Vintage Thing No. 121 - Alvis 4.3 litre
 |
| The demonstrator of the Continuation Series at the Goodwood Revival this year |
From the Alvis spares specialist and restoration experts Red Triangle you can now get a brand new Alvis 4.3 litre tourer. This car was introduced at the wrong time as 77 cars that had been sanctioned by the board were never built as World War Two intervened. Post war Britain was happy for any sort of car and so those 77 cars were never built - until now.
I saw the demonstrator at the Goodwood Revival earlier this year and was immediately struck by the craftsmanship - this is a handbuilt automo.
I was also intrigued by the idea of making this kind of replica.
It's not really a replica!
Red Triangle have provided spares to Alvis owners for years and have the rights to the Alvis marque. They call the car the 4.3 litre Continuation Series to distinguish it from the 99 survivors of the 163 that were built before WW2. One of these has already appeared on Engine Punk - this Vanden Plas pillarless saloon lives in Cornwall. But the ultimate had to be the sensational 4 seater tourer also built by Vanden Plas on the short chassis (10'4" as opposed to 10'7") and also designed by John Bradley.
 |
| The ash framing for the bodywork is shaped by CNC machines. The ally panels that clothe it are still wheeled by hand however. |
Only 11 4.3 litre tourers remain today and they command very high prices. A new one at some £250,000 is cheap by comparison and you can specify some improvements such as disc brakes or power steering to make the car more useable in today's traffic conditions. Or you can have one just as designed in the 30s for an authentic driving experience.
 |
| One from the 2011 Revival - it seems I can't stop photographing this car |
The feasibility study began back in 2006 by ascertaining if the engine could meet today's stringent exhaust emissions. With electronic fuel injection, it could. By 2009, the new chassis and ash frame had been married together and, after its debut at Goodwood in 2011, 3 orders have been taken. Production of the Continuation series will be restricted to the 77 as originally sanctioned in 1938.
 |
| Note the different coloured wire wheels that match the graphic effect of the two-tone bodywork |
At the Revival, I was fortunate to speak to Robert Wilson who was obviously a great enthusiast for the project, as well as Alvis cars in general. I expressed my admiration for the ash framing that went under the body skin and he squirmed a little and explained that the wood is actually CNC machined. I don't think this detracts from the build quality at all. You still have to get the direction of the grain right, dammit! The aluminium panels are wheeled and fitted to the frame by hand, however, so you get the best of state of the art and traditional crafts.
 |
| The view most other cars got of the Alvis when on the road |
It's this idea of ancient and modern that intrigues me so much. The Alvis 4.3 litre tourer by Vanden Plas looks sensational and has been one of my favourite pre-war cars for some time, probably before I even bought the book on Vanden Plas. The driving experience, however, does not appeal - the steering systems are much vaguer and the brakes were drums all round. You would get independent front suspension, though, and even in original spec on pre war petrol and with a compression ratio of 6.25:1, the 4.3 litre engine could put out 137 bhp enough to propel the VP tourer to 60 in 10 seconds and to a maximum of 105 mph. It was the fastest unsupercharged car of its time.
 |
| If you look closely (click on the photo for a larger view) you can see Alvis EFI on the induction system |
Today's version puts out 250 bhp and there is a choice of upgrades available.
Robert showed me a beautiful component for the lubrication system that was almost too good to bury inside the engine but to hang it on the wall and call it art would've robbed it of its purpose in life.
Another option is electric power steering, which is an increasingly popular addition to classic machinery as it not only makes the cars more drivable but can also add to the feel in the steering system, which is the principle barrier to me with vintage machinery (after the brakes - did I not mention you can get disc brakes for this Alvis if the servo drums are a little lacking in confidence?). Give me the Morris Minor's rack pinion system any day. It's so much more precise than anything else in its day and good enough for Aston Martin racing cars.
But what is this thing about Alvises and steering? Regular followers will remember the Art Deco Alvis that promoted electric power steering.
And if a non-synchro gearbox puts you off - it doesn't me as I find a slick change is hugely rewarding - don't worry about that, either. On the Alvis, it's all synchro as well as all original. Alvis were a pioneer in synchro boxes.
Why, oh, why oh, why did Alvis ever stop making motorcars when they turned to making fighting vehicles?
Comments
Post a Comment