The Alvis Car Company may have closed its doors in 1968 but that minor setback doesn’t mean you can’t order a brand-new model from its back-catalog today. This is thanks to a range of continuation models being built through Alvis service and restoration center, Red Triangle. They manufacture and provide parts, servicing and restoration services to existing Alvis customers and have just announced an extended range of Alvis continuation models to be built in the same way—and often with the same parts—as their forebears.
Alvis has been working closely with VOSA to ensure that its extended range of offerings—now including two chassis and six body options—are all IVA approved and road-legal. This has meant that a few minor changes have had to be made to the engines to meet global emissions regulations, but great pains are taken to ensure that these continuation cars remain as close to the originals as possible.
“Our models are, literally, what Alvis would have created had it not halted production for over 50 years,” explains Alan Stote, owner of The Alvis Car Company. “The factory had planned to build 150 4.3-litre chassis in 1938. As the site suffered serious damage by bombing in 1940, only 73 chassis were completed so we will continue that series, with new chassis, built to the original drawings.”
When the original factory closed in Coventry in 1968, its stock of engine blocks, chassis and other components were stored in crates and after over 50 years in storage are now being used to build the post-war 3-litre cars and the 4.3-liter cars. Even the chassis numbers follow on from the numbers allocated to the pre-war production run. Each car is built exactly to customer specifications and takes between 4000 and 5000 hours to complete. Available bodywork styles mirror that of what was available at the time and include the 3-litre Park Ward Drop Head, 3-litre Graber Super Coupe, 3-litre Graber Super Cabriolet, 4.3-litre Vanden Plas Tourer, 4.3-litre Bertelli Coupe and 4.3-litre Lancefield Concealed Hood.
Concessions to modernity have been made where necessary and options such as an automatic transmission and power steering can be specified on the 3.0-liter models while air-conditioning, audio systems and servo-assisted brakes are available across the entire range.
“Blending history with modern technology is a delicate task, which the brand has undertaken sensitively. We are mindful of our original core values that ensured Alvis cars never suffered the fate of so many other British brands, which fall foul of quality standards and gained a bad reputation as a result. We offer a range of desirable options to make the car ideally suited for however you plan to use it,” explains Stote. Adding peace of mind to your classic car experience is a three-year warranty. Now that is something very few manufacturers offered in the ‘60s.
Images courtesy of Alvis Car Company
