Alvis 12/70 ta14 1938 Mulliners Saloon

1937 Alvis 12/70 Mulliners Sport Saloon. Blue over Cream with Blue leather upholstery. The Alvis 12/70 was announced by Alvis cars 22 September 1937. It was a four-cylinder sports saloon or 4-seater drophead coupe related to the pricier six-cylinder Alvis Silver Crest. 

It was described by a motoring correspondent of The Times as follows: The four-door body has four side windows and makes a comfortable four-seater; the doors have roll armrests and ashtrays and there is a central pull-down rest. The rear windows are "carried well back and-allow a very fair view". The doors have slip pockets and glass louvres that conform to the body's lines. There is a cupboard in the instrument panel and the instruments and ashtray are centrally placed. There are two-way visors, independent wiper controls (Left and Right), a spring steering wheel and in its centre ignition, dip and switch (headlights), signalling and horn controls. There are ventilators in the scuttle, a sliding roof and a fully opening windscreen. The front seats are adjustable, the backrests will tip up and beneath them there are floor wells for the feet of the back

passengers. A stabilising bumper and two horns are fitted at the front. 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 Barley Engineering the top Alvis Specialist, this alone cost nearly £8,000! Other works included - King pins & bushes, Rear springs, Steering rack, Carburetor, 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, Re-chrome bumpers, Re-upholstered front bucket seats in leather. This year the Near Side front wheel bearing was replaced.

Understandably it drives great but requires sensitivity to its age, a good testament to the factory that built it and the previous careful ownership. The bodywork has benefited rom 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 comprehensive history including; 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, and 2 x framed pre-war Alvis 12/70 adverts from the Museum display stand.

A professional assessment of our car was carried out by CMC (Classic Motor Cars) of Bridgnorth. They proposed ‘optional' refurbishing works (mainly the interior) where the material cost amounted to £1194.29 – our feeling was to ‘leave as is' rather than lose the car's authenticity and original appearance.

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