Alvis (Reborn)
England  |
| www.alviscars.co.uk/ |
Alvis cars were produced by the manufacturer Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd of Coventry, United Kingdom from 1919 to 1967. The company also produced aero-engines and military vehicles, the latter continuing long after car production ceased.
TG John 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 with 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 "strength" in Latin) although de Freville himself vigorously denied this theory. Perhaps the name was derived from the Norse mythological weaponsmith, Alvíss, 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 company became famous.
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.
Alvis, is resuming production of the famous Alvis 4.3 Litre model, 72 years after the last 4.3 Litre car was produced.
This Alvis model was the fastest non-supercharged production car of its day, and the all-British “Continuation Series” will live up to that heritage. Manufactured from the original works drawings, the car will be powered by the Alvis 4.3 Litre six cylinder engine faithfully produced to the 1936 design and retaining all its period character and quality, but utilising modern technology for emission compliance as well as delivering even more power.
This new car is an exact recreation of the original 1930’s model. The original blueprints were scanned and converted into CAD friendly drawings to enable the parts to be crafted, including the engine, chassis and the ash frame.
The 2012 "Continuation" 4.3 Litre car has been fitted with various modern elements including brakes and injection systems, making sure that safety and legal issues have been met. However they have been subtly integrated making them difficult to spot.
The 4.3 Litre was regarded as the fastest non-supercharged production car of its day, with a 0-60 mph time of circa 11 seconds and a top speed of over 100 mph. This was genuine supercar stuff in the 1930s.
The new cars will be built to order by the Alvis Car Company to the classic Vanden Plas design and, chassis included, manufactured to original specification. Even the in-line six cast iron block engine is built to the specification from original blueprints using remanufactured parts, and capable of generating 137bhp and a hefty 250lb.ft
of torque. The current demonstration test model weighs in at 1750 kg, and has four speed all synchromesh gearbox and cable servo assisted brakes, but production cars will be available with a five or six-speed gearbox, and hydraulic brakes.
The car runs on standard unleaded fuel and environmental regulations require fuel injection over the original carburettors of the 1930s car
Comments
Post a Comment