Alvis Fourteen

Dave Culshaw, acclaimed Alvis Historian, has written an update to his excellent 50th Anniversary Article and this can be read in Articles. It makes fascinating reading and is also part of his PPS Section on the main Alvis Archive site.

He has also supplied copies of the advert for the first Carbodies together with photo documentation of the car in 1989 on it’s way for restoration. See Brochures and Publications plus chassis 20599. Unusually for Carbodies she does not have a Carbodies body number as she is the pre-production Model.

In addition he has provided a great photo of a Knibbs Car, see under chassis 20691.

 Turning to Woodies, the new editor of ‘Tailgate’, the Magazine of the Woodie Car Club, is Graeme Rust and he can be reached on graeme@graemerust.com. Their Web  site will no longer be maintained and instead will be on Facebook. The details are facebookwoodie_car_club and for anyone with an affection for Woodies the Club should be of great interest.

 Whilst many Woodies were well made and have stood the test of time, some were not. Chassis 20563 in The Gallery is lacking a photo but the letter of the time holds no punches about the quality of the original body ‘a Body of so bad a nature both as regards the design and workmanship that the owner has instructed us to remove the Body entirely and fit a body of our own manufacture.’

 Another rather unhappy letter of the time, on Gallery 1, exists relating to chassis 20510. This is one of 12 possible Utilities bodied by Coachwork Specialists Ltd., no other chassis have been identified as being TA 14s.

 When Duncans put their bodies on the TA 14 running chassis they did manufacture 2 as Drophead Coupes. Sadly one was sold in 2010 as a chassis only, chassis 22332, perhaps the owner had not realized what a rarity she was. The current owner has put a Special body on and she is now for sale with carandclassic.co.uk. Should you however hanker after the real thing then a Duncan Fhc. will be available to purchase at Auction on the 10th September. The Auction is being held by Bonhams at The Goodwood Revival Meeting. Prior to that details can be obtained from Orchard Classics, see http://www.orchardclassics.co.uk/ALVIS.html.

 Another rare coachbuild is Richard Mead and we now have some very nice photos of chassis 21021 in Gallery 1 showing the full length door style with no external cill. Also have a look at chassis 20566 to see an early photo of another Mead.

 I have been asked about the 70th Anniversary Cake at International Alvis Weekend so at the end of this post is a photo of the cake top design printed on edible icing and also the Celebration Beer Bottle.

As we shared the Celebrations with our younger friends the TF21s with their 50th Anniversary they are also on the cake. For those who are thinking of having a cake when their Fourteen achieves 3 score years and ten it is not too difficult to put an edible picture on the cake top. There are companies who will receive an email photo and then send an edible icing photo to be put on the cake, it will be posted in a cardboard roll as it is very flexible and will come with instructions to put it on the cake. Make sure you turn the cake upside down for a flat surface. You can buy ready rolled sugar paste to put on the top as a base for the picture. It then looks quite impressive as you open the champagne!

 Sometimes the limited volume of car sales by overseas dealers makes one wonder why they went to all the bother. An interesting Article  in Bulletin 311, by Hans Rainer, shows that Dealers ‘Gjestvangs’ of Sweden could purchase a Mulliners Saloon for approximately £900. The retail price to a Swedish purchaser was about £1500.

 Many of the TB 14s were exported when they were new. Chassis 23510 had the unique experience of being the only one of two exported to India, actually to Mandinalla Motor Company, Karachi now Pakistan. What were the odds of an intrepid Fourteen owner encountering one of these cars on a 5 month trip from England to South Africa via India in 1970? The car was seen in West Pakistan in Green, the original colour when exported. The fact that it was still in Pakistan in 1970 indicates local ownership so she may well still be out there, keep your eyes open. The other car was chassis 23525 and she was red.

In updating records it is sometimes fascinating to allow time to sidetrack and check out the ‘back story’ as it is now called in the Media. TB 14 Chassis 23588 was bought in 1970 by an American Pilot stationed in England. The car went into storage in 1995 in the USA and now one of his daughters and one of his sons propose to move the car and hope to get it restored. So another one of the 100 should be on the road again. Going back to the Pilot he was Lieutenant Edward A. Chipkevich and Googling the name shows a brief description of a very brave man who served in the 2nd World War, Korean War and Vietnam Wars. His military career in WW 11 included service with the iconic 82nd Airborne Paratroopers, famous for Arnhem, ‘Operation Market Garden’. Coincidentally in the same operation, my mother’s cousin, Major John C. Bune was in the 1st Parachute Regiment at Arnhem but tragically lost his life on the first evening having volunteered to go out to rescue the wounded in Oosterbeek. A digression maybe but Fourteens continue to provide quite surprising links and a moment to reflect.

