“A high-performance Alvis, featuring a unique, signature bodywork…”
Engineer T.G. John founded the Alvis company in 1919 by acquiring the rights to a car engine and, consequently, the brand name of its aluminium pistons: ‘Alvis’. Manufactured by T.G. John Limited, the first Alvis, the 10/30 HP, appeared in 1920. In 1922, a new Alvis was launched that would cement the brand’s reputation: the sporty and high-performance 12/50.
Alvis’s new flagship model, the 3½ Litre, was unveiled at the London Motor Show in October 1935. This model, based on an extended chassis, was intended for an exclusive clientele demanding bespoke bodywork crafted by the finest British coachbuilders of the time. There is no doubt that Alvis was seeking to compete with the Bentley 3½ Litre, its direct rival, and this new model proved a success.
Technically, it was a state-of-the-art car, fitted with a 6-cylinder engine producing 100 ch. Smooth running was ensured by a seven-bearing crankshaft and a fully synchronised gearbox. Sporting performance was optimised by the new overhead-cam engine, fed by three SU carburettors and a dual ignition system. The deep-spine chassis was solidly reinforced with cross-members, and the independent front suspension ensured excellent road holding. This new chassis, priced at £775, was not cheap, but its marketing enabled it to compete effectively with the significantly more expensive Bentley. Essentially, Alvis encouraged the leading coachbuilders to collaborate with them to produce a luxury sports car capable of rivalling the very best. This objective was achieved, with 62 examples built.
The example featured in these pages was delivered as a chassis to the brand’s exclusive London agent, Follett, and bodied by Mayfair as a Mylord convertible (known as a ‘Sedan de Ville’ across the Channel). Sold new in London, the car was rediscovered in Wales in 1960, restored, and imported to France, to the Amiens region, in 1976. It was taken to Corsica in 1984, before returning to a British car enthusiast in the Doubs region in 1997. It was he who sold it to the current owner in 2015.
Since then, this car has taken part in numerous rallies across France, having been regularly maintained. According to the Alvis Owners’ Club, this 3½ Litre has a unique body… With its legendary and high-performance 6-cylinder engine, it is sure to delight enthusiasts of this type of car.