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Alvis CarsAlvis Cars was the manufacturer Alvis Car & Engineering Company Ltd. of Coventry, Warwickshire, England. The ancestor company, Tom G John Ltd, built scooters from 1919. Tom G John was approached by Geoffrey de Freville with designs for a 4-cylinder car. 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 "piston"; more likely is that is named for the Norse god, Alvis, but the true origin remains unknown. In 1921, the company changed its name to become Alvis Car & Engineering Company Ltd. and moved to Holyhead Road, Coventry. The first model, the 10/30, was an instant success and set the reputation for quality and performance for which Alvis brand became famous. The company logo of an inverted red triangle incorporating the word 'Alvis' was used from this period. Captain GT Smith-Clarke joined from Daimler as Chief Engineer & 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. Alvis went into receivership in June 1924 and the Board was reorganised. T G John (a Welshman) remained Managing Director. The company was notable for experimenting with independent front suspension and a front wheel drive model (from 1928 to 1930), and for introducing an 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-litre model. These were commonly fitted with coachwork by Cross & Ellis, Charlesworth and Vanden Plas. In 1937, the company name was changed to Alvis Ltd. During World War II The car factory was severely damaged in the German Luftwaffe raid on Coventry in 1940. Despite this, Alvis carried out war production. The company built aero engines as sub-contractor of Rolls-Royce. After the World War II, a model designed before the war was produced as the TA 14. Smith-Clarke retired in 1950 and after war models were signed by Dunn. In 1950 a new chassis and six-cylinder 3-litre engine was announced. This engine was used until the company ceased car production. From 1952 to 1955 Alec Issigonis, the later creator of Mini, worked for Alvis. Alvis cars were sometimes offered with special bodies made by Hermann Graber of Switzerland, Vanden Plas or Mulliner, coachbuilders for Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Rover took over Alvis in 1965. Alvis was working on a Rover-designed mid-engined V8 coup prototype named P6BS for a while. Car production ceased in 1967. Armoured fighting vehicle production, started during the war, remained the company's main profile. 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. Important Alvis models External links - 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
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