 Good news is that we have found 2 lost TB14s, chassis 23551 is living in Ireland and looking very smart in white and rather racy with non standard but very fetching wire wheels. Photos of her on the new livery are on the TB 14 page.

 Chassis 23567 is living with her long term owner in Germany and new pictures will be sent over soon.

 Now can anyone help with Tickford JYF 60? The son of her owner in the 1950s is trying to find her and being a Tickford we hope there is a good chance. Her picture is on Lost Cars and she sports the striking Brooklands ‘Flying Lady Mascot’. YF is a Greater London registration.

 Sadly JYF 60 is not the Tickford for sale that has come up in Belgium. Chassis 23160, Engine 23166 is well known and was one of the early rebodied cars in the 1940s when chassis returned with unacceptable Utility bodies. I can put you in touch with the current owner and rumour has it a buyer might find some Belgian Chocolates and Beer in the boot!

 After being with the same owner for over half a century ‘Nippie’ NPE 600, chassis 23344 has now found a new owner to cherish a car that was most affectionally and beautifully restored.

 As well as the above a selection of Fourteens for sale can usually be found at Car and Classic on carandclassic.co.uk and although ‘Nippie’ has been sold there are several more to choose from.

 Many thanks for the responses to our search for photos of Knibbs bodied cars, very useful leads.

 To see one of the most streamlined TA 14s, look no further than chassis 23474. The one off Bosistos coachwork.

 Many of our cars now sport Mascots but TA 14s and TB14s were never given a designated mascot by Alvis. Cars supplied by Brooklands of Bond Street were often fitted with a flying lady mascot similar to the design by Sykes on the Rolls Royce and perhaps by Lejeune. It is highly probable that the first period photo under Lost Cars, chassis 21630 shows one of these mascots.

Have a look in Bulletin 522, page 25 and see if you can identify the TA 14 in the 1940s photo with the interesting Mascot. Can anyone supply a good photo of one of these mascots?

 Please do look in Lost Cars every so often to see if memories can be jogged. Tickford 21630 is the latest to go on the list and hopefully may have survived.

 Looking at Bulletins of the 1970s is usually an historical exercise, that is until page 10 of Bulletin 224, June 1972. John Buck was reporting problems with the reconditioned steering box he had just purchased. It was worse than the one he had taken  out. David Michie, was evidently equally unhappy at the quality of the reconditioned boxes and was going to look into it. Now the relevance. A certain ‘Aunty May’, chassis 21830 had stripped her owner of a large chunk of funds to have a reconditioned steering box acquired and fitted. Lo and behold there was no difference to the one that was taken out.  So 42 years on we know the reason why and the steering box is no worse than the day it was fitted.

 Going back to The Bulletins of the 1960s sees a very wise man, Mr Suthren. On page 12 of Bulletin 122, October 1963, Mr Suthren has a 1934 Speed 20 2 door V.D.P. Saloon for sale in first class condition. For the best reason in the world, as he has bought a TA 14!

 Next time you park next to a 4.3 be aware that under the bonnet of a 14 ‘the crankshaft is a really massive affair and is probably the strongest ever used in any Alvis engine. The connecting rods are equally massive and apart from a smaller gudgeon pin are the same as those fitted to the 4.3 litre.’

 To be further impressed go to http://www.thegallerybrummen.nl and have a look at a very prestigious Classic Car emporium, Gallery Brummen in The Netherlands. The Carbodies  for sale is chassis 23475 and the before pictures are on our Gallery 2.

Finally the eagle eyed may have noticed that we now have an up to date register of Fourteens on the site. Please let me know of any errors or omissions you can help with. The Articles index, Snippets, and Historic Sale entries have all been updated so look again to see if there is anything new for you.

 eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

Can anyone help by supplying photos of Knibbs of Manchester bodied Fourteens? The owner of chassis 20613 is restoring his car and would welcome some good photos of a Knibbs to help with the restoration. He has supplied some photos of his car as taken in 1990 and they are now on Gallery 1. 

Still looking to find 2 headlamp rims and glasses plus a nave plate to send out to the Museum in Uruguay if anyone can help.

For those of a fettling bent, keep an eye on the major rebuilds Section. Very useful information can be gleaned from those who have been through the process. The Articles index can also show where other relevant Articles are in old Bulletins. The restoration of a Tickford, chassis 21623, threw up an interesting concept. ‘A little known feature is that the rear chassis ends can be bolted in different positions – minimizing length for garaging or increasing length for maximum protection.’ 

Any reader with a Tickford who does not know the Body number should check the following. The numbers were written on the back of wood trim to identify which pieces for individual cars. The number will be 4 digits starting with 2. A certain Tickford downstairs, 21830, is body no. 2020 but nearly 70 years ago someone at Tickford Newport Pagnell fitted one door capping marked 2019, different wood but then stained to match. Anyone claiming ownership of body no. 2019 can rest assured the door cap 2020 would not now be reclaimed. Other places to find the number are sun visors and pram irons. The numbers do not run sequentially for Alvis as mixed in with other manufacturers such as Daimler and Lagonda. 

