Alvis Silver Eagle mascot (late version).

Alvis cars were produced by the manufacturer Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd of Coventry, UK from 1919 to 1967. The company also produced aero-engines and military vehicles, the latter continuing long after car production ceased. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 143 KB) The Alvis Eagle. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 143 KB) The Alvis Eagle. ... The Precinct in Coventry city centre. ...

History

Beginnings

The original company, TG John and Co. Ltd., was founded in 1919. Its first products were stationary engines, carburettor bodies and motorscooters. The company's founder T.G. John was approached by Geoffrey de Freville with designs for a 4-cylinder engine whose design called for aluminium pistons and pressure lubrication, unusual for the period. Some have suggested that de Freville proposed the name Alvis as a compound of the words "aluminium" and "vis" (meaning 'strong' in Latin)although de Freville himself vigously denied this theory. Perhaps the name was derived from the Norse mythological weaponsmith, Alvis, but the true origin is unknown. A typical mid 1980s twist and go scooter. ... General Name, Symbol, Number aluminium, Al, 13 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 13, 3, p Appearance silvery Atomic mass 26. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Alvis (All-Wise) in Norse mythology was a dwarf. ...

The first car model, the 10/30, using de Freville's design was an instant success and set the reputation for quality and performance for which the company became famous. Following complaints from the AVRO aviation company whose logo bore similarities to the original winged green triangle, the more familiar inverted red triangle incorporating the word 'Alvis' evolved. In 1921, the company changed its name and became the Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd. and moved production to Holyhead Road, Coventry.

An Alvis special, based on a 1935 car

In 1923 Captain GT Smith-Clarke joined from Daimler as Chief Engineer and Works Manager and was soon joined by WM Dunn as Chief Draughtsman. This partnership lasted for 25 years and was responsible for producing some of the most successful products in the company's history. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1523x1042, 512 KB) Alvis Built in 1935 4300 ccm Photo taken during the 2005 Kitzbühel Alpenrallye by Chris 73 File links The following pages link to this file: Alvis Cars User:Chris 73/Gallery 003 ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1523x1042, 512 KB) Alvis Built in 1935 4300 ccm Photo taken during the 2005 Kitzbühel Alpenrallye by Chris 73 File links The following pages link to this file: Alvis Cars User:Chris 73/Gallery 003 ... Daimler has, since 1896, been the motor car marque of the British Daimler Motor Company, based in Coventry. ...

The original 10/30 side-valve engine was developed progressively becoming by 1923 the famous overhead-valve 12/50, produced until 1932 and one of the most successful vintage sports cars of all time. Exhilarating performance and rugged reliability meant that around 350 of these 12/50hp cars and 60 of the later 12/60hp survive today representing some 10 percent of total production.

1927 saw the introduction of the six-cylinder 14.75 h.p. and this engine became the basis for the long line of luxurious six-cylinder Alvis cars produced up to the outbreak of war. not only were these cars extremely elegant but they were full of technical innovations. Independent front suspension and the world's first all-synchromesh gearbox came in 1933 followed by servo assisted brakes. A front wheel drive model was introduced (from 1928 to 1930). The front suspension components of a Ford Model T. Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. ... Synchromesh is the term used to describe a manual transmission in which gears are brought to the same speed during shifting by a synchronizer. ... Front wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ...

Smith-Clarke designed remarkable models during the 1930s and 1940s — including the handsome, low-slung six-cylinder Speed 20, the Speed 25 and the 4.3 L model. As with many upmarket engineering companies of the time Alvis did not produce their own coachwork relying instead on the many available Midlands coachbuilders such as Cross and Ellis, Charlesworth and Vanden Plas. Several cars also survive with quite exotic one-off bodywork from other designers. In 1936, the company name was changed to Alvis Ltd and by the beginning of the war, aero-engine and armoured vehicle divisions had been added to the company. Vanden Plas is the name of a company of coachbuilders for specialist and up-market automobile manufacturers. ...

