Tracking down my Grandfather's Alvis

Tracking down my Grandfather's Alvis

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Discussion

GRS40

Original Poster:

164 posts

175 months

Thursday 25th March 2010
quotequote all
This is a bit of a long shot but I wondered if anybody could help me in trying to track down my Grandfather’s Alvis which he owned in the late 40’s
early 50’s. I believe it is still on the road and whilst not really looking to buy it, would love to know what has become of it.

The information I have on it is that he first owned it (probably from new) in the late 1940’s – and the registration was NWL 130.

At the time my mother remembers it being originally light green (she says something similar to Aston Martin green) and then for some reason my grandfather had it sprayed a sort of pea green. Apparently it wasn’t done very well and it may explain why the car is now black as I believe it is. It was a drophead so I would suspect that it was a TA14 from that year but can’t confirm it.

Both my mother and my aunt remember the car well as it wasn’t all that nice as a little child to travel in! I do have a couple of photos of it from a holiday they took in Devon (not great ones but they do show it) and would love to find out what had happened to it

I have tried the Alvis owners club but no joy - any other suggestions would be gratefully accepted.

Cheers

davepen

1,469 posts

276 months

Thursday 25th March 2010
quotequote all
According to the DVLA it is taxed until the end of the month.
http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/
Then vehicle enquiry

If the AOC can't help, you could ask the DVLA to forward a letter.

JR

12,726 posts

264 months

Thursday 25th March 2010
quotequote all
davepen said:
According to the DVLA it is taxed until the end of the month.
http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/
Then vehicle enquiry

If the AOC can't help, you could ask the DVLA to forward a letter.
Very impressive. Almost certainly a TA14 but could be an early TB14.

chard

27,422 posts

189 months

Friday 26th March 2010
quotequote all
It might be worth a phone call to these guys.

http://www.redtriangle.co.uk

They may have had it through the workshop at some point.

85Carrera

3,503 posts

243 months

Friday 26th March 2010
quotequote all
Definitely try Red Triangle. I asked them about my grandfather's Alvis, also a TA 14 (JYO 582 - there is a picture of it on the owner's club website here -http://www.alvisoc.org/Site%20Files/Picture%20Gallery/Pages/067.htm), which he owned from the late 40's until the early 90's and they were able to tell me that it was owned by a gentleman in Wimbledon in his 80s who still plays golf everyday, and drove it to Switzerland the summer before last.

I asked them to pass on my contact details, but unfortunately did not hear anything from the owner.


a8hex

5,830 posts

229 months

Friday 26th March 2010
quotequote all
You could probably ask to be notified if it ever comes on to the market.

85Carrera

3,503 posts

243 months

Friday 26th March 2010
quotequote all
Yep, need to do that. He had it so long would be nice to own it one day, if possible. Remember thinking it was incredibly cool to go out in that as a kid.

Benny Saltstein

668 posts

219 months

Thursday 1st April 2010
quotequote all
Hi GRS40,

I've just sent you a PM with the contact details of the club registrar. Apologies if you've already spoken to him but he's probably the best person in the club to help in your quest.

Cheers

Robin

neutral 3

6,504 posts

176 months

Friday 2nd April 2010
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Has anyone ever had the Beurocrats at DVLA forward a letter to a current owner for them ? I very much doubt it , they are Extreemly unhelpfull and totally uninterested in this respect , but they dont realise how shortsighted they are . If they charged a fee of say £5 just for forwarding a letter , they would absolutely coin it in.

Travis Mcgee

314 posts

199 months

Friday 2nd April 2010
quotequote all
neutral 3 said:
Has anyone ever had the Beurocrats at DVLA forward a letter to a current owner for them ? I very much doubt it , they are Extreemly unhelpfull and totally uninterested in this respect , but they dont realise how shortsighted they are . If they charged a fee of say £5 just for forwarding a letter , they would absolutely coin it in.
Agree, the DVLA wont do that. If you are the current owner, they will furnish you with a list of the previous owners, for a fee of course. I did this to gather information about one of my previous projects. Needless to say, nobody wrote back. Strange really, a lot of people, myself included, blank out the registration number, when listing photos of their cars on various websites. This is because we believe that someone will find out where we live from the VRN and come round and nick the car, or break in to our houses. If its so hard to get the address, why are we all worrying?

neutral 3

6,504 posts

176 months

Friday 2nd April 2010
quotequote all
Yes , i agree , why blank out the plate , and i am trying to trace previous owners of a project , but no listing at directory enqrs. The dvla are very out of touch , many or all of the staff dont even know one make from another.

tinks v8S

2,153 posts

214 months

Saturday 3rd April 2010
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try chris prince alvis parts he may know the car

williamp

19,498 posts

279 months

Saturday 3rd April 2010
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for a fee the DVLA will let you know who the current owner is (if you have good reason for knowing)

Trust me: the current owner would love to hear from a relative of an old owner. Especially if you have any photos/stories about the car.