1961 Alvis TE21 DHC

The Alvis TE21 body by Park Ward was introduced in 1963 with a distinctive stylistic change to double stacked headlights, a signature Park Ward feature also seen on Rolls and Bentleys of that era. Although the TE21 retained the TD21 3-liter, twin-carb OHV inline six (with minor changes), the gearbox was upgraded to a ZF S5-17 (5-speed), the suspension improved and all-wheel disc brakes fitted. Power steering was offered as an option. Delivering 130bhp at 5,000 rpm, the TE21 can cruise comfortably at 70mph.

According to the Alvis Archives, between mid-1963 and March 1966, Alvis built 352 TE21s, of which only 73 were drophead coupe, manual transmission cars. No records were kept as to the number of left-hand drive cars built but the Alvis Owner Club Registry suggests around 35. Rover bought Alvis in 1965 and in 1967 shut down the brand. Fortunately, a group of Alvis employees purchased all of the parts and continues in business to date as Red Triangle, the badge of Alvis.

This particular numbers-matching TE21 was built as a left-hand drive drophead coupe (i.e. it is not a converted right-hand drive car nor a chopped coupe, of which there are several). Consistent with the correct original components throughout, the gear shift knob is as delivered from the factory without with gear numbers marked. The radio has been invisibly converted to Bluetooth and the clock works. One unusual provision is the ability to manually start the engine using a “winding handle” (stored in the boot) inserted through the hole in the bottom of the front grill.

The name of the color of the car, “Alice Blue," derives from dresses of that color frequently and famously worn by Alice Roosevelt and later in the Disney animated version of Alice in Wonderland, during which Alice wore the same color dress throughout.