Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica 1948 - 1952AFN built several sports cars with the name “High Speed” in 1948 but after one of them came third at Le Mans in 1949, the name was changed to Le Mans Replica.  The cars were powered by a Bristol engine. Only 34 of these cars were made…

Check-out Dave Alford’s website www.davealford.com for more detailed drawings like this and how you can get hold of a copy!  Dave AlfordAutomobile Artist www.davealford.com 

Shoaib Akhtar

Dave AlfordAutomobile Artist www.davealford.com

Bill Nilsson Motocross World Champion 1960 Bill  Nilsson was the Swedish motocross racer who won the first ever F.I.M. 500cc Motocross World Championship in 1957 riding an AJS motorcycle. He repeated as world champion in 1960 riding a Husqvarna. Nilsson was also a two-time winner of the Novemberkåsan enduro event.This pencil drawing shows Bill in 1960 riding his Husqvarna…Check-out Dave Alford’s website, www.davealford.com for more detailed pencil drawings like this and how you can get hold of a copy!

Dave AlfordAutomobile Artist www.davealford.com

Morgan 3 Wheeler 1910This is a drawing of the original 3 wheeler Morgan cyclecar of 1910… It had minimum bodywork and tiller steering!

It was a version of this cyclecar that H.F.S. Morgan broke the cyclecar hour record at Brooklands in 1912…

Check-out Dave Alford’s website www.davealford.com fot more detailed pencil drawings like this!Dave AlfordAutomobile Artist www.davealford.com

The Torso

This is a detailed drawing of the male torso (as it should be)… It is a popular drawing for people to hang on their walls to make a statement!!

Check-out Dave Alford’s website, www.davealford.com for more images…and how you can get hold of a copy!Dave AlfordAutomobile Artist www.davealford.com

Velocette 500cc MMS 1950’s

This is a detailed pencil drawing of the world renowned Velocette MSS 500cc classic motorcycle of 1950’s.

Check-out Dave Alford’s website, www.davealfordr.com for more detailed pencil drawings and how you can get hold of a copy!

Dave AlfordAutomobile Artist www.davealford.com 

Triumph Thunderbird 650cc Twin  1950’s

Triumph Thunderbird - Now this is a legendary motor cycle that was ridden with style by the mean and moody, Johnny (Marlon Brando), in the classic cult film of the 1950’s, The Wild One…. This wonder bike has moved into motorcycling folklore for its record attempts on the Bonneville Salt Flats….  James Dean and Steve McQueen are also said to have owned one.. How cool is that!!!

Take a look at Dave’s website to see more cool pictures! 

Dave Alford Automobile Artist         www.davealford.com

Triumph TR5,1968 TR5 : The Triumph TR series is one of the great success stories in the history of the sports car and many would say that the TR5 was the pinnacle of this series. It was a development of the TR4A which, in turn, was based on the TR3A chassis, but with independent rear suspension and styling by Giovanni Michelotti.
The TR5 had Triumph’s 2.5-litre straight-six engine which gave 150 bhp and 168 lb/ft torque which translated into 120 mph ( 0-60 mph in 8.8 seconds ) with a very flexible mid-range. The roar of the engine has been likened to a ‘Six Cylinder Symphony’..This is just one of Dave Alford’s detailed classic car drawings… Go to the link below and see some more..

  Dave Alford Automobile Artist www.davealford.com

The following article appeared in the magazine “GoodLife” and is recreated with permission.

Drawing on expertise

Dave Alford is obsessed with classic and veteran cars, combining this with artistic talent, he now draws and sells exquisite pictures of collector’s cars.

A Sao Bras resident since last July (2007), he recalls his childhood spent near Surrey’s Brooklands Race Circuit.

“The track had been closed for two decades but there was plenty of evidence, with crashed cars abandoned on the fringes. We played on the banking, climbed inside the wrecks pretending to drive them and examined their rusty engines”.

Neighbourhood streets recalled pioneering drivers: Campbell, Seagrave and Cobb, for example. The young Dave collected old car magazines to discover more about the daring exploits of these heroes. Today his library includes thousands of publications – some over a century old. The technical data and historic content are useful: appropriate fashions and background scenery reflect the vehicles era.

He draws with careful use of perspective and light reflection on the body panels, using 4H graphite pencil for the palest areas and 2, 3 and 4B for the depth and darker tones. More complex than charcoal drawing, pencil cannot be smoothed out or shaded. Instead graphite layering and chamois leather create the correct tones.

“Even the slightest touch leaves grease on the paper, blemishing a flawless image. If I pick up any contamination it means I have wasted lots of time. I throw an artist’s wobbly and chuck it in the bin!”

Perfectionism was useful when Dave trained as an apprentice motor engineer with British Leyland. He still draws on his understanding of mechanical principals.

“Theoretical knowledge is useful when drawing a car under acceleration, overtaking or cornering at speed”.

The pictured Bugatti driver making a handbrake turn exemplifies his specialised expertise. It was displayed at a recent exhibition, where a gentleman recognised both the driver and the car, having seen them at Brooklands over 50 years earlier.

Certain periods hold design appeal.

“The 1950’s are often overlooked by motor historians. For me it was a golden age of shining chrome and decadence after the austerity of the Second World War. Of equal interest is the influence of art deco in the 1930’s”.

His drawings reflect social history, conveying the upper and middle classes, for example, in chauffer driven limousines. Only they could afford motoring at the time.

As a professional artist, Dave’s interests and aptitudes have diversified as his latest picture, a flying Spitfire in oils, demonstrates. He’s also recreated figures of the seductive ‘nose art’ belles originally on American bombers’ fuselage in the same era. British motorbikes from the first half of the 20^th century are also part of his repertoire.

He accepts commissions to draw cars still in production and numerous A3 signed prints of his drawings are available on his website for 26 euros, including postage.

A lifelike image of Lewis Hamilton has captured the attention of modern motor enthusiasts, resulting in praise for Dave as a portrait artist.

He’s been called a “spanner”, “petrol-head” and an “anorak” and readily admits to being all three.

“More importantly I hope people like my pictures as much as I enjoy doing them”.

CKF