Tyres are a perennial dilemma for those unsure about whether to change from cross ply to radial. ‘Aunty May’, chassis 21830 would not change from Avon Tourist cross ply but in the 1960s/1970s many made the change to radials and some then back again. Eminent early Member Mr L.V.Halliwell was asked in 1967 by Ken Day, now our President Emeritus, to write about his experience with new radial Pirelli Cinturatos. 

‘After about 2500 miles I find that the slight understeer characteristics have changed to marked over-steer. Steering is very much more precise and 5-8 m.p.h. Can be safely added to the speed for the average corner for the same noises. In the wet the breakaway is definitely later but more sudden, and I’m not yet altogether happy about this aspect but accept the fact as self criticism rather than deficiency in the tyres. Steering at low speeds is slightly stiffer, but the TA 14 never was a heavy car to handle and the difference is so little as to be unlikely to worry even lady-owners. I’m hoping for a high mileage and in the short distance so far covered there is no wear evident. The pressures being used are 28 p.s.i. Front and rear running light and 30 p.s.i. running light, and 30 p.s.i. Rear with family and luggage on board.’ so watch out for hard cornering Fourteens in the wet! The extract was taken from a Bulletin also showing the renowned lady racing driver Mrs Urquhart-Dykes taking her straight eight FWD Alvis around Brooklands etc.. So perhaps ladies were able to cope with a Fourteen!

 It is a well known fact amongst Fourteen enthusiasts that when the TB 14 was shown at the 1948 Motor Show so was the rather faster Jaguar XK120. The TB was priced at £150 15s 8d. and was £12 15s 7d dearer than the Jaguar so perhaps that was the cost of the Cocktail Cabinet and Vanity Unit, neither making it through to production. 

Finally apologies for the late arrival of the June Post that went under it’s own heading ‘The Proud Fourteens’. There was a reason. Terry was trying to send it from the security of the phone but in the wilds of the Norfolk Broads we could not get a good signal. As we were visiting my cousin, all would be well we could use their secure network. No go as they are in a black spot. So out to hang around the one spot in the village with a reasonable signal and wait for the police to turn up to find out what was going on walking round and round to get a signal and then pressing the wrong button.

Anyway the world still turned. 

The indices will be updated at the end of August so look again to see if your friend was up to anything many years ago. 

Enjoy the summer whilst it is here, have just had to use the Christmas word to book up a get together, it will be here only too soon.

eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

Seventieth Anniversary of The Proud Fourteens.

Well, we are almost there, our Seventieth celebrations at IAW are at the weekend. So hope to see as many as possible at Wroxall Abbey, Warwickshire. A father and son team will be attending with a TA 14 and TF 21 so they really will be able to celebrate. One surprise bonus for those attending is the TA/TB 14 hour on Sunday afternoon. We are honoured to have as our guest, ‘Young Ron’, Ron Walton who worked at the Alvis Factory in the 1940s when our cars were built and may indeed have personally road tested your car! We have persuaded Ron to talk about his experiences and take questions. Some may have read his most entertaining book, ‘Young Ron’. For those who have not read the book it is a fascinating and personal glimpse into the past and copjes are still available from the Alvis Archive Trust, Ron might even autograph your copy. When Ron retired you may like to know that his choice of retirement cars were of course TA 14s. Chassis numbers Mulliners 20792 and Tickford 21683, not quite exclusively as other more modern Alvis did join the stable. Attendees should be warned however to keep an eye out for a rare beast, a Mini Countryman as Ron pilots himself to Wroxall. Did I say rare beast, well it is when it is a Cooper S!

Anyone attending Wroxall should know that anything ordered from Red Triangle now, within reason, can be collected at Wroxall and no postage charge made. Also they may have copies of the reproduction Driver’s Manual and also reproduction Spares Handbook for sale as some more copies are being run off. Invaluable if you don’t have one already and nice to keep a pristine copy as well as the dog eared one in the glove box.

Also Chris Prince is attending so you could contact him if you think he might have some spares you need and can bring.

The new book about Post War Alvis Cars will be available at IAW and will be a good addition to your Library. Full details are on the main Alvis Archive Website and copies can be ordered if you can’t make it to IAW. Followers are entitled to purchase the book at the Special price of £11.99, post free when the special code is given. Something tells me ‘Aunty May’ may have to dip further into her funds to send a copy to Uruguay, see below! There are new copies of Ken Day’s magnificent book on Alvis, the 4th and last edition. Also DVDs of the old Bulletins and reproduction brochures will be available.

We sometimes feature labours of love but the following is a magnificent achievement in bringing a Fourteen back from the dead.

