1965 Alvis TE21 Drophead Coupe

Lot details
Registration No: CWS 33C
Chassis No: 27262
Mot Expiry: April 2020

- 1 of only 18 automatic examples known to have survived worldwide

- Illustrated in Kenneth Day's definitive work 'Alvis, The Story of the Red Triangle' and in 'The Complete Encyclopedia of Sports Cars Classic Era' by Rob de la Rive Box

- New sills, rear springs, leather upholstery, hood bag fitted by current owner who has also had the car rolling road tuned and given halogen headlights

Introduced in late 1963, the Alvis TE21 was visually distinguished from its Graber-inspired predecessor by elegant stacked headlights. Underpinned by a box-section chassis equipped with independent front suspension, a well-located 'live' rear axle and four-wheel disc brakes, the newcomer could be had in two-door Saloon or Drophead Coupe guises. Bodied in steel with aluminium opening panels by coachbuilder Park Ward, the TE21 benefited from a new cylinder head for its 2993cc OHV straight-six engine which boosted power to 130bhp. Available with a choice of five-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission, the model boasted a 110mph top speed. Wire wheels were optional as was power steering (from late 1964 onwards). Available to special order even after the TF21 arrived in March 1966, total TE21 production amounted to just 352 cars.

One of just eighteen automatic transmission TE21 Drophead Coupes known to have survived (from twenty-two made), chassis 27262 was initially finished in Metallic Beige with Beige leather upholstery; the same livery it sports today. Supplied new by W.J. Skelly Ltd to T.T. Young & Co Ltd of Edinburgh, the Alvis later belonged to local architect William Kininmonth and John Reynolds of Berkshire before migrating to New Zealand and the care of Hamish Linton. The latter is pictured driving the four-seater around a racetrack in Kenneth Day's authoritative tome 'Alvis, The Story of the Red Triangle'. 'CWS 33C' also appears in 'The Complete Encyclopaedia of Sports Cars' by Rob de la Rive Box. Repatriated via marque specialist Red Triangle in 1990, they continued to maintain it (alongside others) for Tim Roberts between then and 2007. Entering the current ownership that same year, the TE21 DHC has since been treated to a new hood bag, refurbished interior, electronic ignition, overhauled carburettors, replacement sills, rejuvenated rear springs, halogen headlights and rolling road tuning. Equipped with power steering, 'CWS 33C' won its class at the 2011 Petwood Concours d'Elegance. Recently serviced, it is MOT tested until April 2020.