motodrome are pleased to offer this beautiful 1959 Alvis TD21 Series 1 manual saloon, finished in it’s original colour scheme of Alice Blue with light grey leather
DETAILS
These cars have an understated, timely elegance from every angle, make a great alternative to a classic Jaguar or Rover, and in their day were seen as the sort of car that the establishment drove, when they were driving themselves rather than being chauffeured.
Famous owners included: Douglas Bader (who had 3), John Osbourne, Sir David Steele, Lonnie Donegan, Hammond Innes, and last but by no means least HRH Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh.
With their torquey 2993cc straight-six engine, whilst performance wasn’t quite in the Jaguar league, they glide along and give an enormous sense of well-being, both to the driver and passengers.
Buyers could initially specify a 4-speed manual gearbox, or automatic. This one is manual transmission.
Chassis 25984 (which retains it’s original registration number SJU777) is the 38th example built, and is one of the first TD21’s factory fitted with front disc brakes and the uprated six-port head.
The last owner, who’d had it 5 years, configured it as a reliable, comfortable tourer, with some modern upgrades to help it perform as such, including
- Modern Pirelli tyres all round
- Electronic ignition with 123 distributor
- Lightweight high-torque starter motor
- Revotec electric fan
- Alternator conversion (using a ‘Dynamotor’ to preserve the original underbonnet look
- Oil cooler
- Stainless exhaust
- Electric screenwash
- Dynamat soundproofing to the floor and underbonnet
- Replacement of the original front seats with far more comfortable modern items from, we believe, a Ford Thunderbird. We do however have the originals (which are in good condition) to refit if required
HISTORY
We have the original buff logbook showing a Mrs Joan Annie Swann of Oadley in Leics to have been the first owner. It then passed through a few owners, all in the Leicester area, including a lady who owned it from 1974 onwards. It was found, partially dismantled, in a Leicester garage in 2006. Fortunately, although covered in years of dust judging from the photos taken at the time, the garage appears to have been dry and airy. What probably started out as a light recommissioning turned into a full-blown bare metal restoration that took six years to complete. Fortunately the owner at the time (also Leicester based) compiled a photo album of all the work.
He also had the colour changed to Racing Green, and used the car for shows etc before it left Leicester and came into the hands of the last owner in 2018.
We have a second, professional photo album detailing work carried out in 2021, including another strip down and repaint, this time back to the original Alice Blue, and an engine strip. Once finished, the car was sent to Red Triangle (THE Alvis specialists) for a complete inspection, brake rebuild, and an MOT.
I can confirm that, 2 years on, it’s still fantastic underneath, and drives superbly. Whilst it’s been no trailer queen, and the paintwork has picked up one or two minor blemishes and scratches, it’s still a strikingly elegant looking car that elicits favourable comments everywhere it goes. As with most of the early TD21’s, as they were coachbuilt and have heavy steel doors, the door fits aren’t perfect on their trailing edges, but this sems to come with the territory. Later TD21’s had alloy doorskins and they seem to fit much better
It is of course, RFL and MOT exempt, and meets ULEZ exemption standards
Scroll to the bottom of the page and you’ll find our usual 2 videos: a walkaround appraisal, and driving impressions, which form part of the description.
NB since the photos and videos were taken, the Alvis has been into our paintshop for the NS door and NSR to be repainted, removing the paint fault on the NS door and the big scratch on the NSR wing.
Viewing by prior appointment
E & OE
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