1961 Alvis TD21 Special

Based on a 1961 Alvis TD21 chassis, ‘282 PKL’ is, despite what you might be thinking, definitely not a kit car.

Oh no, it’s something far more interesting than that.

It’s a hand-crafted, aluminium-bodied special that was built and outfitted from Day One for competition use such as hillclimbs and sprints – so the presence of a tuned Chevrolet small-block V8, coilover suspension, side-exit exhausts, and disc brakes all round is, perhaps, less of a shock than it might otherwise have been.

Having seen only very limited use since being built in around 2008, it was recommissioned by Robin Lackford Motor Engineering between November 2020 and March 2022 at a cost of more than £72,000, with the resulting invoice running to four pages.

And it only went in for a respray, which tells you all you need to know about how fastidious the seller is – and how he simply refuses to compromise on the quality of work that goes into his cars.

The new silver paintwork (ICI colour code LA7W) gives it the look of a car hewn from a solid ingot of aluminium – but then that’s not a surprise because its body, which was built in around 2008, is formed of aluminium panels.

We can’t find any further details other than an older auction listing, but it looks like it was a bespoke commission, the cost of which probably put even the recent £72,000 restoration in the shade.

But then both were worth it because it looks sensational now and, dare we say it, even better in its current colour than it did when it was finished in British Racing Green.

Everything aligns very well too, and that potentially delicate body is free of dents, dinks, and ripples. The four cycle wings are beautifully formed too, hugging the tyres’ contours nicely.

As well they might. Remember we said the seller was on the fastidious side? Well, it looks this good because he had the whole thing stripped down and then rebuilt – but properly this time: “There was no strength to it. It looked great but we had to reinforce the whole of the body to make it strong enough to be able to drive it safely.”

Are you starting to see where that £72,000 went?

And the silver paintwork still has a wonderful lustre to it, but then its one and only proper outing was to the Goodwood Revival, so it hasn’t exactly seen hard use since it was finished.

The Brooklands aero screens make a decent fist of keeping your hair unruffled while adding another considerable dose of style to a sportscar that’s not exactly short of visual impact in the first place.

Other bonus features include a leather bonnet strap, a Le Mans-style fuel filler, chrome hinges fore and aft, natty V8 and Alvis badging, and a bullet-shaped mirror that sits neatly between the aero screens.

There’s a black tonneau cover too, which fits like a glove and is really all the roof you’ll ever need; like Morgan owners, anyone discerning enough to choose an Alvis is unlikely to want to cower beneath a hood. No, far better to buy a decent sheepskin flying jacket and revel in the elements while the sheeple huddle beneath the roof of their PCPmobiles.

And we can’t forget the side-exit Patriot exhaust pipes, which rumble and burble beneath each door. You’ll be able to admire the four-branch exhaust manifolds that feed them later in the listing, but for now it’s enough to know the owner spent a four-figure sum on having them ceramic coated to keep their temperature down: ‘they were blistering the paintwork before!”

The alloy wheels are Jaguar D-Type style jobbies. Virtually unmarked and free of anything you could describe as damage or wear, they’re fitted with a matching set of 195/65R15 and 215/65R15 Kumho Solus KH15 tyres on the front and rear respectively.

Oh, and the 195/65R15 spare that’s mounted on the nearside front wing is the same make of wheel and tyre.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

That said, the tyres, while they still have good tread on them, were made in 2013 and are getting old; given the performance on tap, we’d recommend replacing them.

Which leaves nothing else for the new owner to do other than to enjoy it. 
 

The interior is charmingly simple, with extensive use having been made of bright red leather, a hue that works in tandem with the silver coachwork and red chassis to give the car something of a pre-war Grand Prix car look.

It’s all been done very neatly too, but then the retrim, which included a custom tonneau cover, cost £5,450 for labour alone, with another £510 on file for the red leather.

Corners were not cut, only beautifully trimmed.

The two bucket seats are snug without being uncomfortable, and, given how few miles the car’s covered since being completed, it’ll come as no surprise to learn that they still look like new.

