Alvis

Alvis cars were produced by the manufacturer Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd of Coventry, UK from 1919 to 1967. The company was also involved in aero-engines and military vehicles, the latter continuing after the car production was stopped. more...

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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 founder TG John was approached by Geoffrey de Freville with designs for a 4-cylinder engine. The 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 it is well known that de Freville himself vigously denied this theory. It is also possible that is was named for the Norse mythological weaponsmith, Alvis, but the true origin is unknown.

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 Alvis brand became famous. The company logo of a winged green triangle soon evolved into the more familiar inverted red triangle incorporating the word 'Alvis' during this period, after complaints from the AVRO aviation company whose logo bore distinct similarities to the original Alvis design. In 1921, the company changed its name to become Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd. and moved to Holyhead Road, Coventry.

Captain GT Smith-Clarke joined from Daimler as Chief Engineer and Works Manager in 1923 and was soon joined by WM Dunn as Chief Draughtsman. This partnership lasted for 25 years and was responsible for many designs.

The original 10/30 side-valve engine was developed progressively, becoming in 1923 the overhead-valve 12/50, which was produced until 1932 and became one of the most successful vintage sports cars. Around 350 12/50hp cars and 60 12/60hp survive today which represents around 10 percent of total production.

In 1927 the six-cylinder 14.75 h.p. Alvis was produced and this engine became the basis for the long line of six-cylinder Alvis cars produced up until 1939 before a completely new design which was produced from 1950 to 1967.

The company was notable for experimenting with independent front suspension and a front wheel drive model (from 1928 to 1930), and for introducing the world's first all-synchromesh gearbox in 1933.

Smith-Clarke designed remarkable models during the 1930s and 1940s — the handsome, low-slung six-cylinder Speed 20, the Speed 25 and the 4.3 L model. These were commonly fitted with coachwork by Cross and Ellis, Charlesworth and Vanden Plas. 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.

Read more at Wikipedia.org