From the Archives – Alvis has left the building
Alvis TB14.
In 1919, the British car manufacturer Alvis was established in the city of Coventry, England. It would produce cars for almost 50 years before Rover purchased a controlling interest in 1965 and scrapped Alvis’s car-building enterprise in 1967 to focus on constructing armored vehicles. The first car produced by Alvis was the 10/30; with its 1.5-liter engine, it could manage 60 MPH. The British automaker’s final passenger car was the TF21, which saw only a paltry 106 examples built. Alvis automobiles have made many appearances in Hemmings Motor News over the years, and here are a few examples.
1928 Alvis (August 1978, Page 3224)
Seller’s description: “Supercharged 2 seater. One of the famous front wheel drive supercharged Alvises. The ex ‘Sammy’ Davis car in good running order and condition. Ideal vintage competition car at a very realistic price. $6,500, photograph $3, bills only please.”
Davis raced briefly for Alvis, including a ninth place finish at Le Mans in 1928. Not sure what this car would be worth today if it’s still out there. Asking price adjusted for inflation: $23,500.
1933 Alvis Speed 20 (April 1978, Page 1406)
Seller’s description: “Short chassis coachwork by Vanden Plas. A well-known car in Alvis circles. Green with red hide interior. $22,000.”
The Speed 20 had 4 different versions, this one being the SA. The SA was the smallest of the bunch, with a slightly narrower width and wheelbase, which made it less bulky and lighter than the others. Its drawback, however, was that it lacked the technological innovations that were available in the SB, SC and SD series. The SB used an independent suspension and a synchromesh gearbox, which would carry on through the life of the Speed 20 (which ended in 1936). Asking price adjusted for inflation: $80,000. However, a recent Speed 20 sold for $175,000 at Pebble Beach, so it’s difficult to gauge overall average values for this car.
Alvis TB14 (January 1977, page 139)
Seller’s description: “1951 TA14, Two door, two seater roadster. Coachbuilt by APM Ltd of Coventry. Car is in good, sound condition bodily, very good mechanics. Sold in running driveable condition for restoration. $2,500.”
This was part of a British dealer’s ad in Hemmings Motor News. Strangely, the car is listed as a 1951 TA14, but appears to be a TB14, of which AP Metalcraft (APM) only built 100 examples for Alvis between 1948 and ’50. APM would also make the TB21 from 1951-’53, so there appears to be some faulty information in the original ad (or at the very least a typo). At any rate, the TB14 used the same chassis as the TA14 with a different grille. With twin carbs, it could reach speeds near 90 MPH. Asking price adjusted for inflation: $10,000. Now, a perfect TB14 could fetch around $70,000.
1951 Alvis TA21 Saloon (April 1977, page 1332)
Seller’s description: “Mint sunroof, new leather, new radials, runs perfect. $7,500.”
The TA-21 featured a three-liter six (a first for Alvis), and the saloons were bodied by H.J. Mulliner. The front doors were hinged at the rear, and in 1951, partial skirts were added to the rear wheels, while parking lamps appeared on the fenders. Asking price adjusted for inflation: $29,500. Today, these cars are valued at from $20,000 to $32,000 for the best examples.
Alvis Drophead Coupe TA100 (March 1977, page 890)
Seller’s description: “This elegant car has been the subject of a total restoration. The coachwork has been the subject of a total restoration. The coachwork has been repainted in opalescent green and has been trimmed throughout in beige Connolly hide with a beige hood. Mechanically excellent and a joy to drive.”
This appears to be a TA21 drophead coupe made by Tickford, though it’s listed by the dealer as a TA100, which may, in fact, be a TA21 with some modification to give it 100 hp. If it is indeed a TC21/100, it would be worth a bit more than the TA21. Unfortunately, no pricing was listed, and the seller’s description is a bit confusing as “TA100″ was never an official model designation. The drophead coupes were worth significantly more than the saloons.
1954 Alvis TC21/100 “Grey Lady” Sports Saloon (April 1978, page 1425)
Seller’s description: “An excellent example throughout of this classic 6-cylinder Alvis saloon. $3,500. Photos $2.”
This one for sure is a TC21/100 in sedan form. The “Grey Lady” reworked the door hinges and added quarter windows for rear-seat passengers. The engine was rated at 100 hp, making this the highest-output three-liter offered by Alvis to date. These high-performance Saloons could reach 100 MPH. Asking price adjusted for inflation: $12,500. In actuality, an example would be worth between $22,000 and $35,000, now.
1959 Alvis TD21 Drophead (April 1978, page 1393)
Seller’s description: “Park Ward 2-door, drophead sports saloon. Midnight blue with blue/grey hide interior and white hood. Manual transmission, Wilton carpeting, walnut veneers, radio, cigar lighter, tools and handbook. A rare and desirable car sensibly priced at $3,850.”
The TD21 was made from 1958-’62, and the convertible versions are much sought after. Front disc brakes became available, as did an automatic transmission. Asking price for this particular car, adjusted for inflation: $14,000. Today, dropheads can pull in anywhere from $40,000 to $75,000 for top-flight examples.