The wood-rimmed steering wheel does show signs of use, but these are entirely consistent with the 3,000-odd miles it’s travelled since 2008. The instruments that sit behind it in the red leather dashboard are comprehensive, monitoring speed, distance, engine revs, oil pressure, battery charge, coolant temperature, and fuel level.

The B&M gearlever for the automatic gearbox is a work of art, and, of course, the benefits of driving a self-shifter extends beyond enhanced wafting because the absence of a clutch pedal also frees up a huge amount of room in the driver’s footwell, opening the Alvis up to folk with bigger feet than the average, something that can be a real problem with some sportscars.

The floor coverings are black, and the transmission tunnel has been trimmed in quilted black pleather to match.

There’s a similarly upholstered and padded armrest between the seats too, and this also provides a small storage area that’s supplemented by cutouts in the doors and a carpeted shelf behind the seats that would be ideal for coats.

Speaking of storage, the boot is a useful size and as well trimmed as everything else in the cabin, albeit in need of a Hoover. It also contains an indoor car cover to keep your pride and joy free of dust.

We can’t spot anything in here that needs your attention other than to fit a couple of rubber bungs in the holes in the floor. However, please do feel free to make an appointment to come and view it and see if we’re wrong!
 

A new Edelbrock carburettor was fitted to the 5.7-litre V8 Chevrolet ‘small block’ engine in April 2022, and this builds on the original work that was done to the engine back when the car was first built.

We believe this included a new stage 2 camshaft, pistons, valves, bearings etc., plus a high-efficiency aluminium radiator, all of which were installed with hillclimbing and sprinting in mind.

The seller tested it thoroughly shortly after buying it and was happy with its condition and performance, which is quite the compliment coming from a man as demanding as him.

The 1969 engine’s considerable power is fed to the rear axle via the aforementioned automatic gearbox, which works in conjunction with power-assisted steering to keep things nice ‘n’ light.

Disc brakes on all four corners bring the Alvis to an halt, while the coilover suspension and front and rear anti-roll bars help maintain its composure no matter how quickly you’re cornering – and given the modern tyres and the low centre of gravity, that may be very quickly indeed.

As you can see, the V8 bursts into life with a subdued rumble and idles well. It also shows both good oil pressure and a healthy charge to the battery. Pressing the throttle lifts the revs quickly but the noise remains muted at sensible speeds, something you’ll be grateful for as you amble through villages and towns.

At higher revs though it comes to life, with the four-into-one, ceramic-coated manifolds feeding the side-exit exhausts while the V8 engine remains beautifully smooth and balanced: There are many good reasons to buy this bespoke Alvis, and the small-block V8 might just be the main attraction.

And the condition of the engine bay is no less impressive. Dominated by a huge chromed Edelbrock air filter, it is very nicely presented with everything laid out and easy to access; this is a DIY-friendly engine space, not least because there are grease nipples aplenty and working your way around with a grease gun would be real-world ASMR.

The rest of the underside is as well presented as everything else. It is low, but once lifted everything is easily accessible, which would make inspection and routine maintenance straightforward.

Oh, and we understand the fuel tank isn’t only made of stainless-steel, it’ll also hold 20 gallons, giving the Alvis a useful range, even with that greedy V8.
 

The Alvis doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

But, it only expired this month and given the only advisory when it was issued was for a small oil leak, getting a new one on it might not be too onerous.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear save the marker for having had its colour changed.

The car comes with an old-style continuation log book, many maintenance and parts invoices, and a handy guide for servicing it, which is a lovely touch and one the new owner is sure to appreciate.

This is an analogue sportscar in a digital age, which, in case you’re wondering, is as high as praise comes these days.

Because it’ll follow your instructions faithfully and without question; there’s no computer fighting you, misinterpreting what you want to happen, calming things down to a government-approved, nanny-knows-best drudge.

You’ll need to be at the top of your game, of course, but the rewards will be huge.

It’s also benign enough, with its tuned suspension, power-steering, and auto ‘box, to be comfortable ambling around when you don’t want to cause a stir – and that analogue engineering means you’ll be able to look after it yourself too.

And the cost to make it yours? Well, our estimate starts at £30,000 and we doubt it’ll exceed £40,000, which is madness considering how much the seller invested on recommissioning alone. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.