World War Two

In September 1939 following the outbreak of war car production was suspended, but was later allowed to resume and production of the 12/70, Silver Crest, Speed 25, and 4.3 L continued well into 1940. During World War II the car factory was severely damaged in the German Luftwaffe raid on Coventry in 1940 though strangely the armaments factory emerged fairly unscathed. Much valuable gear cutting and other equipment was lost and car production was suspended for the duration of the war only resuming during the latter part of 1946. Despite this, Alvis carried out war production on aero engines (as sub-contractor of Rolls-Royce) and other aeroplane equipment. Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The term aircraft engine, for the purposes of this article, refers to aircraft reciprocating, or rotary, internal combustion engines as opposed to jet engines or turboprops. ... Rolls-Royce Limited was a British car and aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Henry Royce and C.S. Rolls in 1906 and was the result of a partnership formed in 1904. ...

Post war

1963 Alvis TD 21

Car production resumed with a four-cylinder model, the TA14, based on the pre-war 12/70. A solid, reliable and attractive car the TA14 fitted well the mood of sober austerity in post war Britain but much of the magic attaching to the powerful and sporting pre-war models had gone and life was not easy for a specialist car manufacturer. Not only had Alvis lost their car factory but many of the prewar coachbuilders had not survived either and those that had were quickly acquired by other manufacturers. In fact the post war history of Alvis is dominated by the quest for reliable and reasonably priced coachwork. 1963 Alvis TD21 at a Classics Rally in Bristol, England. ... 1963 Alvis TD21 at a Classics Rally in Bristol, England. ...

Smith-Clarke himself retired in 1950 and Dunn took over as chief engineer. In 1950 a new chassis and six-cylinder 3 L engine was announced and this highly successful engine became the basis of all Alvis models until production ceased in 1967. Saloon bodies for the TA21 as the new model was called again came from Mulliners of Birmingham as they had for the TA14 with Tickford producing the dropheads. But with the first of these becoming part of Standard Triumph and the second being acquired by Aston Martin Lagonda it was clear by 1954 that new arrangements would have to be made. By this time some of the most original and beautiful designs on the three litre chassis were being produced by Hermann Graber of Switzerland and indeed these one-off designed cars are highly sought after today. With a licence in place, from 1955 all Alvis bodies became based on Graber designs. Early examples were built by Willowbrook of Loughborough but at such a high price that very few were made. Only after 1958 with the launch of the TD21 did something resembling full scale production resume as Park Ward, coachbuilders for Rolls-Royce and Bentley, contracted to build the bodies. The TD21 and its later variants, the TE21 and finally the TF21 are well built, attractive and fast cars. However it was clear by the mid sixties that with a price tag of nearly double that of the mass produced Jaguar the end could not be far off. There were several 'might-have-beens.' From 1952 to 1955 Alec Issigonis, the creator of the later Mini worked for Alvis and designed a new model with a V8 engine which proved too expensive to produce. Rover took a controlling interest in Alvis in 1965 and a Rover-designed mid-engined V8 coupé prototype named the P6BS was rumoured to be the new Alvis model but with the takeover by British Leyland this too was shelved. By the time the TF21 was launched in 1966, (available, like its predecessors in both saloon and drophead form and with either manual or automatic gearbox), the model was beginning to show its age despite a top speed of 127mph - the fastest Alvis ever produced. With only 109 sold and with political troubles aplenty in the UK car manufacturing business at that time, production finally ceased in 1967. The Alvis name lived on with armoured fighting vehicle production and those who, like many, regretted the loss of a great car name, took some comfort from the fact that, unlike many other great names from the past, the brand had never been abused or applied to any product not worthy of the name. A chassis (plural: chassis) consists of a framework which supports an inanimate object, analogous to an animals skeleton; for example in the construction of an automobile or of a firearm. ... 1933 Standard Ten. ... The Aston Martin Lagonda was a luxury four-door saloon built by Aston Martin of Newport Pagnell, England, between 1976 and 1989. ... Willowbrook may refer to: Willowbrook, California Willowbrook, Kansas Willowbrook, Will County, Illinois Willowbrook, DuPage County, Illinois This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Introduction Mulliner Park Ward was a coachbuilder based in London UK. The company produced Rolls-Royce Motor cars including the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Rolls-Royce Corniche. ... The Rolls Royce logo Rolls-Royce is a set of several companies, all deriving from the British automobile and aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Henry Royce and C.S. Rolls in 1906. ... Bentleys winged B badge and hood ornament Bentley Motors Limited is a British based manufacturer of luxury automobiles and Grand Tourers. ... For other uses, see Jaguar (disambiguation). ... Sir Alec Arnold Constantine Issigonis KBE FRS (November 18, 1906–October 2, 1988) was a designer of cars, now remembered chiefly for the development of the Austin Mini in 1959. ... For the new MINI, see MINI (BMW). ... Rover was a British automobile manufacturer and later a marque based at the Longbridge plant in Birmingham. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupé 1990 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC coupé, noted for its large, angular design A coupé (from the French for cut) or coupe is a car body style with a close-coupled interior offering either two seats or 2+2 seating (space for two passengers up front and for...

