1938 Alvis 12/70 Sports Saloon Sold
This fully-sorted, matching numbers example has been owned by a Classic Car Museum Proprietor and used only occasionally for Vintage Car Club Events. It has always been maintained to the highest order and there is evidence of around £14,000 expenditure, including a complete engine rebuild by Earley Engineering the top Alvis Specialist, this alone cost nearly £8,000!
Other works included:-
King pins & bushes.
Rear springs.
Steering rack.
Carburettor.
Shock absorbers.
Stainless steel exhaust.
New clutch.
New wiring loom.
Front & rear engine mounts.
2-tone paint job.
Headlamp restoration.
Re-chrome radiator & new badge & eagle mascot.
Re-chrome bumpers.
Re-upholstered front bucket seats in leather.
Understandably it drives great, a good testament to the factory that built it and the previous careful ownership.
The bodywork has benefited from a recent professional restoration and looks stunning. The leather front seats are newly re-trimmed, the rest of the interior is nicely patinated with that delicious pre-war aroma. The doors close with a reassuring clunk/click so reminiscent of hand built coachwork.
This very attractive, driver-friendly car, truly embodies the essence of 1930’s era British motoring for a very modest outlay and could even be used as practical daily transport.
Comes with a stack of old bills, previous MOT’s, Old tax discs. Copy factory build sheet, Old green logbook, Original Alvis Owner’s manual. Valuable cherished plate 1567 FS. Car jack & starting handle. 2 x framed pre-war Alvis 12/70 adverts from the Museum display stand.
For more information on this lovely old motorcar call or text John on 07909 231414.
Marque History
The Alvis 12/70 was announced by Alvis cars 22 September 1937. It was a four-cylinder sports saloon or 4-seater drophead coupé, related to the pricier six-cylinder Alvis Silver Crest.
Alvis manufactured the four-cylinder 1,842 cc pushrod overhead valve engine which was similar to the engine of the Alvis Firebird but was, in fact, a new design. Its 63 hp (47 kW) was enough to propel the car to a top speed of about 80 mph (130 km/h). Alvis also designed and made the four-speed gearbox which had synchromesh on the top three speeds.
The standard catalogued 4-door 4-seater saloon or 2-door 4-seater drophead coupé bodywork was made for Alvis by Mulliners of Birmingham.
A total of 741 cars were manufactured until 1940, with 121 still surviving. In 1945 the 12/70 was replaced by the modernized Alvis TA 14, but much of the 12/70 lived on in this post war model.