Description
"In the scheme of things there are cars, good cars and super cars. When a machine can be put into the last of these three categories and yet is not by any means in the highest-price class, considerable praise is due to the makers. The model in question is the latest Alvis 4. 3-litre sports tourer." – The Autocar, August 1938.
Pre-war development of the six-cylinder Alvis culminated in the announcement in August 1936 of the 4. 3-Litre, designed by the company's distinguished Chief Engineer, Captain George Smith-Clarke. The 4. 3-Litre was based on the 3½-litre Speed 25 introduced the previous year, and was powered by an enlarged version of Alvis' new seven-bearing, overhead-valve engine producing 137bhp on triple carburettors. The cruciform-braced chassis featured the kind of advanced thinking long associated with the marque; independent front suspension and a four-speed, all-synchromesh gearbox, introduced on the preceding Speed Twenty, were retained with the additional refinements of driver-controlled Luvax hydraulic dampers and servo-assisted brakes.
Claimed to be the fastest un-supercharged saloon on the UK market, the Alvis 4. 3-Litre was certainly one of the few pre-war saloons capable of a genuine 100mph. Sturdily built and endowed with a generous wheelbase, the Alvis six attracted some of the finest examples of the pre-war coachbuilders' art, though the 4. 3-Litre's chassis-only price of £750 meant that ownership was necessarily confined to wealthy connoisseurs. A complete 4. 3-Litre cost around £1, 100, outstanding value for money given its specification and performance, and comfortably undercutting rivals such as the V12 Lagonda and 4¼-Litre Bentley. Despite this price advantage, only 198 cars had been delivered when the outbreak of World War 2 stopped production. Some 95 survivors are known to the Alvis Owners' Club.
One of only 5 drop head coupes produced on the 4. 3 short chassis, this Alvis 4. 3-Litre carries unique drophead coupé coachwork by Whittingham & Mitchel, a company based in New Kings Road, West London and after WW2 in Byfleet, Surrey. W&M were best known as contract body builders for major manufacturers, but did accept commissions on more upmarket chassis such as Alvis. Virtually identical in style to the short-chassis Vanden Plas Tourer, the bodywork is unique and probably designed to the first owner's specification. It is unusual in having a fully concealed hood and, being an occasional four-seater, providing ample luggage space for long-distance touring when the rear seats are folded away.
The copy Car Record on file shows that '14844' was erected on the short-wheelbase (10' 4") chassis and originally fitted with a special high-compression engine ('15329') and the high axle ratio. Other body particulars included special brown leather; adjustable armrests to both doors; Phillips radio; and a stopwatch. '14844' was despatched as 'chassis only' to Messrs Hugh Anderson Ltd of London on 3rd September 1938 and re-despatched as a finished car on 12th November that same year. The original registration was 'DVB1' and the Alvis was first owned by wholesale newsagent Leslie Edward Martin of Knowle House, Addington Park, Surrey. (The car has also been registered as '114 JGP' and is now '43 JWD'.) Mr Martin used the Alvis for barely a year before laying it up for the duration of WW2. He parted with the car in 1945.
Running to several thousand words, the vendor's diligently researched and exceptionally thorough history lists all known owners from new to the present day and is essential reading for any prospective purchaser. This document reveals that the Alvis had once been owned by Sir John Venables-Llewllyn, Bt, who used it for the 1973 season as a tow-car for his ERA, "a task it performed with good grace if scant regard for economy! It's main drawbacks were the brakes, which really were not up to the job, and a regrettable tendency to catch fire due to petrol dripping from the carburettors onto the exhaust".
The aforementioned history also reveals that '14844' spent some time in the USA during the 1980s/ 1990s before returning home, since when it has had three further UK-based owners. While in the USA the '4. 3' had belonged to David Van Schaick of Pennsylvania.
'43 JWD' was repatriated in May 2000 and between 2002 and 2004 was restored by renowned marque specialists Red Triangle of Kenilworth, Warwickshire, who have continued to maintain it since then. There are Red Triangle invoices on file for the restoration and various works including fitting an overdrive (2009); a crankshaft and con-rod set (2010); new Alfin brake drums (2012); engine overhaul (2015); and new Blockley tyres (2018).
The car retains its original engine and gearbox. The fitted stopwatch, adjustable armrests, and Phillips Radio (originally specified but missing when purchased) have been replaced with period-correct items. The modern addition of an overdrive and electronic speedometer are concealed. Supplementary cooling fans are removable in less than a minute.
The two lever-arch files of history contain a 1938 Alvis new car brochure; the original and two continuation logbooks; Alvis Car Record (copy); VSCC 'Buff form' (2001); a V5C Registration Certificate; a quantity of expired MoTs; Profile Publications No. 11 on 4. 3-Litre Alvis models; road test articles; and the aforementioned history.
A wonderful opportunity to acquire one of the fastest production cars of its era and the very embodiment of the term, 'Post-Vintage Thoroughbred'.
