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1957 Alvis Firefly 'Routledge Special' [RA4]

1957 Alvis Firefly [RA4] in Heartbeat, TV Series, 1992-2009 Ep. 13.23

Class: Cars, Racecar — Model origin:

1957 Alvis Firefly 'Routledge Special' [RA4]

00:31:04 Minor action vehicle or used in only a short scene

Comments about this vehicle

Author	Message
johnfromstaffs ◊ 2023-08-24 20:43	Riley?
dsl ◊ 2023-08-24 21:10	Distinctive wide mouth grille had me digging up pics of Alta and HWM. But no joy.
johnfromstaffs ◊ 2023-08-25 11:46	If you look at the Riley Specials, esp the Sprites, you will see that the grilles were not always the classic Riley shape. Also, the exhaust is on the near side, but that is all the evidence I can find, it might be something completely different.
zodiac ◊ 2023-08-25 12:31	The grille looks Allard-ish, but the protruding chassis beneath the grille and the rear wings does not Link to "rememberroad.com" .
dsl ◊ 2023-08-25 15:53	It's TWX 266 We've identified this vehicle using the details you provided ALVIS UNKNOWN 1957 Registration number: TWX266 Body type: Sports Colour: Grey Date of first registration: June 1957 A 1957 special built by Norman Routledge at his garage in Seacroft (Leeds) out of 1935-ish bits and known as 1935 Alvis Firefly "Bonstard Special" AKA "Routledge Special" AKA "Tea bag" (because its chassis is drilled with lots of holes ..... Alvisist humour??) "based on a shortened Firefly chassis, powered by a highly breathed-upon SB Speed 20 engine (even the pistons are drilled!) ..." and from the Alvis archive here "Dave Culshaw writes: TWX 266 was the fourth of Norman’s Alvis Specials, hence the RA4 declared chassis number. The anachronistic registration mark ( West Riding ) tells us he must have finished it in May 1957. The engine 11494, is a Crested Eagle unit out of chassis 11041 originally sent to the Huddersfield agent. The chassis is undoubtedly Firefly but in the conversion to the six cylinder engine, the tubular cross member which bears the chassis number must have been jettisoned." More info and pics here. Apparently lives in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Now all we've got to do is decide what to call it ....
johnfromstaffs ◊ 2023-08-25 16:05	It would probably best be known as the Alvis Routledge Special RA4. The engine references may leave room for interpretation although there was overlap between Crested Eagle and Speed 20. For the front end, take a look at the Alvis TB14 Roadster, I knew I had seen it somewhere, but have been pre-occupied with a visit to the Drs, and RFS and Granddaughter Sophie both having a Birthday tomorrow. I'll record what I think it should be, change it if you wish. -- Last edit: 2023-08-25 16:31:54
dsl ◊ 2023-08-26 19:23	More views from ep

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