Chassis 23761 was indeed just a chassis 4 years ago. Four years of Saturdays later, the Phoenix has woken and this delightful Special can now be seen driving around in the Netherlands. Don’t think about racing against her as she has a 3 litre engine from a TA 21. Her owner has kept her very close to a TA 14 by ensuring she has many TA 14 fittings. Photos soon to go up in The Gallery.

 Email contact has now been established with the TA 14 owners in the Museum of Transportation, Rio Branco, Cerro Largo, Uruguay. We are sending out new copies of the driver’s manual and spares book to help them maintain their Mulliners that drives around. We also have a Mulliners brochure,  cuff links and scarf for the Museum. Does anyone have anything else they can donate to the Museum? They are looking for books and technical leaflets in particular for their library. Let me know if you can offer anything and I’ll confirm if still needed. Your donation will be given with your name and details should you so wish.

 Dave Culshaw, the Alvis Owner Club former Registrar, author of Culshaw Corner and PPS on the main AAT site has been expelled from the Alvis Owner Club. I am able to confirm that for the time being Dave has offered to continue access to his extensive Fourteen personal records to myself in order to assist Fourteen owners in their research.

 Chassis 21369, Mulliners TA 14, body no. M177 built in 1947 has been found in a collapsed hay barn in Ireland. Yes, amazingly we still have barn finds.There is a search to find her registration. 3 Mulliners were exported to Ireland in a batch to Motor Distributors of Dublin. They were chassis 21368, 21369 and 21370. Both 21368 and 21370 have registrations starting with ZH so that is a clue. Does anyone know more about 21369?

 Another TB 14 in America looks likely to emerge from hibernation since 1995 to be restored. Chassis 23588, now with engine 22086, ECL 265. She was purchased in 1970 by a US Air Force Pilot and his son and daughter hope to have the car restored so we wish them good fortune with the project.

eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

Hope to see as many TA/TB 14 owners at the International Weekend as possible. ‘Aunty May’, chassis 21830 has come out to have a good polish up and fettle before making the horrible journey around the M25 with no hard shoulder. Nice to get back to Spring weather and not just planning to get her out. Fourteens, together with the TF 21 youngsters, will be the main features of the Weekend and there are special competitions etc. on the Sunday. Come and join in even if your Fourteen is indisposed. We shall be having an exclusive Fourteen get together on the Sunday afternoon for an hour, circa 2.30 pm with Speakers and the ability to network with other owners.

Very pleased to confirm that our fellow Fourteen owner has now established the identity of the Barn find red TB 14. She is Chassis 23590, registration LXA 453. She is complete and photos of her can be seen on The Gallery. Our intrepid sleuth who found and researched this car will be writing an Article about her so look out for it in the Alvis Owner Club Bulletin as it will make very interesting reading. It is possible she may go up for sale in the future. She will make a fabulous restoration project. Sadly she is not one of the ones we are searching for as owned by James Mason or Mr Kenneth Clegg.

A wonderful cache of photos, many of Woodies, has emerged from deepest Kent. The chassis numbers are 21018, 21188, 21481, 21725, 21814, 21902, 21967, 23632 and they are well worth checking out on The Gallery.

Another interesting period shot of a TB 14 is under chassis 23571. How smart the spectators were in the 1950s.

We have tracked Andrew’s car, another TB14 from the 1990s up to 2008 in Ireland so this new lead is being actively pursued. Unfortunately the emails are bouncing so hopefully the phone number will still be live.

It is now 50 years since the unbelievable happened, a TA 14 was stolen and not recovered. The owner is still trying to find her so if any one has any knowledge please let us know. She is one of the rare Fixed Head Duncans, chassis number 21787 and was registration KTF 234. In our anniversary year it would be nice to put some closure on this search. Also it is perhaps a reminder to the rest of us that our cars are going up in value and our security measures may need to be reviewed.

For the princely sum of £6.50 have just taken delivery of the latest Holden brochure, Automobile Parts and Accessories, all 432 pages. Whilst the web site will give you details of something you want to purchase there is a lot in the brochure that you did not know you might want to purchase or gift ideas. Website and details are at http://www.holden.co.uk.

As above, ‘Aunty May’, chassis 21830 came out for the first time last week into the chilly Spring air for a wash and garage tidy up. Starter Motor and fuel pump played up but the traditional ‘whack’ soon put things to rights. Interesting to note that you can now buy ‘Pointless’ fuel pumps that are externally identical to the Pointed ones and they even retain the characteristic ‘Ticking’ so comforting to hear. Cost is circa £100. Sadly no sooner had I enthused about buying one than I was advised that they had a reputation for being unreliable so the spare one is coming out for refurbishment.

The same Fourteen owner recently passed on a useful tip that others may find interesting and indeed useful.

