1936 Alvis Silver Eagle SG Sport TourerChassis no. 12720Engine no. 13172

1936 Alvis Silver Eagle SG Sport TourerCoachwork by Cross and EllisChassis no. 12720Engine no. 13172
2,653cc OHV Inline 6-Cylinder Engine3 SU Carburetors86bhp at 4,800rpm4-Speed Manual GearboxIndependent Front Suspension – Live Rear Axle4-Wheel Drum Brakes*Well-preserved and maintained professional restoration*Recognized as a CCCA Full Classic™ automobile*1 of 15 built and 9 known survivors with Cross and Ellis Sport Touring body*Offered with comprehensive history file THE ALVIS CAR AND ENGINEERING COEngineer T. G. John founded the Alvis company in 1919 when he acquired the rights to an automobile engine and with it the brand name of its aluminum pistons— "Alvis." Beginning in 1922, newly appointed Chief Engineer Captain G. T. Smith-Clarke and Chief Designer W. M. Dunn created the car that effectively established Alvis' reputation—the immortal 12/50. The latter was powered by a new overhead-valve engine of 1,496cc, which, on its competition debut at Brooklands in 1923, secured a legendary victory in the premier 200-Mile event crewed by Harvey/Tattershall. Pre-war development saw Alvis produce powerful six-cylinder models, based on cruciform-braced chassis they embodied the kind of advanced thinking long associated with the marque. Independent front suspension and a four-speed, all-synchromesh gearbox was standard, as was the additional refinements of driver-controlled Luvax hydraulic dampers and servo-assisted brakes. The Silver Eagle was Alvis' definitive pre-war road model, with the name applied to two distinct groups, beginning with 1,498 "Vintage" Silver Eagles built 1929 –1932. As few as 677 "Post Vintage" (PVT) Silver Eagles followed, with production during 1934 and the cars sold 1935 –1937. Sturdily built and endowed with a generous wheelbase, the Alvis six attracted some of the finest examples of the pre-war coachbuilders' art. However, the upper-end price point meant that ownership was confined to wealthy connoisseurs.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDTwo Post Vintage Silver Eagles were offered: the "SF" with a 2,138 cc six-cylinder engine and the higher-specification "SG" with a more-powerful 2,653 cc unit. Out of about 500 SG cars, only fifteen were built with 4-passenger, 2-door Sport Touring bodies from Cross and Ellis, including this wonderful example—one of just nine known to survive today. The new car was delivered by Alvis Ltd. to Bambers of Leeds, on April 4, 1936, where it was purchased same day by Mr. Grange Sheard. It is believed the SG was placed into storage during Mr. Sheard's ownership of the car and following his eventual passing in 1951, it changed ownership for the first time in 1967. According to documents on file, the Alvis received a safety inspection by the UK Ministry of Transport on June 4, 1966. In July 1967, it was purchased by Elazar Behar of Seattle from Jack Bond of Vintage Autos Ltd. in London, England. It was loaded onto the Royal Main Line freighter SS Loch Loyal on August 23, 1967 and shipped to Los Angeles, where it cleared customs prior to arriving in Seattle on September 12, 1967. Alvis Ltd. parts records show Mr. Behar purchased a head gasket for the car in early 1968. In October 1972, Mr. Behar sold the Alvis to Paul Lutey of Freeland, Washington, through whom it passed in January 1976 to George Raab of Sammamish, Washington. In 1984, Mr. Raab entrusted the Alvis to Greg Soter's Phantom Restorations in Seattle for a full restoration. The restoration was completed over a five-year period with several thousand hours of work performed to high concours-quality standards. Soon after completion, Mr. Raab stored the Alvis and after his passing in October 2013, the current owners acquired it from the Raab estate. Given its excellence and rarity, the new owners submitted the Alvis to the rigorous application process for CCCA Full Classic™ recognition. In January 2014, their efforts were rewarded when the car accorded this coveted status. The Alvis has been shown at the following: Concours d'Elegance at The Wood in Lynnwood, Washington, the Crescent Beach Concours d'Elegance in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Pacific Northwest Concours d'Elegance at the LeMay – America's Car Museum, where it was subsequently placed within a special Custom Coachwork exhibit. Recently, the car was serviced mechanically, and received a tune-up. Offered with exceptional documentation, the Alvis was recently the subject of a Summer 2015 feature the CCCA Pacific Northwest Region magazine. An elegant car, which would be welcomed to the most prestigious Concours d'Elegance events around the world.