1960Alvis TD21 Coupe by Park Ward

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1960 Alvis TD21 Coupe by Park Ward

The name Alvis was always synonymous with craftsmanship and performance. The final models produced by this very British manufacturer were no exception. The origins of the TD21/TE21/TF21 series date back to 1953 when sales of Alvis’ three litre, ladder frame chassis cars, such as the TC21/100 Grey Lady, were falling and its planned all-new V8 saloon was scrapped at huge financial cost. When production of the three litre cars ended in 1954, that might have been the end of Alvis cars for good had it not been for Swiss coachbuilder Graber. For some time he had successfully re-bodied Alvis chassis with his own elegant and modern designs but in 1953, Alvis reached an agreement to build the Graber cars under licence. Initially Loughborough coachbuilder, Willowbrook, built the first model, the TC108G, but it was expensive and only 17 examples were built in three years. Production ceased in 1957 when Alvis, having bought the Graber rights two years earlier, struck a deal with Park Ward to build the cars at a more reasonable cost. The new TD21 was announced in October 1958 and benefited from a strengthened chassis, sharper styling and increased interior space. Suspension remained wishbone/coil spring at the front with a live rear axle and semi-elliptic springs but Austin-Healey’s four speed manual gearbox became standard, as did front disc brakes on all but the earliest examples. It received excellent press, with Autocar calling it ‘one of the most enchanting owner-driver cars imaginable’.





The TD21 was produced in coupe and convertible form between 1958 and 1963, with the convertible thought to make up around a quarter of the 1070 produced.



This particular example was completely restored during 2004 and 2005 by Scheldt and Petit of South Harrow and is described as being almost in concours condition with excellent body, interior and mechanicals. The current owner acquired the car in November 2006 and has entrusted marque specialists Red Triangle with maintenance ever since. In 2008 the steering box and water pump were replaced along with some other minor works. The steel and aluminium bodywork is beautifully presented in red and is complemented by the beige interior and black soft top. This is such a fine example that it was used to illustrate the buyers guide published in the October 2010 issue of Octane magazine. The opportunity to take stewardship of such an exceptional example of these desirable motor cars rarely presents itself, do not miss this one.