1928 Alvis FD Front Wheel Drive Sports Two-Seater
- Engine
- 1.48L inline four-cylinder SOHC, single Solex carburetor, 50 hp
The 1928 Alvis Front Wheel Drive Sports Two-Seater, chassis 6794, is the sole surviving member of the Alvis works pair entered at the 1928 Le Mans 24 Hours, where it finished 9th overall and 2nd in class co-driven by 'Bentley Boy' S C H Davis, the previous year's Le Mans winner. One of only around 39 FD-series cars ever built, it combines a 1,482cc SOHC four-cylinder engine with pioneering front-wheel drive, inboard brakes, and transverse independent front suspension. Subsequently owned by the Iliffe publishing family and later a succession of collectors, it was comprehensively refurbished and has since won Best in Class at the 2023 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.
Ownership
- 2023-08-18Auction saleEstimate US$575,000 – US$675,000
- 1928 →Acquisition unknownIliffe familypartial documentation
Prominent British publishing family who acquired the car shortly after its Le Mans appearance. Precise date of subsequent disposal not stated.
- 2016 →Acquisition unknownCurrent vendorpartial documentation
An active enthusiast who commissioned a thorough mechanical and cosmetic refurbishment in the UK, primarily undertaken by SPB Historics.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownLong-term collector from late 1990spartial documentation
Held the car for an extended period spanning the late 1990s through the early 2010s; identity not disclosed in the catalogue.
Competition
- 19281928 Le Mans 24 HoursDriver: S C H Davis9th overall, 2nd in class
Davis co-drove with Bill Urquhart-Dykes in the number 28 entry (WK 5492); the sister car finished 6th overall. Average race speed was approximately 58.2 mph.
- 20222022 Audrain Concours
Displayed at this concours event following the post-2016 restoration work.
- 20232023 Amelia Island Concours d'EleganceBest in Class
Awarded top class honours at this prestigious American concours event.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2016RestorationSPB Historics
Comprehensive mechanical assessment and aesthetic upgrading carried out in the UK following acquisition by the current owner; scope covered both technical and cosmetic aspects of the car.
Described as the majority of the refurbishment work being handled by SPB Historics, a respected engineering firm.
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