1962 Alvis TD21 Sport Saloon (June 1977, page 2222)
Seller’s description: “Park Ward 2-door sports saloon. Regal red with cream hide upholstery. Automatic transmission, wire wheels, walnut veneers, radio, cigar lighter, tools and handbook. Outstanding example of this English classic. $2,650.”
Here is an example of the TD21 second series (built from 1962-’63) in sedan form. The series II had all-wheel disc brakes, and the final models (which came out in 1963) had a 5-speed gearbox. Only 289 Series II models were produced, whereas the first series yielded 784 cars. Asking price for this listing, adjusted for inflation: $10,500. Today, the TD21 series II would range in value from $27,000 to $40,000.
Alvises are a nice alternative for anyone who wants to own an old British classic, but has been priced out of the Aston Martin, Bentley and Rolls-Royce market. Great examples exist, ranging from prewar models to the more well-known 21 series. Fine coachwork, hand-crafted quality and some nice power (particularly in models fitted with the straight six) make the Alvis an exemplary British automobile. For more information on this British classic, visit AlvisOC.org.
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18 Responses to “From the Archives – Alvis has left the building”
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Hello to you all from an ex employee of Alvis, unfortunately after the car building era, but still a good place to have worked.
OK John, I’ll ask, out of interest. What were they building after car production ceased?
Since World War Two, military vehicles for the British Army. The military contracts were so profitable that Alvis management lost interest in making cars, alas.
Thanks for that, I suspected as much. IMHO it’s a great pity that so much of what is left of our industry is involved with death dealing weaponry rather than constructive uses.
While accepting entirely that you are entitled to your opinion, without the efforts of the defence industry, in which I spent most of my working life, you may not have been able so freely to express it.
I fully appreciate national defence John. Many of my family fought in two world wars. Its just the arms trade and the selling of the stuff to unsavoury dictatorships that I find less than admirable.
too right!
Many military vehicles, mainly tracked but all armoured, plus a range of aero engines, multi cylinder radial types and the post design engineering services required by such products. Hagglunds of Sweden was an Alvis subsidiary company. I don’t think I would put the same spin on why they left the car industry, I would say that it was impossible to make a car of the style needed that could compete with Jaguar in the sort of small quantities that Alvis were geared up to do.
Issigonis had done much work on a design to replace the three litre, but it would have been very expensive to put into production, and the company saw its way ahead in producing for the military.
I forgot the Stalwart, not armoured because it had to float.
Armored vehicles, for the military, also Leonides helicopter engines.
When I was about nine years old, I would save up my weekly allowance until I had a dollar, then go Marshall’s Toyland in the next town and buy another Dinkie Toy. One of these was a green Alvis tourer, my first encounter with the marque.
In 1956, when I was a few years older, I remember a disk jockey in New York introducing a new single, “Heartbreak Hotel,” by a “truck driver from Memphis” named, I thought, Alvis Presley. What a cool name! It wasn’t until the girls in my sixth grade class began swooning over this guy that I learned his name was actually Elvis. So, yeah, Alvis has indeed left the building.
Military vehicles, light tanks etc.
I have owned two early Alvis, a 1925 12/50, 1,500cc [4 cyl] and a 1928 Silver Eagle, 2,100cc [6cyl] I raced and trialled the later car and drove both for thousands of miles, unparalleled cars of the 1920s, excellent handling and sprightly performance.
Wonderful cars.
Thank you for this capsule review of this lesser-known British marque. There were so many of them, in their day! Of course, they practically hand-built them back then, which was their downfall; they couldn’t withstand the onslaught of the Japanese and their advanced techniques. [My Britpal has pointed out that the Brit marques would custom-build to a sort of grocery list "would you like air conditioning (heater and defroster-ventilator), Sir?", whereas when the Japanese makes came in, they had ALL available features as standard equipment - and very well-built at that - unheard of!]
Ah, but they lacked the CHARM…..
I have owned a 1952 Alvis TB 21convertible for about 15 years and have truly enjoyed motoring with a 3 liter 4 speed that may be a bit heavy but performed almost as well as a 3 liter Delahaye with the same configuration and weight. The Brits in the AOC that I submitted to for membership said, “Oh no, TB 21′s are roadsters not convertibles – must be something you Yanks cobbled up..” Well, a former employee of Metalcrafters disagrees and hopefully in a year or so when restoration is completed we’ll be vindicated. I’ll share then.
Looks like all RHD.
Either Alvis stole some designs or vice-versa. I see a TR-3 from the red Alvis and a Mercedes sedan from another photo. Regarding the brief exchange about war from the two English gentlemen, I agree with both. It’s a shame Alvis stopped making peacetime cars, but somebody had to make military vehicles for the U.K. On the other hand, I can’t think of a legit war since the big one of 1940-1945. The Middle East will never change, it’s all about oil anyway.
I see a lot more of a Jowett Jupiter in the TR14 than I do any other car.
Great article Tom. (Alvis has left………)
I am intrigued by a couple of things:
1.) The similarity in appearence of the 1933 Alvis Speed 20 and my ’51 MGTD, (Except for wire wheels, 3 door hinges, & gas tank that I can’t see.) and how far MG lagged behind current design of those years.
2.) The similarity in appearance of many of the production sports cars of the era.
Were design guys purposely copying one another for marketing safety? Is there another interesting article in “who is copying whom?