Modern

Main article: Alvis plc

As part of Rover, Alvis Limited was incorporated into British Leyland but was bought by United Scientific Holdings plc in 1981. Subsequently the company's name changed to Alvis plc. In 1998, the armoured vehicle business of GKN plc was taken on and the main UK manufacturing operation moved from Coventry to Telford. In 2002 Alvis group purchased Vickers to form the subsidiary Alvis Vickers Ltd which was subsequently purchased by BAE Systems in 2004. BAE Systems have ended the use of the Alvis distictive 'red triangle' trademark, so another famous British automotive marque has passed into history. Alvis Vickers in context of the evolution of the land systems division of BAE Systems, 1970s to Land & Armaments formation Alvis Ltd. ... The British Leyland Motor Corporation (often abbreviated to simply BL), was a Britain in 1968. ... Alvis Vickers in context of the evolution of the land systems division of BAE Systems, 1970s to Land & Armaments formation Alvis Ltd. ... GKN plc is a British engineering company formerly known as Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds and tracing its origins back to 1759 and the birth of the industrial revolution. ... The Precinct in Coventry city centre. ... Statistics Population: 138,241 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: SJ699092 Administration District: Telford and Wrekin Region: West Midlands Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Shropshire Historic county: Shropshire Services Police force: West Mercia Ambulance service: West Midlands Post office and telephone Post town: TELFORD Postal district... Alvis Vickers logo Alvis Vickers Ltd was a defence company formed by the combination of Alvis plcs defence business with Vickers Defence Systems in 2002. ... BAE Systems plc is the worlds fourth largest defence contractor[2] and a commercial aerospace manufacturer. ...

Notes

• The site of the Alvis works in Holyhead road is now an out-of-town shopping complex, but its name, Alvis Retail Park, reflects the heritage of the site.

Alvis vehicles

Alvis car models

The production figure of 48 TC21/100 Alvis' shown above is inaccurate. According to the TC 21/100 registrar of the Alvis Owners Club, 600 TC 21/100's were produced of which perhaps 100 of the Drop Head Coupe and 30 of the 4 door sports coupe exist today. The TC 21/100 is a variant of the TC21 which should also be shown above as a distinct model. Saab 900 Convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible (security) A convertible is an automobile with a folding or retracting roof. ...

Alvis military vehicles

• Alvis Saladin eg FV601 Saladin
• Alvis Saracen eg FV603 Saracen
• Alvis Stalwart eg FV620 Stalwart
• The CVR(T) series eg FV101 Scorpion
• Alvis Stormer in service with the British Army as FV4333 Stormer

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Alvis vehicles

The Saladin (FV601) was a six-wheeled armoured car built by Alvis and used by the British army. ... The FV 603 Saracen was a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier built by Alvis and used by the British army that became a recognisable vehicle as a result of its part in the policing of Northern Ireland. ... General characteristics Length 6. ... The Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) —or CVR(T)—is a family of armored fighting vehicles in service with the British Army and others throughout the world. ... The FV101 Scorpion is a modern British light tank, part of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) or, CVR(T) family. ... Alvis Stormer is a modern military armoured vehicle manufactured by the British company, Alvis, a subsidiary of BAE Systems. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...

External links

• ALVIS TC 21
• - Thetford Engineering - Alvis specialists and enthusiasts
• Earley Engineering - Alvis Sales and Restoration
• http://vea.qc.ca/vea/marques1/alvis.htm
• http://www.alvisoc.org/Alvis%20Company.htm
• http://www.britishmm.co.uk/history.asp?id=46
• http://www.sponend.org.uk/hist/hhalvis.htm