Description
26th Jul, 2023 13:00
Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire
1940 Alvis 12/ 70 Drophead Coupe
Estimate
£13, 000 - £16, 000
Lot details
Registration No: BWF 822
Chassis No: 15507
MOT: November 2023
1 of just 150 bodied as a Drophead Coupe by Mulliners of Birmingham
Extensive history file with correspondence dating back to the 1950s
Acquired by its preceding registered keeper in 2007 and treated to much expenditure since then including an engine overhaul, refurbished carburettor and distributor and re-trimmed front seats etc
Among the very last of the 150 Alvis 12/ 70 chassis to be clothed with Drophead Coupe coachwork by Mulliners of Birmingham, ‘BWF 822’ was supplied new via The East Ridings Motor Company to Miss Gladys Horner of Hessle on 23rd March 1940. A letter on file reveals that the Alvis was (a) little used until World War Two had ended, (b) professionally repainted from Black to Cream during her tenure and (c) still wore its original tyres when sold to W. H. Anstead Esq., c/ o The Sergeants Mess, RAF Dishforth in May 1958.
Acquired by Frank Munroe Esq. for £165 the following November at a warranted 45, 000 miles, the four-seater was to remain in his possession for the next twenty-eight years. Perhaps unsurprisingly given that he was the proprietor of The Northern Photographic Agency, a dramatic image of the Drophead Coupe graced the front cover of the Alvis Owners’ Club’ Bulletin magazine for July 1962 being captioned thus: ‘Mr F. H. Munroe’s 1939 12/ 70 at the top of the Alberg Pass taken on a 2, 000 mile tour of Austria, Germany, Holland and Switzerland’, while another period shot shows the Drophead Coupe during a driving test.
Belonging to Wilf Powell Esq. from 1987 – 1998, his successor, L. Siddle Esq., drove ‘BWF 822’ on the Fougeres Rally (1999, 2000), AOC Tour of New England (2000) and AOC Tour of Germany (2001). Passing to its preceding registered keeper, C. Genlloud Esq., in 2007, he had the four-seater maintained by Nick Sieveking including refurbishing the front axle, overhauling the engine, renewing the boot floor / making repairs to the body frame, replacing the rear springs, rejuvenating the distributor, renovating the carburettor, attending to the brakes and fettling the water pump etc. The seller tells us that the Alvis starts readily and idles well but coughs and bangs under load. Nevertheless, it has a current MOT certificate valid until November 2023.
