that only 100 were made.

Barn find, chassis 23590 has now found a new home and moved from Wales to England. A complete car she will now undergo a long term restoration, by a very knowledgeable Alvis owner, to bring her back to her former glory.

A restored and used TB 14, chassis 23551 went up for sale in January in Ireland and was immediately snapped up and has not yet resurfaced.

Like buses they seem to come along in Threes! Now on Car and Classic you will find a very desirable, part restored TB 14 for sale, offers in the region of £25k. A lot of work has already been done and the photos speak for themselves.

Car and Classic is always worth keeping an eye on as many Fourteens show up there. Currently a very nice Carbodies is looking for a new home. In total, 2 Mulliners Saloons, another Drophead and the rare Angel Utility. Not on Car and Classic is the partly restored Mulliners in Sweden, still available – a great opportunity.

Talking of sporty Alvis Cars, Clive Taylor is intending to write about “Alvis Cars in Competition” to be produced  in book form for the 100th Anniversary. Details have been put forward about our own Fourteen Racing Car. More about this unique car can be seen under Cars of Interest and under Gallery 1, chassis 20528. Sadly we are not aware that the car survived. Also information about chassis 21458 has been supplied. This is the car owned by Archie Scott Brown, the racing driver although this car thankfully is alive and well. Should you have any knowledge about any Alvis Racing Cars that might be of interest please contact the Clive or leave a comment at the end of the post.

Finally on TB 14s, there is good news that a long term American resident is due to undergo restoration after many years in storage. The car, chassis 23588, was purchased in the late 1960s in England by an American military war hero and taken to America at the end of his duties in Europe. He later commenced restoration of the car but this was not completed. Following his passing some years ago the car has remained in storage but will now be restored and remain with his son and daughter as a family car.

The Museum in Uruguay with the only TA 14 in Uruguay have finally received their much needed Nave Plate, delivered in person by a Member of The Alvis Owner Club. They kindly laid on a 50 person Dinner and made him most welcome. There will be an Article about the visit in a future Alvis Owner Club Bulletin.

For those who pay a visit to Sacramento, The California Car Museum is highly recommended. Whilst most of the cars are American there are some very interesting cars including a Woodie on skis!
‘Pat’, our most helpful guide explained how the early Model T cars were driven. Not a good car to change to if you drive a modern car. Brake pedal on the right, reverse gear pedal in the middle and forward gear pedal on the right. Accelerator on the steering column.
He also explained that in the early days their cars were also right hand drive to follow the system for stage coaches. That system was to allow the shotgun rider to be on the left.

Also in The Museum was a car from The Hudson Motor Car Company, Detroit, Michigan with a Triangle, just not the right one! As the Car Company started in 1909, did this give any inspiration for a neat badge for Alvis? The photo shows 1901 but this is disputed.

The Swedish records are being revised and in due course we may seek help to finalize their records. Already reviewing details of one of their cars has set us off on a search that may explain the unknown identity of chassis 22168 and confusion with chassis 22198 as may have happened in the 1940s. There is occasionally confusion caused by some of the original records so cross checking can be invaluable.
The Swedish owners’ Club by the way has a new Chairman, aged 21 and third generation of a well known Alvis family.

Finally, remember the song with the words, ‘It never rains in Southern California‘? – All lies.

eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

Chassis 20972, Tickford Dhc., JTF 96 was owned by Arthur Holt M.P. who was a Member of The Liberal Party. He was elected to represent the Constituency of Bolton West in 1951 and was an M.P. for 13 years. At the time of representing Bolton West he would have owned his TA 14 so we may yet turn up a photo of him with the car in due course. JTF is now 1-AOP 170, living in Western Europe. She is believed to be the first Tickford bodied Fourteen to have a new chassis as opposed to one previously used for another Fourteen bodied car.

Staying with the political theme, we have chassis 21366, Mulliners Saloon, MNO 800, she was owned by Tom Driberg, the controversial  Labour M.P. who became Baron Bradwell. Her fate or whereabouts is totally unknown. Should you have time then Wikipedia is quite enlightening on the life and career of this early Fourteen owner. One can only guess at the famous names she may have carried. Interestingly enough the recent brilliant series on Radio 4, ‘The Corrupted’, based upon G.F.Newman’s epic novel ‘Crime and Punishment’ features comments about Tom Driberg’s excellent use and pronunciation of the English Language.