“We had a small problem with a horrible drip from the base of the choke carburettor.  Trying to remanufacture small O rings proved impossible. And our friendly organic Romanian neighbour (farmer) suggested to make two new gaskets from an old leather gardening glove. He said it was an old communist block trick.  Amazingly it seems to be working rather well.” So “leather” gardening gloves now go on the Christmas wish list.

For those looking for something a little larger there is a smart looking Duncan now up for sale with a dealer in Kent. To see all the details, photo and price go to http://www.orchardclassics.co.uk but be prepared to have plenty on the Bank if you are interested.

A lovely photo has come over from Sardinia. Last year a TA14 made the very impressive journey to Sardinia under her own steam. Now her big sister a TA 21 has made the journey. A lovely photo of them reunited last week will be put on the Gallery in the near future. The TA 14 spent 3 months of the winter stored there in her garage under a ‘Carcoon’ and the owner was very impressed with how that cover had performed. The car started first time and no need to whack the starter motor or fuel pump.

Our Gallery page has become a little congested now so we shall be looking to break it up into Gallery 1, 2 etc. and then get back to adding a store of new material that is waiting to go on.

Look forward to meeting up with everyone who makes it to International. Any queries about the event or any other Fourteen matter please use the email address below.

eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

Suddenly we are less than a couple of months away from the 70th Anniversary Weekend at Wroxall Abbey Hotel. Plans are well underway for the event and the highlighting of Fourteens and TF21s, even the latter youngsters are now 50 years old. For those whose Fourteen cannot make it come and enjoy the weekend or just the Sunday. There will be lots of Fourteen interest and you might be able to sip some Fourteen Ale if you are not driving. Do bear in mind that after this year the event will be hosted by the Northern Section so Southern, Midland, South Western and some Welsh Owners will have further to travel until 2020 when we have the Centenary Celebrations. Yes the 75 Anniversary only seems like yesterday to some of us!

Some interesting Fourteens on the market at the moment for this seeking something a little different,

Chassis 20532 was delivered to Belgium and bodied by Pennock, a very rare beast! Subsequently believed to have been rebodied by Veth of Arnhem, this striking blue Drophead is now offered for sale, p.o.a. in The Netherlands. Pictures of the car are on The Gallery, the dealer is Joop Stolze Classic Cars of The Netherlands, website stolzeclassiccars.nl an interesting website for classic car enthusiasts. Also offered for sale by the same dealer is a Carbodies Drophead back from at least 40 years in The USA. The car is priced at €12500 and is a restoration project.

A rather sad case is chassis 22551, ENJ 153. She has been passed around as a restoration project and her current owner had intentions to make her into a Hot Rod. She is a Mulliners Saloon and ripe for restoration although she is missing her engine, gearbox and front seats. She failed to sell for £1500 on EBay in February so might be available at a very competitive price. Check EBAy or ring Brian on 07831 630399. Let’s hope someone will save her.

General observation now in that 2 months traveling in Florida, Nevada and California produced no sightings of car’s before 1950 other than a few at a St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Our cars are spending more and more time tucked up at home.

For those looking at their cars and wondering how to enhance the value please do not take inspiration from the following!

Chassis 21251 in The Gallery shows the April Sports Car Market report of Bonhams’ sale in January in Scotsdale, Arizona, USA. The 1 off Aluminium bodied car by Richard Meade had been turned into a 1930s Special with a TA 21 engine from car 24773. Nothing too unusual until you get to the sale price of$214,500 plus buyer’s premium, the hoped for $250,000 was not achieved!

Permission has now been given for the mystery TB 14,  LXA 453 to be visited for an attempt to identify her chassis number and perhaps match it to one of the TB 14s we are searching for.

Hopefully we may have tracked ORB 244, chassis 23551 as mentioned in last month’s Post. In 2008 she was in Ireland so we are following the lead with cautious optimism.

Spring has finally sprung so all the best for polishing, fettling and emerging into the sunlight.

Terrible to think that one of our cars features in a book of that name but there she is a TB 14, well it is an historic photo!

This publication ‘Weird Cars’ by Stephen Vokins was published by Haines, ISBN No. 978 0 85733 237 0, 2nd edition Page 155. Look her up in The Gallery under chassis 23571, registration EFE 671 and does anyone know where she is now? She was originally green with cream interior, green carpet and fawn hood and last heard of in Heald Green, Cheshire.

Not in weird cars but another TB 14 search.

A well-known car of the 1980s is sought by her former owner. ORB 244, chassis 23551 was last heard of in the 1990s so unlikely by then that she would have been a candidate for the scrap yard. Has she gone overseas or is she tucked up in a garage somewhere? Photos will go on the gallery in March.

