75 years ago, Alvis Motor company began producing expertly handcrafted vehicles in Great Britain. With everything between concepts and rolling chassis being designed in-house, they incorporated leading coachbuilders of the time to create some of the most eye-catching vehicles to date. However, production ground to a halt in 1940 leaving almost 80 chassis untouched. Fast forward to 2015, Alvis still have those chassis in their possession and are ready to build you vehicles exactly like they were over 70 years ago.
Titled “Continuation Series” they look nearly identical to vehicles back then. Lining them up side by side would create an impossible task of telling which model is which. Minor changes are expected between the years in accordance with altered laws around the world, but that doesn’t stop them from being spectacular works of art from the inside out.
It’s not just about looking identical, Alvis are dusting off the old blueprints and manuals to follow. On top of that, they will continue to use traditional methods such as handcrafted seasoned English Ash wood covered in an aluminium casing. Hand stitched leather seating for up to five people depending on the model, original paint schemes and English walnut veneer covering the dashboard continue the tradition.
Four unique models are to utilise the remaining chassis: Vanden Plas Tourer, Bertelli sports coupe, Park Ward drop head coupe and Lancefield concealed hood. Each one is limited to just 25 units. Three of the four vehicles are powered by an in-house developed and hand-built 4.3-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, built from original plans from 1936! Of course, it uses using modern materials, fuel injectors and engine management to comply with emissions and to produce more power. The odd one out is Alvis Park Ward models which are powered by 3.0-litre petrol engines.
Engine specifications are unknown for the time being, however specs from the 30’s are. Considering its time they’re quite impressive, with a top speed of 177 km/h and 0-100 km/h in less than 10 seconds. With those numbers, they were able to set records at the historic Brooklands race track. Imagine what modern technology could do to those numbers, we’re not talking 300 km/h with a 0-100 time of 3 seconds but marginally quicker than before.
Inside its all very basic, much like it was 75 years ago except for maybe the radio tuner and semi-electric dashboard instruments. A six-speed manual gearbox sends power to the rear, analogue clock and steering wheel make up the rest of the simple yet elegant interior creating a nostalgic feeling of what it would have felt like driving back then. As it is a bespoke vehicle, requesting for navigation, Bluetooth pairing or media inputs may be available, but why break the illusion of driving around in the late 30’s.
All models come standard with six-speed manual gearbox’s expect for Park Ward’s where an automatic transmission is on offer.
Alvis themselves have a rather rich history in the motoring and engine scene, they produced and marketed on the first front-wheel drive production cars in 1928. 1933 saw the company produce the world’s first all synchromesh gearbox, and were first British manufacturer to utilise independent front suspension. Over the years, they also produced engines for aircraft’s and hovercraft’s.
Alvis have one vehicle for sale in the UAE as of now available in left-hand drive. Other models are due to arrive shortly. Check out new Alvis Vanden Plas for sale in Dubai, exclusively on dubicars.com
