Description
The Alvis TB14 had its origins as a a special's built for Belgian industrialist and racing driver, Pierre Goldschmid. A new imported Alvis TA14 chassis with running gear was his starting point. Goldschmid commissioned Belgian coachbuilder F. J. Bid to design a lightweight open two-seater body for the car. He also added an extra carburettor to the engine which increased the power from 65bhp to 75bhp. On its first competitive outing at the 1947 Grand Prix des Frontieres at Chimay, the Alvis special proved capable of 95mph and averaged a commendable 67mph. Goldschmid's car which was essentially the prototype Alvis TB14 was unveiled at the Brussels Motor Show in February 1948. Alvis then displayed this open two-seater car at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show. The flamboyant, modern, bright red show car had an ivory leather interior and luxury features which included a cocktail cabinet built into the passenger door and the glovebox contained a mirror, lipstick and perfume. It caused quite a stir at the show.
Alvis were very impressed by this one-off and decided to make a version of the car themselves. They modified Bidee's design slightly with heavily cut away tops on the rear hinged doors, with long and sweeping front wings. It had prominent rear haunches, a folding windscreen and a striking large chrome grille, quite similar to the cars of Sydney Allard. The grille had headlights behind it rather like Peugeots of the period. The 1892cc four cylinder car, with its up to date modern appearance, so very different to pre-war cars was well received. However, it was eclipsed by the dramatic debut of the 3. 4 litre Jaguar XK120 with its amazing speed and performance. Alvis commissioned AP Metalcraft in their home City of Coventry to make 100 bodies, although the production versions lost some of the show car features such as the lights-behind-the grille, the cocktail cabinet and the beauty parlour! The wings were fabricated from steel but the rest of the coachwork was of lightweight aluminium.
Registered new on September 23rd 1950, by the early 1960s it was a rather rusty, tired example. Between 1963 and 1983 the car was owned by renowned coachbuilder Rod Jolley who by 1966 had restored the TB to concours condition. He took his new wife on honeymoon in the restored, show standard Alvis to the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland. The next owner was world renowned painter, writer, art historian, director, inventor, entrepreneur and poet Dr Orde Levinson. We can trace the car's history back to new and it comes with two large history, photograph and document files. Included are a green old-style log book, a copy owner's handbook, press articles and a meticulous detailing of its service and restoration history. The more recent restoration by Tim Walker Restorations is also documented. During the last ownership, marque specialists Red Triangle who also build the ‘continuation cars' have maintained the TB14. All the 100 examples built were sold between March and December 1950. This car would appear to be the 74th car built. The price when new was nominally £1, 276, about the same as the mass produced Jaguar XK120. Many were exported to Australia, Hong Kong, Siam and Peru. Some examples went into Europe and North America. Very few survive in the UK.
An ultra-rare and important Alvis, we bring this impressive car to market having peviously sold the car to one of one of customers in Aberdeenshire and we are delighted to welcome it back.