‘Supporting’ our TA 14 70th Anniversary Year it is nice to see that the Federation of British Historic Vehicles Clubs has announced that FIVA made the designation of 2016 as World Motoring Heritage Year, a good coincidence!

‘The Alvis Owner Club Board has decided to take further the possibility of sponsoring an ‘Alvis Rose’ for the Centenary Celebrations in 2020. The Red/White rose is doing well in its trials so fingers crossed that we may be able to surround our garages with The Alvis Rose much as The Alvis Factory had roses growing in front of the building, eye witness account.

For those who might be tempted to acquire a Woodie, a rare Cornbrook bodied shooting brake is now for sale. On offer from Christoph Grohe (a former Fourteen owner) near Geneva is chassis no. 21367, price upon application. She was JNA 998 and is right hand drive. She has been in Switzerland for over a quarter of a century and was restored before then. Coloured Green with a brown leather interior she looks complete from the photos and the advert can be found on Google, Christoph Grohe. You will see the AOC badge on the photo.

PPS Dave Culshaw. Hope everyone spotted the very interesting Article on the main site about Aluminium bodied cars? Reference contained in the Article about Fourteens. Quite amazing the threads that link our cars to others.

For tasty cars but no Alvis, visit The Linq Hotel, Las Vegas, discount for Seniors with photo I.D. Largest Classic Car sales showroom in the world, do not take credit card but wonderful example of cars including many British.

The Regular Newlands Corner get together on  Sunday 13th March from 10.30 a.m. onwards  at Newlands Visitor Centre will feature Fourteens and TF 21s for their seventieth and fiftieth anniversary years. At least two Duncan TA 14s and one TF 21 hope to be there and I am told there will be a cake.

Finally the big celebration at International Weekend in May is coming up fast. We shall have a dedicated Fourteen parking area and wonderful opportunity to meet other owners and compare notes and photos. More details next month to whet the appetite and yes there will be a cake!
eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

Here is a fine pair of weird machines – MTV is alive and well in Lincolnshire and paired here with a Salamander at the RAF Scampton Fire Museum

Our cars perhaps give the aura of quiet restrained English craftsmanship (O.K. so maybe not the TBs).
It is sometimes good to remember the hardships that people went through to produce them and the dreams they fulfilled.
Once such small body builder in Norfolk was set up in 1946 by Ian Duncan an aeronautical engineer.
An interesting ‘Global Ping Pong’ of information about 2 Duncan cars showed how there is always more we can learn. A New Zealand visitor to Snetterton spotted a delightful pale yellow Duncan, see chassis 21861 in The Gallery. This car had been restored and painted in a similar cream/maize colour to the original Duncan used for marketing purposes, chassis 20998, first owned by former racing driver Mrs Kay Petre. This lady alone is worth noting, at 4ft 10ins she raced prewar cars and was most noted for racing a 10.5 litre Delage, must have been some sight. The Snetterton car and a possible 2nd Duncan were then written up in a New Zealand Alvis publication. The Article was spotted by our American Alvis enthusiast and passed to the writer. Contact was made with the owner of the Duncans and their provenance established. The conversation became extremely interesting when it turned out that the owner is the son of the former Duncan Works Manager, David Rogerson. There are no doubt many more stories to come but one unpublished tale shows the amazing coincidences that can happen. Mr Rogerson owns and runs a business fettling Austin Sevens. His main competitor mentioned he had a Duncan badge. Puzzled as to how this came about further enquiry was made. The gentleman’s mother had worked for Duncans and had been Mr Rogerson’s Secretary. As a lovely footnote the badge was given to Mr Rogerson gratis.
David Rogerson was an experimental engineer and had worked with Frank Whittle and later for Rover but was encouraged to join the new Duncan Industries (Engineers) Ltd.. One of his most amusing memories is that Ian Duncan took over the family business canning factory unit run by his brother and before anything could begin several tons of rotting curry had to be cleared. Surprising that so much curry was around in the 1940s, must have been the National Repository!

A new banner heading has been added to this site for original Data Sheets and when there is time they make quite interesting reading. When calculating weights of passengers the average weight was 150lbs so perhaps for many, so soon after Christmas, this may not make very comfortable reading. Current assessment is 168.6lbs so maybe today best not to test the springs with 4 adult passengers! It does however give us the opportunity to be inspired? It was an important assessment as it went towards ‘Laden Weight’ calculations.

Very pleased to confirm that the Disc of Alvis TA 14 (50th) Anniversary Collection ‘The Fourteen’, compiled by Michael (Mick) Fletcher and Colin Newby is now once again available to purchase. Both Mick and Colin have enormous knowledge of Fourteens and this is a book no Fourteen owner (including TBs) should be without. It includes the Data Sheets, Service Data Sheets, Brake Overhaul Manual Service Notes plus many interesting Articles and photos. Have a look under Brochures and Publications to see the book. No current plans to bring out the paper version again but you never know. The DVD is priced at £16 and is available from The Alvis Owner Club Shop, go to alvisoc.org and click on Shop. Look out for second hand copies of the paper version on EBay that occasionally come up but don’t miss the opportunity to buy the disc in case they go out of stock again.

