Lot Ended
Description
Unique two-seater boat-tail with Alvis TA14 running gear; later engine
fitted; runs and drives but in need of recommissioning; be different!
The TA14 was the
first car to be produced by Alvis after WW2. A development of the pre-war 12/70
chassis but wider, lower and stiffer, it offered an improved ride, sharper
handling and more interior space.
Suspension was
by semi-elliptic springs front and rear, with Marles cam-and-peg steering and
Girling rod-actuated brakes, while the 12/70’s troublesome wire wheels were
replaced with stronger discs. Power came from a slightly enlarged 1,892cc
version of the 12/70 engine driving through a four-speed synchromesh gearbox.
With 65bhp on tap the TA14 was good for 75mph and was well received by press and
public alike.
Some 3,300 examples were sold
before it was replaced by the TA21 in 1950, of which well over half were
Mulliner-bodied saloons, the rest being two-door drophead coupes bodied either
by Tickford or Carbodies.
Dating from 1947, this
Alvis TA14 is thought to have been rebodied in its current boat-tail
style around 20 years ago by a garage in Caernarfon. The running gear is
believed to be all TA14 but the engine is not the original unit and looks to be
a more modern Toyota 18R OHC 2.0 four-cylinder unit but you will need to
make your own minds up on that score.
The
specification includes: lightweight aluminium bodywork; clip-on hood and
sidescreens; green hood cover; semaphore arms; Smiths heater; period brass fire
extinguisher; standing hare radiator mascot and an impressive pair of Lucas King
of the Road headlamps.
A check of the MOT
history online shows that it was tested regularly from 2006 – 2012, always
passing with no advisories recorded. It was last tested in March 2012 when the
mileage was 41,824 and it currently shows 87,317 miles so it has been well-used,
if the odometer is anything to go by.
The vendor
states that the Alvis starts, drives and stops but has not been driven any
distance and will need a good service and check-over before returning to
the road. At the time of writing we did not have any documents for the car but
the V5C should be with us in time for the sale.
As you can see in the photos, this Alvis Special looks well-made
and suitably rakish. On offer here at a very modest guide price, we imagine
that once recommissioned, it will go very well with the later 2.0 engine
and it will certainly get people talking!
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email
[email protected]