1928 Alvis 12/50

The British-based Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd were founded in 191 by Thomas George John. In production through 1967, the company produced civilian automobiles, racing cars, armored vehicles, and aircraft engines. After 1965, the company became a subsidiary of Rover and ceased car manufacturing. Armored vehicle production continued. The company later became part of British Leyland, and in 1982, it was sold to United Scientific Holdings.

In 1919, engineer T.G. John acquired the rights to an automobile engine along with the brand name of its aluminum pistons - Alvis. The first Alvis car, the 10/30hp, appeared in 1920. It employed a conventional design and was equipped with a four-cylinder, side-valve engine paired with a four-speed 'crash' gearbox. With assistance from newly appointed Chief Engineering Captain G. T. Smith-Clark and Chief Designer W.M. Dunn, production of the new 12/50 model commenced. Equipped with a new overhead-valve engine with a displacement size of 1,496cc, it made its competition debut in 1923 at Brooklands, where it emerged victorious in the premier 200-mile event. Most of the production examples were sporty coachwork, with tourers and saloons appearing as time progressed. A 1,598cc engine became available in 1924, along with front-wheel brakes. From 1926 onwards, the 12/50 benefited from a significantly stronger platform chassis.

Production of the Model 12/50 continued through 1932, by which time it was powered by a new 1,645cc engine. For a brief period, the 12/50 used front-wheel drive (Series FD and FE), but the conventional rear-wheel setup was swiftly re-instated. Hoping to showcase the front-wheel drive technology and perhaps gain a competitive advantage, a pair of Front Wheel Drive 4-Cylinder Alvis Coventry Works models were entered in the 1928 24 Hours of Le Man's race. At the conclusion of the 24 hours, the FWD cars were in 1st and 2nd in class with a sixth and ninth overall finish. These 1.5-liter four-cylinder models had performed admirably, especially considering the much larger engines of the competition. The class winning # 27 exceeded its ACO-required target distance by 19 percent!

Specification
The SA and SB (1923 - 1924)
The Model 12/50s produced in late 1923 for the 1924 model year were designed SA and SB, with the SA equipped with a 1,496cc 4-cylinder overhead valve engine resting atop a wheelbase size of 108.5 inches. The SB had a wheelbase size of 112.5 inches and were initially equipped with the 1,496cc engine, later replaced with the newly introduced 1,598cc OHV engine. All 12/50 cars received four-speed non-synchromesh gears with a fabric-faced aluminum cone clutch and right-hand gearchange.

The Model 12/50 had a ladder chassis with a subframe and twin shoed brakes on the rear wheels. The bodies of the SA were usually two-seater coachwork, often with 'duck back' styling (a Super Sports 2/3 seater with a pointed rear end). Most of the SB cars wore Super Sport four-seater coachwork.

The SC (1924-1926)
The SC was introduced in Augutumn 1924 for the 1925 model year and was equipped with a 1,598cc engine. Most examples rested on the 112-inch wheelbase, which became standard for the Model 12/50 through the end of production. Optional four-wheel brakes became available and the transmission gained a new roller-bearing prop shaft design.

The TE and TF (1926 - 1927)
A new and more rigid chassis was introduced in the Autumn of 1925, birthing the TE designation. It came with an enlarged 1,645cc engine while the TF of the same year had a short-stroke version of the same engine, with displacement measuring 1,496cc. The engines were bolted directly to the flange-frame chassis, which meant the subframe was no longer needed. The transmission replaced the previous cone-type clutch with a single-plate unit. The TE and TF models were fitted with four-wheel brakes as standard equipment with single-shoe drums on the rear, replacing the previous double-shoe units.

The TG replaced the TE for 1927 and the TF by the SD.

The TG, TH and SD (1927 - 1929)
The TG 'touring' model superseded the TE, and the TF's replacement was the SD which came with the 1,496cc engine, now with a large-port cylinder head. The TH used the SD's engine but the gearbox and rear axle ratios of the TG.

Production of the TG and SD models continued through 1929.

The Front-Wheel Drive TJ (1929-1930)
Production of the 12/50 was temporarily suspended as the company experimented with the front-wheel drive FD and FE models. When success was not immediate, the 12/50 returned for the 1931 model year as the TJ. Equipped with the 1,645cc engine, production continued until 1932.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2023