The Classic Motor Show - 11-13th November

The Classic Motor Show running 11-13th November commenced on friday under the theme of Part of the Family. This was very hard to interpret or even achieve as so many Alvis are 50-100 years old and have had quite a few owners in that time compared to more modern classics which could readily have stayed within the family; of our own members the few Alvis which have remained in the same family for two to three generations were not available to us or had been on the NEC stand in former years under a similar Show theme.

However, my own 1933 SA series Speed 20 (10123) could be interpreted as part of the' AOC family', in that the car has been a constant member of the AOC since its formation in 1953, despite having 4 owners since then! The other cars on display this year include the finely restored TD 21 Series 1 DHC of Dave Stokes, rebuilt almost entirely himself, Don Gray's series 2, saloon and Alan Stote's 1966 Graber TF Special Coupe.

The remaining pre-war representation being Mark Kirby's 12/70 Whittingham and Mitchell 12/70 and Jim Sprague's 1937 Speed 25/4.3 Offord 2 seater, a multi-International Concours winner, all the way from USA, or should I say on sabbatical here in UK as Jim brought the car over from Washington for our 2022 International at Hintlesham Hall, took part in the Hampton Court Concours of Elegance, and will remain for Villa D'Este and  Fougeres.

Our thanks to the owners for allowing their cars to be displayed and to Fisher Restoration and Red Triangle for transport of some of those cars on display.

Steve Horne