Beschreibung
Officially launched at the Earls Court Motor Show in October 1958, this stunningly beautiful Alvis TD21 DHC is the third drophead coupe built and was registered the following month on the 18th of November 1958. It is the very first open TD21 to be registered in Scotland. The original owner, a lady whose family apparently owned a lemonade factory in the Glasgow area, kept it until her death in 1988 when it passed to her nephew who then kept it for a further 19 years. He had the first body restoration carried out more than 30 years ago. By the time he sold it for export to a German collector, it had covered only 38, 000 miles.
There is a very comprehensive history file which shows the maintenance of the car over many years and includes details of the rebuild of the engine in Germany using parts supplied by marque specialists Red Triangle. He used it extensively for touring in Europe and then put it back on the market at ?58, 000 requiring some refurbishment. The Alvis then returned to Scotland where in 2018 a program of work began which has cost over £40, 000. The work included a full bare metal respray, full re-trim, re-chroming, new chrome wire wheels with stainless spokes, fitted with the superb Blockley radial tyres. The brakes were fully overhauled, front splined hubs replaced. Most of the wiring was replaced, and it should be noted that an alternator which looks like a dynamo is fitted to provide the extra power needed for the electric power steering system. All the woodwork was restored. The last owner fitted a towbar, in the expectation that he may tow a classic motorcycle to shows. In the event he did not complete the restoration and the towbar has never been used. After our own team at Malton Coachworks completed the work, the car's first major outing was a faultless 550 mile round trip to the Alvis Owner Club international rally at the Crieff Hydro Hotek in Scotland in June. Although it was not intended that the car would compete in the club Concours d'elegance, judges decided to award the National Benzole trophy as it was deemed to be the best looking non-competing Alvis in the car park!
On its original export from the UK, the car's original registration mark was retained and it proved impossible to re-allocate it. For that reason, the last owner spent several thousand pounds buying the period local Scottish plate 300 SN for his 3 litre car. That plate which looks superb on the car stays with it. It has an independent value of around £4000. Being one of the earliest TD 21s our car features the original four speed Austin Healey gearbox first fitted to this model. 300 SN is a very special historic Alvis which causes huge interest and gasps of admiration wherever it goes. These models were all completed by famous coachbuilders Park Ward alongside special bodied Rolls-Royces and Bentleys. They were built to the highest coachbuilding standards of the time, and their discerning owners required a beautifully built machine, which was fast, comfortable, discreet and not ostentatious. The cost of this car - around £3300 when new in 1958 would have bought a fine house in Scotland! Still with less than 57, 000 miles, quite simply, there isn't another early example like it. Whilst at the Crieff Alvis gathering it was parked next to a silver Alvis TD21 owned by legendary Alvis technician Ronnie Ramsay. The huge history file which contains many photographs and invoices includes work carried out by his company on the car in the 1980s for theoriginal owner's nephew. Ronnie is still working at the garage his father founded. He started work there in 1936, ran it from 1961 when his father became ill, and he's still working there with his son at the age of 101! What a story and what a car...
