1930 Alvis Silver Eagle Special 'The Green Car'

Lot details
Registration No: GC 5151
Chassis No: 8731
Mot Expiry: Feb 2008

There can be few cars - regardless of marque - which are known by the colour of their paintwork but one such is 'The Green Car'.

Arguably the most successful competition Alvis ever, 'The Green Car' was supplied new via Henlys of London to Philip Fotheringham-Parker on March 17th 1930. Although, originally intended to be a Cross & Ellis bodied Silver Eagle SA 16.95 (2148cc) Four-Seater Sports Tourer, an accompanying copy Works Guarantee Card reveals that the sportscar was fitted with a 15.72hp (1991cc) engine prior to despatch (a change which allowed it to compete in the 2-litre rather than 3-litre class at events). The first of just six Silver Eagles to carry the 1991cc unit in period, its specification thus mimicked that of the three Alvis cars which contested the 1930 Brooklands Double Twelve Race.

An amateur racing driver of some note who would go onto pilot an ERA and Maserati 4CL, Fotheringham-Parker campaigned 'The Green Car' at Brooklands during both 1931 and 1932 collecting one 1st, one 2nd and two 3rd places for his troubles. Lucky to escape an incident during one of the 1932 Mountain Circuit Races when a seized differential sent 'The Green Car' flying over the Brooklands banking, he sold the noticeably bent but surprisingly intact Alvis to Dr Bobby Beaver shortly thereafter.

Claiming to have taken no longer to reach the French Riviera aboard his suitably repaired charge than the Blue Train, Dr Beaver ran the Silver Eagle at La Turbie hillclimb before returning to England. Purchased from the good doctor by its most famous custodian, Michael W.B. May, on Whitsun 1933, 'The Green Car' spent the next six years being relentlessly honed. Having had the original 'flight damaged' chassis replaced by the Alvis Service Depot in Chelsea's Jubilee Place, May set about extensively modifying / improving the car's bodywork, brakes, steering and handling.

Although, the 2-litre unit had proven sufficient to win gold in a MCC High Speed Trial and scale Shelsey Walsh in 49.09 seconds, May sought more power. To this end, he turned to his friend and fellow Alvis racer Antony Powys-Lybbe (the two were paired for the 1934 and 1935 Ards International TT) who supplied him with sufficient parts to construct a larger 19.82hp (2,511cc) straight-six. Converted to dry-sump lubrication and tuned by the Brooklands-based race preparation specialist Robin Jackson, this latter unit developed some 120bhp and oodles of torque.

Far more than just a Circuit Queen, 'The Green Car' participated in a wide variety of Speed Trials, Hillclimbs and Reliability Trials. Though, its performances at the likes of Donington and Brooklands were impressive, May claiming two 1st, four 2nd and two 3rd places as a result of his numerous trips to Weybridge. Credited with lapping the Outer Circuit at a highly impressive 113.97mph during a handicap race on September 24th 1938, the Silver Eagle was also present at the last ever Brooklands meeting (where it competed as number '10' in race nine).

However, its finest achievement was undoubtedly winning the IMRC's 75-mile 'Grand Prix' handicap race at Phoenix Park on September 16th 1938. By posting an average speed of 88.03mph (an increase of 10mph over the previous year's victor), 'The Green Car' not only left its MG, Frazer-Nash and LERA rivals trailing but also secured the coveted Wakefield Trophy. Interestingly, Henry Birkin had only been able to average 84.09mph around Phoenix Park when he won the Eireann Cup aboard an Alfa-Romeo 8C 2300 in 1931.

Revelling in its abilities as a fast road car, Michael May kept the Alvis long after he had hung up his racing goggles. Acquired by the well known Brooklands' enthusiast Dudley Galaghan in 1984, 'The Green Car' entered the current ownership some fourteen years later. Reportedly "the subject of an ongoing programme of competition use, preparation and maintenance" since then, the Silver Eagle was treated to a "body-off repaint in Michael May's colour scheme" and thorough rewiring during 2001. While, other recent work has apparently seen the engine overhauled with a new crankshaft (copied from the special Laystall item fitted by Michael May in the 1930s), shell bearing conversion and fresh pistons. Just as in its heyday, 'The Green Car' is said to have proven "a highly versatile and enjoyable car whether on the race-circuit, hill-climb or long distance rallies".

Bearing the original London registration number 'GC 5151' and upholstered in brown leather, the Silver Eagle is variously described by the vendor as being in "well worn / patinated" (interior trim), "very good" (electrical equipment, paintwork, wheels / tyres) or "excellent" (2511cc engine, four-speed manual gearbox, chassis, bodywork) condition. A truly historic car, the Alvis is offered for sale with Michael May's impressive collection of trophies and awards (some 46 in total) including The Wakefield Trophy for the 1938 Irish 'Grand Prix' victory.

In addition, it comes with spares ranging from differential units to items of streamlined bodywork (boat-tail, undertray, dumb-iron fairing). Finally, its history file encompasses the master copy of the history of 'The Green Car' as written by Michael May (see The Vintage Alvis, Hull & Johnson) alongside Brooklands entry forms, certified BARC lap charts, various working sketches, numerous folded blueprints from Alvis Ltd, sundry racing paperwork of the period and a VSCC buff form (it competes with the Club as 'Modified Vintage').

For many a prewar Alvis fan, 'The Green Car' is quite simply as good as it gets.

PLEASE NOTE: This vehicle now comes with MOT until February 2008.