On a different aspect of Celebrity ownership, we do not have many Fourteens that have been owned by Racing Drivers, Archie Scott Brown was one of those. He owned chassis 23474, registration NHW 4. This registration was later lost and the car became BLH 429 H. His Fourteen was the rare 1 off Bosistos bodied car and there is more under Celebrity Cars.
His story is told in Archie and The Listers – The heroic story of Archie Scott Brown and the racing marque he made famous, by Robert Edwards. Under ‘Publications’ are further details of the book and an eloquent review by the late Julian Collins recommending it as a very good read.

Another recommended read for those with historical interests is the small booklet: Coventry Car Factories – A Centenary Guide by Mark Singlehurst and Kevin Wilkins. Published in the late 1990s to celebrate the Centenary of the Motor Car. Again further details under Publications.

For those driving or admiring TB 14s and their big sisters the TB 21s they look to some as though they were produced by an American body shop. Not so, the chassis did not venture far before they arrived with A.P. Metalcraft also based in Coventry. Established in 1938 the  Directors were Messrs A.E.Austin, H.Perks, G.Brooks and F.A.Hall, so perhaps this shows where the A.P. came from. They did not limit themselves to carbodies and components but also manufactured housing components and metal furniture, metal designs, engineering and sheet metal assemblies.

Browsing through Bulletin 115, February 1963, sees tales of a TA 14 on it’s third Continental Tour. Owners need reminding in warmer times that the Country was in the middle of ‘The Big Freeze’.
In those more leisurely times TA 14 Mulliners Saloon, chassis 22780, GCJ 55, set off for her third tour of Europe. In the 1960s she and her owners had none of the crush of the Dover crossing. She embarked onto the overnight Ferry from Tilbury with the choice of Rotterdam or Antwerp as the destination. As described, ‘One sails from Tilbury at about 4p.m., tea is immediately provided, an excellent evening dinner follows – not to mention untaxed drinks at the bar – and after a good night’s rest in a truly-first class cabin, a substantial English breakfast awaits one. The number of car passengers is relatively small, and all one has to do is go to the point where the car has been placed (by an expert driver) in readiness for your landing.’ Those were the days!
The tour then proceeds through The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany and then heads towards home. ‘We crossed into Holland, and spent two extremely peaceful days beyond Arnhem. With a woodland setting and ‘English Lawns’, it was all that could be desired for those who appreciate quietness and decorum. The T.A. 14 has been described as ‘majestic’; Continental inquirers  frequently ask if it is a Rolls Royce. Suffice to say it was a suitable car in which to arrive at this gracious (not ‘luxury’) Dutch Hotel’. We understand the beautiful ‘Rolls Royce’ body was replaced later with a Carbodies body. Where is she now?

Should the weather be bad in late winter/early Spring of 2017, have a browse through the Rogues Gallery and Lost Cars to see if any ring a bell?

Another way of passing a delightful few minutes is to watch the Alvis Salamander Clip on YouTube: https://youtu.beSTHAd8z-Twk and watch out for the Fourteen interest!

A recent new owner of a TA 14 has sent over a lovely Father’s Day photo from Belgium with chassis 23293, see Gallery 2 and can you identify the Whisky?

For those looking for an everyday Mulliners Saloon there is one currently for sale in Ireland and the vendor will assist with arrangements to get the car shipped from Ireland if required. The chassis number is 23302, original registration KRR 486 then BSK 502, now ZV 4227. She has been owned by several Alvis Owner Club Members in the past. Go to Car and Classic, Reference C824460. I can provide the email address for the vendor if required. At an asking price of €10 000 worth a look.

Another interesting car opportunity is also available in Ireland and shown on Classic Car Reference C831081. This TB 14 is a known car and an increasingly rare opportunity to acquire one if these increasingly valuable cars. Remember of 3313 Fouteens only 100 were bodied as TB 14s by A.P.Metalcraft.

Those heading to warmer climes in the USA might find Fantasy Junction, Emeryville, California worth a look. They have sold several Alvis in the past including the 3.5 litre TB 14 under Cars of Interest.

As an intrepid AOC Member sails to Uruguay with the nave plate for the Museum’s TA 14 in Uruguay he little knows his delivery has already been foretold by Rodin!

Continuing with art you will find some delightful cartoons by ‘Apsley’ dotted around the Galleries. These and similar can be purchased from ‘Apsley’ and I can put you in touch. You can also commission a personal ‘Apsley’ cartoon of your car.

