1936 Alvis Crested Eagle Saloon

• One of only 322 made
• An older restoration
• Present ownership since 2017
• Substantial history file detailing much recent expenditure
• £15,000 spent with Red Triangle in the past year

Introduced in 1932, the Crested Eagle featured a substantial X-braced chassis and independent front suspension, and usually carried formal limousine or saloon coachwork. It was initially offered with the 2,148cc Silver Eagle engine, although capacity was soon to increased to 2,511cc, then 2,762cc (a single carburettor version of that used in the Speed 20) and eventually the 3,571cc engine also used in the Speed 25 and 3 ½-litre models.

This stunning Crested Eagle TF is a 19.82hp 2,762cc model with four-speed synchromesh transmission. It carries six-light saloon coachwork by Charlesworth, the most popular choice on this chassis, with 322 of the 602 Crested Eagles bodied in this style. Offered with a substantial history file, the car was supplied new via Turner & Hore of Suffolk in September 1936 and delivered to its first owner in Newmarket. A note on file suggests this Alvis originally left the factory with a red leather interior, while the bodywork was finished in Lake Rouge with black wheels.

'DGY 755' was acquired by a Mr L Camidge in 1965 and in 1980 by a Mr Tim Dale, who treated it to a total body-off restoration, including a colour change to the current Claret over Black and a full interior retrim, after which it was loaned to the Stratford Motor Museum in 1986. In 1998 the car passed to a Mr Mike Cummins and then to a Mr Brian Garratt in 2003. It then changed hands a couple of times before being acquired in 2017 by the vendor, who believes it to be one of four such Charlesworth-bodied examples surviving, one of which is in the USA and another in Sweden.

The history folder documents much recent expenditure at classic specialists CMC of Bridgnorth, with invoices for a replacement cylinder head gasket in February 2022 and a carburettor rebuild, full service, new coolant and heater hoses, plus a full brake overhaul. It also had a new water pump in June 2022 and in January 2023 the radiator was refurbished, all the work carried out by CMC. There are also 20 old MoTs showing regular light use, the last of which expired in August 2018 with no advisories recorded. The car is now, of course, MoT-exempt. More recent expenditure is evidenced by invoices from marque specialists Red Triangle totalling £15,000 in the past year. The car is said to drive beautifully; it is very smooth, has lots of torque and is above all very comfortable and elegant.