Alvis Register History
In the years immediately after WW2, the supply of new cars was very limited
and those that were available were expensive and rather pedestrian.
In comparison, the vintage Alvis offered a very attractive
alternative with its excellent performance, reliability and character.
Several owners had independently considered getting together to form
a club or association for the purpose of helping each other, sharing
expertise, buying and selling spares and cars, but it was Paul Quiggin and
Bob Burgess who actually founded the Alvis Register in June 1948.
The first Bulletin for members appeared in June of that year, typewritten on
foolscap by Paul Quiggin who was the Register’s first secretary. He
acknowledged the help of Motor Sport in setting up the Alvis
Register. The very first advertisement, appropriately enough from Jack
Wilson, member no. 1, offered magnetos and a Silver Eagle engine for sale
and asked for a 12/50 con-rod. There was mention of lightweight clutch
assemblies, producing duplicate handbooks and compiling a booklet of advice
for members. Thus was the
pattern of mutual help and assistance established, and the ideals of those
early pioneers have been honoured and strengthened by Register members over
the ensuing decades.
Mutual help and assistance – changing a 12/50 half-shaft during an early
Inter-Register event.
In April 1953 The Alvis Register monthly Circular was the first to be
produced by arguably the most influential figure in the Register's early
history, Norman Johnson, member no. 195. He is still a member.
He had recently produced The Vintage Alvis containing 40 pages
“of great interest to everyone interested in the marque”. By that time the
monthly Circular had been joined by a quarterly Bulletin; rallies and
meetings were frequent; Alvis Ltd were helping by reproducing manuals and
still supplying some spare parts; Alvivacity in Australia was reported; and,
of course, there were cars and spares for sale and wanted. An overhauled SD
beetle-back was offered at £125 (four months’ salary for a young graduate
teacher) and a complete relined clutch could be bought for £3.
Norman Johnson campaigned for originality and high standards of presentation
and was strongly opposed to ill-conceived modifications and specials, a
far-sighted policy which the Register endeavours to uphold today. For many
years he owned and used extensively an immaculate 1928 six-cylinder 14.75 hp
Cross and Ellis sports tourer.
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Norman Johnson in his 1928 14.75 sports tourer
Although initially the main aim of the Register’s founders was to enable
members to use their vintage Alvis cars as reliable and enjoyable everyday
transport, it was perhaps inevitable that the inherently sporting nature of
the cars (and members!) led to their increasing use in competitive motoring
events of all kinds, a trend which happily continues today. Some impression
of the range of activities from the 1960s and ‘70s can be gained from the
small selection of contemporary photographs below, and others may be found
in the Gallery.
A landmark in Register history was the publication
in 1967 by Macdonald of The Vintage
Alvis by members Peter Hull and Norman Johnson.
The book’s 400 pages are a year-by-year account of Alvis production
and competition success followed by twelve appendices of essential advice
and information for the owner and a list of all cars known at the time.
A second edition, published by the Register and considerably
expanded, appeared in 1995: copies are available to members. Detailed
research continues into the history of the cars, their manufacture and the
people who made, raced and owned them over the years.
In the true tradition of help and service to fellow
members, Micky Radford produced in 1970 a comprehensive book on the Alvis
12/50 engine. He was also
responsible for The Vintage Alvis
Manual which covers in the greatest detail every aspect of owning and
maintaining a vintage Alvis, from what to look for when buying a car to
complete restoration.
From the early days, far-sighted committee members
concentrated on ensuring that the Register was financially strong.
Over the years this policy has been endorsed with the result that the
Register has been able to provide a remarkable
spares scheme.
From relatively small beginnings, the list of new parts available now
tops two hundred.
In 2001 the informal Alvis Register became the formal Alvis Register Ltd, a Company Limited by Guarantee No. 4309139. Although some governance changes have been necessary, we are committed to maintaining the original spirit of informality and mutual assistance. Up to a maximum of five Board members are elected at the Annual General Meeting: and there is, of course, a Committee. Each Board and Committee member undertakes a specific task such as Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary,Registrar, Archivist, Editor and so on. Currently, there are just over 600 members, of whom well over 200 have been members for over thirty years. There are about 800 known surviving cars.
ALVIS
REGISTER LIMITED
(1919-1933 - models
10/30,11/40,12/40,12/50,12/60 fwd,14.75,16.95)
Registered
office:
20, Paradise
Square,
A Company
limited by guarantee no. 4309139