Very frustrating to find that a ‘Lost Car’ is known to DVLA but they will not pass a letter to the current owner due to ‘Data Protection’, the catch all that comes close to ‘Health and Safety!
She is a Brown Tickford TA 14, chassis 22377, KLL 115 and was due to be re-taxed December 2016. Last M.O.T. 2012 and currently insured. There are not many Brown Tickfords around. It would mean a lot to the son of the former owners to find her. Some lovely photos on the Gallery of happy times with KLL in previous colour scheme. Over to you Sherlocks!

Under the Technical information Section, Lucas information has now been posted and gives helpful instructions relating to trafficators, lights, windscreen wipers etc.. Nothing of course will prevent the patient operation of the windscreen wipers gently packing snow at either side and making the cleared area reduce in size as the snow falls. Those were the days, not sure many Fourteens willingly venture out in the snow these days. We are grateful to the TB 14 owner who provided the Lucas information. Should you have anything similar that could be put on the site it would be much appreciated.

Topical to check your clutch if possible to ensure it does not stick as we have had quite an extreme bout of winter in some areas. ‘Aunty May’, chassis 21830, was run up to temperature today and shuffled backwards and forwards, a simple task but very useful.

Finally a grateful thanks for all the Happy New Years both on and off the site, much appreciated and reciprocated. Spring is on it’s way!!!!!!!!

eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

Hoping everyone has had a very good Christmas despite most of the Country suffering from colds and bugs possibly due to unseasonally warm weather.

Very grateful to the two Fourteen owners who have agreed to provide headlamp glasses and rims plus nave plate to the small Museum in Uruguay. Thanks also to the offer of transport from France to Montivideo by sea, that will help a lot.

In Bulletin 232, March 1973 is an Article on the dedicated Fourteen topic, the Afterburn Eliminator. As the author pointed out ”nothing to do with ‘afterburners’, which are go-faster bolt ons for jet aircraft’. Most Fourteen owners, whose afterburn eliminators are not properly functioning have experienced the violent rocking of the engine when the ignition has been switched off. The Article is well worth a read but the synopsis is that the whole mechanism should be thoroughly checked through ‘eliminating all backlash and making sure the cable is free. Further checks are detailed. The author also recommended considering fitting an additional stay to the engine to prevent it rocking sideways, as fitted to the T series MGs, to be called ‘the Rocking Eliminator!

Bulletin 232 saw a very knowledgeable scribe, over 50 years in the Motor Trade, advise that afterburn could be eliminated by a control supplied by the Alvis Stores. Does Red Triangle still have that part for those where the mechanism has been removed?

This gentleman also knew what do do for a sportier Fourteen!

‘There were no ‘tune-up kits’ in those days and the first thing we undertook was to raise the compression by machining the cylinder head. Gasket trouble was eliminated by mating the head to the block by hand scraping and fitting a solid copper gasket, the valve ports were also polishes, a new manifold cast and dual SU carburetor fitted and you had a vast improvement in power, not cheap and certainly not for the weekend amateur motor mechanic’!

Duncan, chassis 21707 was sold by Bonhams recently and went for £31050, less than the guide price but still a good sum. Interesting to note that the original car, including extras and tax was for sale at £2199 in 1948. You could have 2 Mulliners for that. It was also more than £1000 over the price of a new Jaguar XK120 launched the following year. Well who wouldn’t rather have had a TA 14.

Spares are often sought after particularly when they are a little outside the mainstream. When the usual channels have been exhausted take a look at http://www.britcot.com. This is an American site that is not for profit and provides a showcase for small operators who do not have their own site and who make parts for old cars, particularly British.

Should you want to look closer to home it is worth checking out http://www.ClassisCarama.com, a free site for goods and services with some recognizable names advertising.

On page 40 of the Driver’s handbook there is reference to a separate leaflet relating to the steering box. Should anyone have a copy of the leaflet I should welcome an email copy to put up on the site.

With the good news that stainless petrol tanks are more freely available, a recommendation has been received for those who just want to repair the existing tank. D&T Radiator Repairs of 
Liverpool have been highly commended recently,for their work and value, by a Fourteen owner.

Should anyone wish to join the mailing list for future Red Triangle Newsletters the address is newsletter@redtriangle.co.uk and I am sure they would welcome suggestions for future Articles

Now all that remains to say is to wish everyone and their Fourteens the Very Best Wishes for 2017.

Eileen, Terry and ‘Aunty May’

eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

As Advent begins, many of our cars are settling down to wait until Spring before they emerge into the sunlight and remind their owners of the few little jobs they really, really would like done.

