Alvis 4.3 Litre Short Chassis Concealed Drophead Coupe By Whittingham & Mitchel

The 4.3 Litre was the last and fastest of Alvis's pre-war sixes, a enlarged development of the Speed Twenty Five with a seven-bearing overhead-valve engine, triple carburettors, independent front suspension and a four-speed synchromesh gearbox. Period road tests put it among the quickest unsupercharged touring cars of its day, good for 100 mph.

Chassis 14844 is a short-wheelbase car, recorded in the Alvis Car Record as fitted from new with a special high-compression engine and high-ratio rear axle. It left the factory as a bare chassis in September 1938 for Hugh Anderson Ltd, then returned to be completed in November with a concealed-hood drophead coupé body by Whittingham & Mitchel of West London. The body is a one-off, related in theme to the short-chassis Vanden Plas tourer, and can seat four occasionally. The car is black with tan trim and right-hand drive.

Early owners included Leslie Edward Martin of Surrey and later Sir John Venables-Llewelyn, who used it as a tow car for his ERA in 1973. It then spent time in the US in the David Van Schaick collection in Pennsylvania before returning to the UK. Red Triangle of Kenilworth restored it between 2002 and 2004 and has maintained it since. It retains its original engine and gearbox, with discreetly fitted overdrive and an electronic speedometer. A history file includes factory records and period literature.