Coches Alvis: libros - historia, modelos y técnica

This book tells the story of Alvis and its cars, aero engines and military vehicles. Starting with the formation of the company in 1919, it traces the company's products through the 1920s and 1930s, and through its wartime exploits to its eventual takeover by Rover.

The book covers:
- the early four-cylinder cars;
- the amazing six-cylinder cars;
- early ventures into armoured car and aero engine production;
- the post WWII four- and six-cylinder cars;
- the Leonides post-World War II aero engines
- and finally, the post-World War II military vehicles.

The Alvis Speed models of the 1930s were and still are among the most desirable high-performance cars of their decade. Less expensive than the Bentley or Lagonda, classier than the SS Jaguar, and more advanced than any of them, the Alvis earned a special cachet as the sporting gentleman motorist's favoured choice.

As the author of this book observes, it is remarkable that such a relatively small concern as the Alvis company was able to design, engineer, produce and maintain the continuous development if this sophisticated series of cars. In addition, it was Alvis, in the Speed Twenty, which pioneered such major industry innovations as independent front suspension and an all-synchromesh gearbox.

The book opens with an introduction highlighting the pleasures of Speed model motoring, followed by an exposition of the background that led to the introduction of the Speed Twenty in 1932. Then comes a highly detailed technical analysis of the Speed Twenty itself, covering every aspect of the chassis, running gear, engine and transmission.

This sets the scene for the chapters which follow, on the SA/SB/SC/SD Speed Twenty models, the 3 1/2-litre, the Speed Twenty Five and the ultimate expression of the marque, the 4.3. Each of these receives comprehensive treatment, including information on differences from previous models, revisions and production changes, the range of bodies available from coachbuilders, performance and behaviour, and appearances in competitive events.

For owners, present and prospective, there are chapters on using a Speed model today and on the practicalities of ownership, including advice on parts availability, fuels, lubricants, maintenance and preservation.
Five outstanding examples of the cars have been specially photographed for the book and are featured in some 70 colour shots. There are also more than 140 black-and-white photographs drawn from the archives as well as from Alvis sales and publicity material.

Un livre de Brooklands consacré aux voitures Alvis des années 1919-1967. Description des modèles Alvis 12-50, Straight-eight racer, 14-75, Alvista saloon, Atlantic saloon, Front-Drive Alvis, Silver Eagle, 12-60, Speed Twenty, Mayfair DHC, Firefly saloon, Crested Eagle, Firefly Twelve, Alvis 16, Silver Eagle 16, 3.5-litre, Speed Twentyfive, Twenty-five Limousine, 4.3-litre saloon, Crested Eagle 25, 12/70, Silver Crest, 14, 14 Sports, 3.0-litre saloon, 3.0-litre DHC, TC 21/100, Graber saloon, 3-litre Park Ward, TD21, TD21 Auto et TE21 Ser. III.

• Les articles, parus à l'époque dans la presse automobile anglo-saxonne, sont une bonne source d'information sur l'histoire, l'évolution des modèles et la technique.
• Cet ouvrage contient aussi des impressions de conduite, des tests routiers et comparatifs, des données techniques, etc.

The Alvis company of Coventry were motor and aero engineers who made some of the finest motor cars during the period 1920 to 1967, when car production stopped. There were no independent coachbuilders left and mass production was not for Alvis.

Total production was a mere 21,250 and fewer than 7,000 after the Second World War. It is the post-war cars that this book focuses on. The successor to Alvis's iconic Fourteen, the Three Litre, had a production run of seventeen years and the newest is now nearly fifty years old.

John Fox offers a fascinating look at both technical and historical aspects of Alvis cars during this period, utilising rare archival and modern photographs.

From its launch in 1950 to its demise in 1967 the Alvis Three Litre enjoyed a deserved reputation for effortless performance, exceptional surefootedness and stability, and irreproachable quality of construction. It was considered a rather exclusive car, coming as it did form a maker whose products always had a certain individuality.
In addition, there remained through successive models something reassuringly traditional about its styling in both saloon and drophead forms; while never outdated, it displayed a timeless, discreet dignity.

Thoroughout production the Three Litre was based on the same chassis and was powered by the same engine. This was a handsome and efficient short-stroke six-cylinder, conceived in order to provide the driver with ample power over a very wide rev range. Starting with an output of 83 bhp in the early TA21, this robust unit was progressively developed to supply 150 bhp in its final TF21 form while retaining the turbine smoothness, reliability and lack of temperament that it had become celebrated for. It was perfectly matched to the chassis and running gear.

This book opens with an exposition of the background to the company's introduction of the Three Litre in 1950. Then comes a detailed technical analysis of the TA21, covering all aspects of the chassis, running gear, engine and transmission.
This sets the scene for the chapters which follow, on the short-lived TB21 sports tourer, the TC21 and the uprated TC21/100, the Graber-inspired TC108/G, the outstandingly handsome TD21 Series I and II, the TE21 and the TF21.
Each of these receives comprehensive treatment, including differences from previous models, production changes and full chassis number listings, along with notes on famous owners and screen appearances.

The author provides extensive information on the coachbuilders who supplied Three Litre bodies, including Mulliners, Tickford, Graber, Willowbrook and Park Ward, and there are chapters devoted to the Alvis-powered Healey G Series sports car, the aborted Issigonis-designed Alvis TA350, and the ownership and use of Alvis Three Litre models today.

Five outstanding examples of the cars have been specially photographed for this book and are featured in some 75 colour shots. There are also more than 140 black-and-white illustrations drawn from archives as well as from Alvis sales and publicity material.
This is the first book ever devoted exclusively to the Three Litre. Its in-depth examination of these excellent cars offers an unrivalled store of information for the many owners who care passionately about them, and serves as a tribute to the men who made them.

With an original approach, this book chronicles every model and lists every chassis number ever produced by Alvis, one of the great British manufacturers. It details famous owners and drivers, notable number plates, and is illustrated with original period photographs, and depictions of Alvis cars in the humorous cartoons of the day.

The Alvis car has always seemed to appeal to a type of buyer who has made their mark upon society in a variety of ways. This 'social history' aspect of the book looks at the many Alvis owners from the world of politics, stage and screen, sport, the armed forces, medicine, and the arts. These range from a King to a serial killer, and every variation in between.

The book has been written with full cooperation and approval of the Alvis Company, and is the result of much research by the author and other enthusiasts, who have managed to allocate a very large number of registration marks to chassis, by trawling County Archive Record Offices up and down the country, thus creating a unique record that will be a valuable resource for owners and collectors.

The forefather of Alvis, T. G. John & Co. Ltd, was founded in 1919 by Thomas George John and became the Alvis Car & Engineering Company Ltd in December 1921.
The company's first production car, the Alvis 10/30, was introduced in 1920 and helped establish a reputation for quality workmanship and high performance for which Alvis would later become famous. A model line up of both touring and competition cars followed the 10/30 with the most notable being the 12/50, which was extremely competent in both roles.

The prewar models were preferred for competition due to their simplicity and ease of tuning. Car production was suspended during the Second World War as Alvis contributed to the war effort with aero engines, military vehicles, munitions handling mechanisation and medical equipment.
After the Second World War, Alvis produced many fine touring cars until manufacture ceased in 1967.

In this book, Clive Taylor, a member of the Alvis Owner Club, in co-operation with the Club celebrates both the centennial year of Alvis cars in 2019 and some of the cars that featured in its fine competition history.
With images and information from Alvis owners, this is both an informative book and a wonderful tribute for the company's centennial.