Hopefully they have all had a good year and in some way marked the 70th Anniversary of the First TA 14. Over the next four years more and more will individually celebrate their three score years and ten so lots of excuses for cake, bubbly and fresh oil.

 When eventually the time comes there are many reasons for deciding to pass on our Fourteen friends but in December 1968 one decision was made through particularly gritted teeth.

 ‘1949 TA saln. Best offer over £150. Body restored by spec. c/works cost £250 (will be finished v shortly) For sale because owner cannot afford coach works bill 3 times estimate. Mechs. m/tained by Alvis for 6 years. new clutch, steering box, rockers etc. Oil 50 hot. v.g. tyres.’

 Well it must have been a good restoration as chassis 22882 is still going strong.

 Remember the old days when TB 14s where sometimes called Ugly Ducklings? One gentleman, who saw a picture of ‘Ruby’, chassis 23577, now living in Austria, commented she was ‘more beautiful than a Bugatti’ and he should know as he used to race type 33/35 Bugattis! 

Direct Transmission 1, forbear of the current monthly pink Calendar had another gritted teeth episode. Recording a local Meeting the scribe wrote ‘Saddest part of the meeting was my Alvis log: I record every gallon of fuel consumed and details of journeys in a notebook. Every few years I lose the notebook and have to start another. Today Liz found the 1973 (Sept)-1976 (Aug) edition. On Sept. 30th 1973 ten gallons of four-star petrol cost £4.13. By August 1976 the price had risen to £7.72: today £11.60.’ Wonder what he would think about the price today?

Bulletin 74, in August 1959, perhaps shows how times have changed! The Concours competition had the following categories.

Car and Wife 

Car and Girlfriend 

Car and Male owner 

One can only imagine the full and frank discussions from the losing parties!

Whilst enjoying that possible misinterpretation of the Concours on page 5, an interesting story popped up on page 6.

Nothing to do with Fourteens apart from pedigree but driving a 12/50 back to England from India in the early 1930s was some achievement carried out with typical British understatement and aplomb, well worth a read. 

Looking for a spare 50th Anniversary book that can be passed on to a long term Member who is keen to replace his lost paper copy.  

Owners contemplating major metalcraft work should have a look at the website for MPH Motor Panels in Devon. The website is http://www.mphmotorpanels.com and the email address is mphpanels@mypostoffice.co.uk, Tel. 01579 345914. A Fourteen owner had new rear wings made in aluminium and wrote that ‘They weren’t cheap but they were very good and the car is so much faster!’ So the next time you are in the West Country and a TA 14 roars past you’ll know the reason. 

Walking around the Crypt of Durham Cathedral produced rather an unexpected shock. There in a glass case:                   

‘The Alvis Cross’

 There in the secure glass cabinet was indeed a 13th century copper and enamel cross donated by Michael and Patricia Alvis to Durham Cathedral in 2016.

The cross was found at the Battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346. The battle took place West of Durham between the Scots, encouraged by the French, the Auld Alliance and the English Army. The Scottish army was routed.

The cross is decorated with engraving Limoges and Champleve enameling which was used for religious objects. It was found again in the 19th century in the grounds of Western Lodge, the site of the battle. Google ‘The Battle of Neville’s Cross’ to read the background and the wonderful donation to Durham Cathedral by Mrs Patricia Alvis aged 95.

In the run up to Christmas remember there are Alvis goodies that make excellent presents.

The latest book on Post War Alvis Cars by John Fox can be obtained by contacting the Alvis Archive Trust, fox@alvis100.plus.com. 

Also from that email address you can arrange to buy a stick on disc of the old Alvis Owner Club Bulletins containing a wealth of Technical Articles, photos and Snippets. The indexes of Historic material is gradually growing and one look at the Articles list shows what a wealth of information there is in the old Bulletins.

An extended Black Friday/Cyber Monday/ TA/TB 14 Wednesday special offer means that on a first come first served basis I can offer the majority of old Bulletins in their original paper format for only the price of Post and Packaging. The odd gap could most likely be filled from old Bulletins that can be purchased in paper format from the Archive Trust. They run from 1968 to 2009 and are in very good condition. No haggling!

The disc of the 50th Anniversary Book by Mick Fletcher and Colin Newby can be obtained from the Alvis Owner Club Shop alvisoc.org.

 A new fire extinguisher is always a good present.

