• The first postwar offering from British marque Alvis
• Features stylish Drophead Coupe bodywork by Carbodies
• Powered by its numbers-matching 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine and four-speed manual transmission
• Presently indicates fewer than 48,800 actual miles at time of cataloguing
• Benefits from many years of enthusiast ownership and Alvis Owner’s Club membership

The TA-series Alvis was a new model offered after the close of World War II, from 1946 onward. Power for the TA was derived from a 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine and four-speed manual transmission which were both slightly improved from their prewar configurations. Three body styles were offered: a Sports Saloon by Mulliner, as well as Drophead Coupes by either Carbodies or Tickford.

Despite the TA 14’s origin as a premiere postwar model designed to reinvigorate Alvis’ production facilities towards civilian vehicles, it did better than anyone had hoped. More TA 14s were produced than any other model in the company’s history. It is further believed by the Alvis Owner’s Club that more examples have also survived than any other model, with much of this owed to the robust design and construction. By the end of 1950, the TA 14 had been phased out of production and replaced by the more powerful TA 21.

This particular TA 14 is clothed in the striking Drophead Coupe body supplied by Carbodies, one of just 400 examples believed produced. According to records from the Alvis Owner’s Club, the car was dispatched on 30 August 1948 to the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. where its first owner was employed as the Civil Air attaché. Nearly 40 years later, it appears for sale in a 1986 Alvis Club publication.

More recently, this TA 14 passed through collections in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Sun City West, Arizona prior to acquisition by the consignor in March 2005. It should be noted that several of the car’s previous owners were active members of the Alvis Owner’s Club who were enthusiastic and fastidious stewards of this particular chassis. As such, this nicely preserved TA 14 presently indicates fewer than 48,800 actual miles at time of cataloguing.

While within the consignor’s collection, this stately 1948 Alvis TA 14 Drophead Coupe by Carbodies has been carefully preserved and thoughtfully maintained. With fewer than 400 examples of its kind produced, this chassis is presented showing actual mileage and having benefitted from many years of enthusiast ownership. One would be hard pressed to find a more attractive postwar Alvis.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/hf21.