The only Alvis 4.3 Litre to receive coachwork by Bertelli
Unique and highly advanced Airline Sports Saloon body
Shown by the factory at the 1935 Paris Motor Show and the Scottish Motor Show
One of just five Alvis motor cars of any specification bodied by Bertelli
Retaining its original, numbers-matching chassis, engine and body, confirmed by the Alvis Car Record
Recognised as a Full Classic by the Classic Car Club of America

Chassis number 18039 was constructed by the Alvis Works in 1935 as a 3½ Litre show chassis and was used to demonstrate the company’s latest engineering developments. In this form it appeared at the Paris Motor Show in October 1935, displayed without coachwork to place emphasis on its advanced mechanical specification, before making a further appearance the following month at the Scottish Motor Show. Only after these important factory showings was the chassis released for sale.

It was acquired by Henken Widengren, the well-known Swedish racing driver whose career encompassed ice racing at the highest level as well as a highly creditable fifth overall finish at the 1932 24 Hours of Le Mans. A man of technical curiosity and modern taste, Widengren determined that his Alvis should carry coachwork of the most progressive character available.

For this he turned to Bertelli of Feltham, Middlesex, the small and highly individual coachbuilding firm run by Enrico “Harry” Bertelli, brother of S.O. Bertelli of Aston Martin. Bertelli-bodied Alvis motor cars are among the rarest of all pre-war Alvis variants, with only five produced in total. This car is unique among them, being the sole example built on the 4.3 Litre chassis, Widengren having arranged for his car to be upgraded to the latest specification while the body was under construction.

The resulting Airline Sports Saloon is believed to have been developed with Widengren’s direct involvement and remains one of the most striking and forward-looking Alvis designs of the period. Its clean, aerodynamic fastback roofline and carefully judged proportions place it comfortably alongside the finest French coachbuilt automobiles of the mid-1930s, yet with a restraint and purpose entirely in keeping with the Alvis character. So distinctive were its lines that the car continued to attract attention well into the post-war years and was featured in the April 1948 issue of Motor Sport, which illustrated the car and noted that “this 4.3 Litre Alvis with special Bertelli body belongs to Henken Widengren, the Swedish racing driver.”

By that time the car, having been stored throughout the war years, had already passed from Widengren’s ownership to Walter Lindquist, and in 1953 it was sold on to Tommy H. Brahmer of Rotebro, near Stockholm. During Brahmer’s ownership the car was repainted white and the engine rebuilt. In 1955 it passed to Hans Fellenius, an artist, who kept the Alvis largely in storage for some fourteen years. It was subsequently acquired by another Swedish enthusiast, Jarl Östensson, who began a careful and gradual restoration.

Since 2009 the car has resided within a distinguished and selectively assembled collection of important Alvis motor cars. During this period it was comprehensively restored by Red Triangle of Kenilworth, the acknowledged specialists in the marque, with close attention paid to correctness and detail throughout. Since completion, the Alvis has been shown sparingly, most notably displayed for a period in the rotunda of the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall.

Today, this exceptional 4.3 Litre Alvis is offered in magnificent condition, retaining its original, numbers-matching chassis, engine and body as confirmed by the Alvis Car Record. Combining rarity, provenance and an extraordinary coachbuilt design, it stands as one of the most beautiful and significant Alvis motor cars ever produced, retaining all the presence and appeal it would have possessed when first delivered.

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