Have a look at the main Archive site, alvisarchive.com and see/enter the photo competition with Darth Vader, not a TA 14 but fun. Also the photo competition deadline has been extended so dig out those photos.
Remember on your travels to see what Classic Car activity might be around. The Old Timer Scene is very strong in many counties and close to us in Europe, Oldtimer events are very popular. Tourist Offices, magazines and the Internet can all point us to interesting events and we may even get to see a Fourteen. A good example of what to watch out for is The Swiss Classic British Car Meeting at Morges, Switzerland on the 1st October 2016. This gathering should feature over 1500 cars and motorbikes and is an example of what can be found.
Finally we have now arrived in 2016, the 70th Anniversary of the commencement of Fourteen production. On the main Alvis Archive site there is a new introduction article for the site being posted any day now and this features some of the historical background to
Fourteens.
Hopefully many will have their plans in place to join in the Anniversary Celebrations in May, see you there.

eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

With provenance becoming ever more important it is useful to know if a Fourteen has had a chassis change at some stage. So if you want some exercise after the Christmas excesses, go check your gussets.

There are a pair of holes in each gusset, drilled randomly at first mounting. Where the body has been changed, one finishes up with four holes per gusset or elongated holes and large washers because the holes never line up. To assist with gusset checking there will be a diagram under technical articles in The New Year.

For those who have enjoyed or are yet to enjoy the excellent series Foyle’s War, look out for a Green TA 14 Shooting Brake. FAK 707, chassis 21389, looking very smart. Series 7, ‘The Hide’ is the episode to watch out for set in August 1945.

Look out in The Spring for a new book about Post-War Alvis Cars to add to your library. Due to be published in May before International Alvis Weekend with the potential for copies to be purchased and autographed by the author at IAW. Some new photos included in the book. More details to be given before publication date.

Amazingly Fourteens are still emerging from oblivion in long term storage. A red TB 14, registration LXA 453, has been found located in a storage unit and the photograph of her in the lock up will be shown in The Gallery when we have her chassis number. There is a distinct possibility that the car will be put up for sale next year. Checks are being made to identify the chassis number so we can provide the provenance for the car. What a great restoration project particularly as the values have gone up for these very scarce cars.

An interesting new Article is being submitted to the editors of The Alvis Owner Club Bulletin. It will cover oils and the running of our cars when they are laid up, contains some very interesting food for thought. Questions are raised as to whether we should be using multigrade oils and how long we run the car after start up when in storage.

Many of the Fourteens still around were bodied by Carbodies. They were established in 1919, at about the same time as T.G.John founded a certain Company. Robert ‘Bobby’ Jones took over the coachbuilding operations of his ex employer, timber merchants ‘Gooderhams’ based in Holyhead Road. The aim of the Company was to make a run of bodies to standardised designs for car companies without coachbuilding facilities, perfect for Alvis who were one of their first customers. Sadly the name was dropped in 1998 but the facility remained in Holyhead Road.

For those owning or interested in the Tickford version of our cars, take a look at The Tickford Owner’s Club Website. The previous Salmons Tickford Club folded in 1993 but was resurrected in the 1990s. The site is tickfordownersclub@talk21.com. Whilst the Club mainly focuses on Metro rolling stock onwards there is some material of interest to us. Salmons and Sons were formed in 1920 in the grounds of the former Tickford Abbey. The Abbey was established in 1140 as a cell of the Cluniac order of Mormoutier, Tours, France. The House of Tickford was closed by Cardinal Wolsey in 1524 but this is where our name comes from.

An interesting observation is that we are no longer the last Alvis with stand up headlights. That claim to fame is now held by the new 4.3 litre Alvis car made by the Alvis Car Company (Red Triangle) as they produce the cars to complete the series of 4.3 chassis numbers allocated before the war but not constructed. Some interesting photos of the new 4.3 at The Dubai Car show have been passed to the editors of The Alvis Owner Club Bulletin and main Alvis Archive site. Slightly more expensive than Fourteens but we are catching up!

It sounds like a wonderful car to add to one’s stable although a recent trip out in a friend’s new Aston Martin DB9 did rather lay temptation in a different direction. As this site is restricted to Fourteens the picture of the car and grinning occupants is not included!

As the year draws to a close I must take this opportunity to express my grateful thanks to the contributions made by members of the Fourteen family and my lifelong friend ‘Aunty May’, chassis 21830 for being the inspiration for it all.

Finally Very Best Wishes and Happy New Year to everyone and hope to see as many of you as possible at International Alvis Weekend in May to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Fourteen production commencement.

