Highlights
- Same family ownership from new
- Driven extensively throughout Europe
- 5 speed gearbox and high rear axle ratio to aid long distance cruising
- One of only 20 dropheads produced by Park Ward
- Electric power steering
Appeal
Alvis, one of Britain’s leading prestige car manufacturers throughout the ‘20s,30’s,40’s and post war years before ceasing car production in the late 1960s. The TF21 turned out to be Alvis’s swansong, but they certainly finished car production on a high note.
With a 3 litre, six-cylinder engine under the bonnet producing a comfortable 150 bhp, the TF21 was an enthusiast driver’s car, ideally suited to long distance motoring in style and comfort.
This TF21 drophead has been cherished and looked after throughout its life by an enthusiastic motoring family. It was driven extensively throughout Europe during most summers by the vendors father including touring trips to France, Switzerland and the Italian Lakes.It also boarded the Queen Elizabeth to the USA for a driving trip to visit friends in Minneapolis.
Since passing into current ownership ( the son of the original owner ), it’s been driven regularly including a trip to Switzerland and two Alvis Crossing Borders Club trips to The Netherlands and Germany. It has also proved to be an attractive car to deliver his daughter and daughter-in-law to their respective weddings.
Currently in good health and “on the button “, fresh we’re told from a recent service
History and Paperwork
- Ordered new by the vendors father from Central Motors ( Sheffield ) . The order was placed for a Drophead Coupe with 5 speed ZF gearbox and 72 spoke wire wheels in Alice Blue with blue/grey leather upholstery and blue carpets.
- First registered on the 26th of June 1966.
- Special features / options included higher rear axle ratio of 3.54 ( in place of the standard .3.9, extra depth front seats (2” deeper than standard ), no radio with the facia blanked off.
- Mileage is an indicated 44,534 miles on the current speedometer, with a documented speedometer change at 48,740 miles in June 1970 making 93,274. miles in total. Speedometer change noted in the original instruction Manual.
- The vendor states the mileage to be correct.
- Mot to May 2024
- V5c in the vendor’s name
- Original owner’s handbook
- Various invoices for work and parts over the years
- Two sets of keys
Interior
- Original leather seats & door cards
- Original carpets apart from the driver & passenger footwells which have been replaced.
- Original wooden steering wheel
- Unmolested wood veneered dashboard
Open that big coupe door and there’s plenty of room to gracefully slide into the sumptuous leather seats of this grand tourer.
Before you, a large wood rimmed steering wheel backed by the wood veneered dash and it’s black faced dials.
All are said by the vendor to be working as they should, with the exception of the clock, which has had the power disconnected due to it draining the battery.
There is surface cracking to the veneer varnish upon close inspection.
The remainder appears very much original and as it left the factory throughout, with the exception of replacement floor carpets in the front footwells.
The original leather seats show a little cracking, but only to be expected in a car of this age, it is 57 years old after all. A little leather feeding should do the trick here we would think.
Carpets, being mostly original are showing a little fading, but they have held out very well with little wear and tear.
One interesting feature of note is the lack of a driver’s door armrest. Instead, the vendor’s father specified a silk pull so as to give more elbow room, which apparently elicited the reply from the factory when the car was collected, that the last person to specify said pull had been HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
Exterior
- Bare metal re-spray in 2003 to the original colour
- The vendor has known the car from new and is not aware of any previous accident damage
- Underneath steam cleaned and rustproofed in 2014
Resplendent in its Alice Blue paintwork and sitting on those gorgeous wire wheels, this drophead Alvis certainly cuts a dash when out on the open road.
Having been used as it was meant to be over the years, there are a few blemishes. The odd stone chip to the front, small bubbles to the o/s rear wing, bubbles below the rear boot opening and the odd chip around wheel arches, all due to being driven and enjoyed as these cars were designed to do well.
Rubber seals on both windows and the windscreen roof seal are unfortunately perished, but replacements are available and relatively easy to replace.
The drophead roof was re-covered in 2010 and is in great condition with only I small tear noticed and shown in the pictures. It appears to fit well as does the colour coded cover for when the roof is folded down.
Overall, a good looking car which could be used as it is for many years to come .
Mechanics
- Engine re-bored, new pistons and hard valve seats fitted we’re told by Red Triangle (Alvis Specialists ) in 1998
- Electronic ignition fitted in 2010 by Earley Engineering which improved ignition timing
- Brake pipes & callipers replaced, Earley Engineering
- Electric power steering fitted 2011, Red Triangle
- New fuel pump 2013
- New tyres, Pirelli Cinturatos from Longstone Tyres 2013
- Power steering upgraded by Aeromotive Sports & Performance & dynamo replaced with a period looking alternator in 2021
The vendor informs us the above works have been carried out and amongst his file of paperwork, many of the invoices for work are present.
When started and moved around for the photo shoot, the Alvis started easily, didn’t smoke and appeared mechanically very quiet.
The vendor tells us that it drives very well, keeping up with modern traffic easily, changing up and down the gearbox freely and stopping effectively when asked.
Summary
This family car has enormous presence and with the hood down creates a lot of interest from all bystanders.
Driven across continental Europe and even the United States of America, this Alvis has certainly been driven as intended by true motoring enthusiasts.
A near original car suitable for a sympathetic restoration. Ready to drive away on its next adventure, it has given a lot of pleasure to the vendor’s family over the years, and they hope that someone else will have the pleasure of ownership for the next chapter of its life.
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