1950s Alvis TA 14 | Projects

1950s Alvis TA 14

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The Project

This 1950s Alvis TA 14 arrived into Carrosserie HQ early 2023 for a full restoration to the bodywork and to fully restore the engine.

Updates

23rd June 2023 – Bodywork repaired and prepped for final paintwork. Doors have began to be fitted and the engine has been restored.

9th August 2023 – Body has been sprayed black with maroon side trim to match the doors, which will be the next job on the list.

30th August 2023 – Wheels and side doors have been sprayed black with maroon to match the bodywork. Boot door has been sprayed black.

7th March 2024 – The front and back wings, bonnet and engine panels are being prepped for paint. The wings and bonnet will be sprayed black, and the engine panels will be sprayed maroon to match the doors and wheels.

22nd May 2024: Front and rear panels have had their final coat of black paint. Engine panels have been painted maroon. All have now been polished and are now ready to be delivered back to their owner.

> More updates to follow.

History

The Alvis TA 14, unveiled in 1938, was a remarkable luxury car that fused elegant design with cutting-edge engineering. Its name, “TA,” denoted “Three-bearing Alvis,” referencing its innovative three-bearing engine. Boasting a robust chassis, independent front suspension, and a 1892cc inline-four engine, the TA 14 introduced the novelty of all-synchromesh gears, a pioneering feature for smoother gear shifts.

Tragically, the TA 14’s production was curtailed by the outbreak of World War II, as Alvis, like other manufacturers, redirected its resources towards war-related endeavors. However, post-war, Alvis revisited the TA 14 design and cautiously resumed production, albeit with subtle modifications.

The 1950s marked a transformative era for the automotive landscape. As tastes and technologies evolved, Alvis, too, underwent changes to stay relevant. Although the Alvis TA 14 was not produced in the 1950s, its influence was palpable. The company shifted its focus to newer models, such as the TA 21 and the TC 21. These models incorporated more powerful engines, refreshed designs, and advanced features, signifying Alvis’s response to the evolving demands of consumers.

In 1955, Alvis introduced the TC 108G, a sportier iteration of the TC 21. Boasting enhanced performance and a more potent engine, the TC 108G epitomised Alvis’s commitment to adapting to the shifting preferences of the market.

Friendly, helpful, extremely knowledgeable, patient enough to explain the processes and reasons for doing things and highlighted even more how approachable the team are. They tried to accommodate our needs and requests to get our beloved old riley back on the road as soon as possible despite the ups and downs that were thrown our way and into the teams path! We could not have wished to deal with a more personable company after encountering some other teams that really made a botch of stuff, seemed uncommitted and were not professional at all. Carrosserie as a team were totally the opposite . . would we recommend them ? ABSOLUTELY !!! We would not go anywhere else now, THANK YOU TO Steve, Neil, Graham and Nicola . . Oh and Karen who spilled the beans about the the birthday surprised to my partner (whose car it is ) . but made the experience all the more special when a bottle of wine was presented as well as a treat to Simon for his birthday AND made it all the more worth dealing with the team ! THANK YOU AGAIN !!!

My car was the subject of some body and paint repairs here in Spring 2024, to address corrosion plus some substandard paintwork. An annual service was also carried out. There was good responsive communications, advice, and attention to detail throughout, to ensure a high quality, durable result, with the final paintwork being indistinguishable from factory finish, and easily better than any franchised dealership repairs. If you are invested in your classic car, want to make it last, with an exemplary finish to be proud of, then you need look no further.

I can't recommend Carrosserie highly enough, the service was exemplary from start to finish and the workmanship is second to none. I highly recommend giving the team a call for any work you need doing to your classic car, no matter what it is, you will not be disappointed!