Eileen, Terry and Aunty May.

eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com

The Hotel for next year’s Alvis weekend and our 70th Anniversary Celebrations was booked out at great speed. Late in the morning of the 4th November the phone was picked up by the hotel with the immediate weary response, ‘I suppose you are another Alvis Owner’! Out of the blue two long lost Mulliners Saloons have popped up. First a lovely letter came from The President plus Secretary of Museo de Los Medios de Transporte, Rio Branco, Cerro Largo, Uruguay. An Alvis had been found in a warehouse after being there for over 30 years. The picture sent has been put on The Gallery and shows a Mulliners Saloon surrounded by prewar American Cars that would not look out if place in an Al Capone film. The chassis number is 21697 and shows she is one of 12 cars originally exported to Uruguay. We are sending out an original Bulletin with an Article about the car, a photo copy has already gone out and this will form part of the Museum display. Should anyone have other material they could use for display purposes with the car this would be much appreciated by The Museum. Why not make a visit to Rio Branco on the south side of the river between Brazil and Uruguay? Hot on the heels from the Uruguay discovery came news of another Mulliners found sleeping in a sheep shearing shed in the Outback of Australia. Chassis 21806 is evidently in sound condition albeit covered in a very thick layer of dust. The maroon colour appears to be the original but at some stage she appears to have been retrimmed. Pictures are in The Gallery and hot off the press today is the news that the owner wants to sell. Anyone interested I can put them in touch. Have a look on Rogues Gallery to see the unusual and rare Fixed Head Coupe that sadly had a body that was too far gone. Do you recognize any of the cars so that we can put chassis/registration numbers to them? Under Lost Cars we are trying to trace the whereabouts or fate of Mulliners Saloon, GSF 619, chassis 22880, whereabouts not known since 1963. Her former owner recalls ‘putting a roof rack on and carrying a full 3 piece suite home from an Auction. Settee on top with armchair roped on top of it and second armchair in the opened boot! Don’t try this at home! Perhaps over Christmas some more lost cars could be identified? A new Member to the AOC in 1968 had a novel approach to the correction of ‘silly prices’ being paid for old and interesting cars. ‘May I suggest that one reasonable thing that could be done by one make Clubs would be to set and regularly renew a current list of prices for their cars rather on the lines of the Glass’s Guide for the trade. If these prices were very considerably exceeded by a member it might not be unreasonable to consider denying him the facilities of the Club and not selling him any further cars to mis-use in this way.’ I am sure such a list of miscreants would have had a queue of potential vendors at their door. Many people raised in the Black and White era could have been forgiven for believing that cars of the 1940s were Black or dark colours. The first Tickford body produced was probably creamy white and was the car used in th advertising campaign. Scroll down cars of interest to see this car displaying her interior trim. Also the first Duncan was primrose yellow. Researching a chassis conundrum drew a delivery of a Mulliners Saloon, chassis 21283, to A.E.Nicholson, J.P., F.C.A.. Page 2 of the Factory Record Card gives the dealer so this was somewhat out of the ordinary. This gentleman was of course the Chairman of Alvis at the time! Many of us have used Red Triangle over the years and have been grateful for the supply of spares they have on their shelves. When Alvis spares were cleared out to go to Red Triangle in 1968 it was done by Leylands during a single weekend when it should have taken several weeks. Not bad when you consider they were shifting 100 tons of spares. Twenty years on from the 50th Anniversary Celebrations many Fourteens are in better shape than ever and this Scottish joke from the Oz Alvis Magazine is now less relevant. ‘when you go to buy a TA 14 suspect anything that does not rattle as it will not be original! Nothing could be further from the truth about 14s with chassis 23323 who participated in the FIVA World Rally in 1996. Not only did this fine Carbodies partake in the Rally but she came third in Class and 7th overall and that out of 300 car’s, 200 of which had come from all over the world to take part.
In case you have not received a wish list from the garage yet have a look at Books and Publications to see if there is anything else to add to the bookcase. There is a good selection of material for sale too this month in the AOC Calendar. Fire extinguishers/ fire blankets are always welcome as are some of the J &M Models for sale on EBay. In the event that you do not have them Red Triangle can sell copies of original Factory Record Cards and Guarantee Cards for about £20. Probably the best value of the lot is still the Alvis Archive Trust Disc of the old Bulletins for about £25 that will keep the reader absorbed long after Christmas. The disc for the 50th Anniversary Book is hopefully soon available from and will be probably be priced at £12 + p&p. Investigations are being made by one of the book’s authors to consider the reprint of this valuable and informative compendium. Finally to wish everyone a wonderful Festive Season and hope you all have a great Christmas.

Eileen and Terry Goddin

eileen4ta.tb14s@rocketmail.com