Have a look under the technical heading at the advert for Wefco gaiters. I remember neat leather gaiters modestly covering up ‘Aunty May’s springs, chassis 21830 and protecting them from salt and detritus from the road surface. They had small leather straps. So there is an idea for the car that has everything.

 Save on the price of an oil painting of your car by using Photoshop. You can then have an impressionist painting of your car, or other painting style of your choice.

 The guys in Uruguay were extremely grateful to the gentleman who donated the headlamp glass to their car. Unfortunately a second one is needed so if anyone can rustle up the spirit of Christmas and offer one it would be very much appreciated. Also a nave plate is needed. Chassis 21697 is shown below to tug at your heart strings with her missing glass. Uruguay is a poor country and they struggle to keep the cars going in their small Museum. Their fettling skills are excellent and the car runs on the road, hence the damaged headlamp glasses!

 New headlamp glasses for Fourteens can be obtained from Freddie Boulton Vintage Car Parts, 52 Congleton Road North, Church Lawton, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire ST7 3BA. Tel. 01782 782921. Mobile 077889 477754. Email fred-boulton@tiscali.co.uk. I am very grateful for that information. They are the same as Triumph Roadster 2000 glasses, 22.8 cm diameter, cats eye pattern.

 The part restored Swedish RHD Mulliners Saloon is again for sale and all serious offers will be considered. She was previously for sale for offers in the region of £6500. She is about 60% restored including the engine and the work has obviously been done by a perfectionist.

Numerous photos have been taken and can be forwarded to anyone looking for a project. Living about 60 miles West of Stockholm the roads and bridges are good right the way to the Ports.

 Next month will feature some information about some Fourteens in  Australia. Our cars are indeed a global interest and just this last week I have been corresponding with Australia, Uruguay, USA, France, Germany, Holland and Sweden.

 A blue Carbodies TA 14 makes a fleeting appearance in the major new ‘block buster’ ‘The Crown’ available from Netflix. She appears in Series 1, Episode 2 and passes along Downing Street but don’t blink or you may miss her.

 Finally December will no doubt whistle by so may we take this opportunity to wish everyone the very best for the Christmas Season.

Eileen and Terry

 eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

Seventy six years today, 14th November 1940, the Luftwaffe launched one of the largest aerial assaults of the second World War.

The attack was targeted at one of Britain’s major manufacturing cities, The City of Coventry. The Bombers were sent off in the afternoon and evening and headed to a cold and snowy Coventry.

The City was devasted by the bombings and included in the destruction was the Alvis Car Factory. The bombing was relentless for twelve hours. The Car Factory contained magnesium and this contributed to the fire that raged out of control.

Tragically some Alvis employees were killed in the raid and the Car Factory was gone.

In 1943 whilst fully involved with production for the War effort thoughts started to float around as to the Alvis role after the war. T.G. John’s strategic vision for the 1940s was very modern, to have a common chassis with interchangeable 2 and 3 litre engines. Finances and other constraints after the War ended resulted in the decision to offer a 2 litre car, loosely based upon an enlarged 12/70. In September 1944 The Board of Trade gave permission for work to start on the new car and so the TA 14 was born with the continued principle that bodies would be made by external Coachbuilders.

Following the ups and downs of developing the project the day finally arrived when the first 3 cars, Mulliners Saloons, emerged from the Alvis Factory.

 The date, 14th November 1946, exactly 6 years to the day from the devastation of the Coventry blitz that destroyed the original Car Factory. The Post War car production was underway in Holyhead Road. The first 3 Cars were ready to be collected by their Dealers, 3 of the premier Agents fir Alvis car.

 This iconic photo was posted on the 14th to show that Alvis were back in Car production.

From Brooklands of Bond Street, Mayfair, came Mr W.H.Bates to collect chassis 20573, Mulliners M1, to be JLP 344. From Galts of Glasgow came Keith Elliot to collect chassis 20589, Mulliners M3 to initially wear their number G1. From Hanna’s of Belfast came Mr W.J.Hanna to collect chassis 20655, Mulliners M5, to be registered GZ 6178. It is possible that the car in the background might be Mulliners M2, chassis 20553 exported to Switzerland on 15th January 1947.

 The photo below shows those first 3 production cars to leave the Factory and come out into the rain. Stanley Horsefield, the Sales Manager is on the right of the photo.

For four years the TA/TB 14 would proudly be the standard bearer for the Alvis name in car production. It is a testimony to the quality of the cars produced that so many have survived

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO OUR PROUD FOURTEENS.