1930 Alvis Silver Eagle Racer
This is a unique car, honed to be the best and fastest vintage Alvis of all time, a bold statement, and one that’s been, 35 years in the making. It gives me great pleasure to bring Prof Mac Hulbert’s 1930 Alvis Silver Eagle to the open market.
This attractive black Silver Eagle needs little formal introduction since it’s been a feature of the VSCC paddock since 1988, and Mac I guess needs even less introduction. The pairing having been inseparable, even when ERA R4D shared the stable, always on the trailer behind that black 7.5-ton lorry, going to the same race meetings.
As I begin to make sense of build notes and email communication with Mac, who is either on the other side of the world or in the air as he was when actively campaigning. Mac couldn’t have been much older than me at the time of construction. This car is a culmination of the high esteem he has for the Alvis marque, an esteem sown by his parents, as has been the case for so many of us.
So what is it, really?
Utilising a shortened 1930 12/50 Alvis chassis, which is identical to the early Silver Eagle chassis, the coachwork was styled on the Maserati Tipo T26 and constructed by Rod Jolley. The mechanics were by Bob Jones. Engine is a six-cylinder Silver Eagle 19.82hp dating from 1930. The bottom end has been significantly strengthened and uprated, converted to dry sump to dial out oil surge issues. Obviously, steel billet crank and rods, forged pistons. The induction is a large Roots-type Marshall supercharger feeding methanol via two 2-inch SU carburettors. After some experiments with timing gears resulting is a couple of bad seasons, a new source of timing chain was located, and reliability returned. A new chain has been recently fitted. The most recent dyno readings show over 280 bhp at the flywheel with over 270 ft/lbs of torque.
The gearbox a modified four-speed, silent 3rd featuring strong straight cut gears, and reinforced casing to prevent distortion! The clutch is a modern diaphragm style. The Front axle is Silver Eagle wide track anabeling a lower front ride height. Both front and rear axles, feature anti-torque arms, bespoke lightweight friction shock absorbers help the precise handling, wheel are alloy rims by Turrino.
The rear axle comes with a choice of CWP ratios which can be swapped depending on the event entered. Again, these are straight cut, for strength, the half shafts again strengthened.
Brakes are hydraulically operated with front the rear balance, the front 14-inch drums being custom built to an ERA design.
Notable results.
- The Itala and Holland Trophy race winner.
- The M.A.C. Challenge Trophy.
- The Glencaird Trophy.
- The Alvis Trophy.
- The Ruth and Jim Hulbert Trophy
On the Hills and Sprints series, various FTD’s, some vintage records, and multiple class wins.
The engine was rebuilt prior to placing the car on the market, and comes with a useful, number of spares as well as 35 years of advice and experience where needed.
My thoughts.
Well, I have shaken my piggy bank, found no buyer for a kidney and so I must miss my personal opportunity to acquire this fabulous car. One which as mentioned previously helped ignite my passion for Vintage racing. It is a misconstrued concept that methanol cars are hard to run single-handed, but that is not the case with this car, whch is very easy to start, and ticks over smoothly straight away. When warm, fit the race plugs and you’re set for the day. Upon entering the cockpit, all the important gauges are ahead of you, in plain sight, the gear lever is mounted outside the body and falls to hand without thinking, as it should with any racing car. The box is gated beautifully and easy to operate.
Respectfully pulling away without lighting the power is addictive, as is the exhaust note, I’m sure if full hooligan mode were selected they would be lots of tyre smoke, along with accompanying flashes from unburnt fuel on overrun, enough excite any bystander whatever there vintage….