Alvis 12/50

Last updated

Alvis 12/50
BC 8449 (cropped).jpg
SA, 2-seater 'duck's back' body by Carbodies, despatched November 1923
Overview
Manufacturer Alvis
Production1923-1932
3705 made [1]
Powertrain
Engine 1496, 1598 or 1645 cc Straight-4 overhead valve
Dimensions
Wheelbase 108 in (2,743 mm) (SA) or 112 in (2,845 mm) [2]
Length153 in (3,886 mm) to 158 in (4,013 mm) [2]
Width60 in (1,524 mm) [2]
Chronology
Predecessor Alvis 10/30
SB, 5-seater tourer by Cross & Ellis, registered June 1924 Alvis DSCF1838Kop Hill 2013.jpg
SB, 5-seater tourer by Cross & Ellis, registered June 1924

The Alvis 12/50 is a car introduced by British business Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd in 1923. It went through a series of versions, with the last ones being made in 1932. A range of factory bodies (made by Carbodies and Cross & Ellis) could be specified in two- or four-seat form, with either open or closed bodies.

Contents

The subframe cars

SA and SB

The first 12/50s were produced in late 1923 for the 1924 model year. The cars from this first year of production were designated SA and SB. The SA had a 1496 cc 4-cylinder overhead valve engine in a chassis with a wheelbase of 108.5 in (2,756 mm), while the SB had a wheelbase of 112.5 in (2,858 mm). The SB was initially fitted with the 1496cc engine, but after the introduction of a 1598 cc version of the OHV engine this became the standard fitment. The engines of these early cars were carried in a subframe bolted to the relatively slender ladder chassis. The SA usually carried two-seat bodywork, typically the Super Sports 2/3-seater nicknamed "duck's back" because of its pointed rear end, said to resemble that of a duck. The majority of SB cars carried Super Sports four-seater bodywork, but a good number were also fitted with touring bodies from the standard Alvis range. The SA and SB 12/50s were built with (twin shoed) brakes on the rear wheels only. All the 12/50s had a four speed non-synchromesh gearbox with right hand change. The clutch was a fabric-faced aluminium cone. The cars were right hand drive.

SC

The SC arrived in Autumn 1924 for the 1925 model year with the larger 1598 cc engine as standard (though the 1496 cc unit could be specified for sporting use). Most SC 12/50s were built on the longer chassis, which would be standard for the 12/50 until the end of production. Front wheel brakes were offered as an option on this model: a front axle of new design could be supplied with or without brakes. Power transmission was via a roller-bearing prop shaft of new design.

The 12/50 redesigned

TE and TF

The 12/50 was redesigned for the 1926 model year. From Autumn 1925 a new stronger chassis was used for the TE, which had its engine (now built around a redesigned crankcase) enlarged again to 1645 cc, and the TF of the same year with a short stroke version of the same engine, displacing 1496 cc. A single-plate clutch replaced the previous cone type, and for these and all subsequent 12/50s the engine was bolted directly to the flange-frame chassis, dispensing with the subframe of previous models. From the TE and TF models onwards four-wheel brakes were fitted as standard, single-shoe drums on the rear replacing the double-shoe drums of the previous model. The TE and was superseded for the 1927 model year by the TG. Confusingly, the short-stroke TF was replaced in the 1927 range by a car with an 'S' prefix: the SD.

TE, Sports Tourer by Cross & Ellis, despatched August 1926 1927 Alvis 1250 - Kop Hill 2012.jpg
TE, Sports Tourer by Cross & Ellis, despatched August 1926
TG, Sportsman's Saloon by Carbodies, despatched January 1928 Alvis 12-50 Sportsman's saloon 9715429970.jpg
TG, Sportsman's Saloon by Carbodies, despatched January 1928
SD, two-seater 'beetle back' by Carbodies, despatched September 1927 YU6721 (cropped).jpg
SD, two-seater 'beetle back' by Carbodies, despatched September 1927

TG, TH and SD

The TG was the standard 'touring' model, while the SD - powered by the 1496 cc engine, now fitted with a large-port cylinder head - satisfied the needs of the sporting motorist. Also available in this year was the TH, which had the gearbox and rear axle ratios of the 'touring' TG, but the sub-1500 cc engine of the SD. The TG and SD models were available until 1929. The TG and (very rare) TH models can be recognised by their taller radiators, with a noticeably deeper top section. Cars from the 1928 and 1929 model years also sported higher-set lamps, with horizontal crossbar, in accordance with the fashion of the time.

The post-vintage years

TJ

TJ, drophead coupe by Carbodies, registered January 1932 Alvis 1250 1645cc registered January 1932.JPG
TJ, drophead coupe by Carbodies, registered January 1932

The 12/50 was withdrawn between 1929 and 1930 when the company decided that the future lay with the front-wheel drive FD and FE models, but when these did not reach the hoped for volumes a final version of the 12/50 was announced for the 1931 model year as TJ. Fitted with the 1645 cc engine this continued in production until 1932.

The 'post-vintage' TJ is referred to by Alvis historians as being from the 'revival period', and it differs from its predecessor in a number of ways, notably coil instead of magneto ignition, deep chromed radiator shell, and rear petrol tank in place of the scuttle-mounted tank on most older 12/50s.

The TJ was joined in the range by a more sporting version of the same chassis, but this car was marketed not as a 12/50, but as the 12/60. The TK 12/60 was available in 1931, and the TL 12/60 in 1932.


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvis Car and Engineering Company</span> British manufacturing company in Coventry, England

Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd was a British manufacturing company in Coventry from 1919 to 1967. In addition to automobiles designed for the civilian market, the company also produced racing cars, aircraft engines, armoured cars and other armoured fighting vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berkeley Cars</span> British microcar company

Berkeley Cars Ltd of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England produced economical sporting microcars with motorcycle-derived engines from 322 cc to 692 cc and front wheel drive between 1956 and 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holden Gemini</span> Motor vehicle

The Holden Gemini is a compact car that was produced by Holden and sold in Australasia from 1975 to 1986. It was based on the Japanese Isuzu Gemini, one of the many models based on the GM T-car platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triumph Herald</span> Motor vehicle

The Triumph Herald is a small two-door car introduced by Standard-Triumph of Coventry in 1959 and made through to 1971. The body design was by the Italian stylist Giovanni Michelotti, and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, estate and van models, with the latter marketed as the Triumph Courier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MG MGA</span> Motor vehicle

The MGA is a sports car that was produced by MG from 1955 until 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MG T-type</span> Motor vehicle

The MG T-Type is a series of body-on-frame open two-seater sports cars that were produced by MG from 1936 to 1955. The series included the MG TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, and MG TF Midget models. The last of these models, the TF, was replaced by the MGA. Although the design was similar to contemporary cars of the 1930s, it came to be considered outdated by the 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toyota Carina</span> Motor vehicle

The Toyota Carina is an automobile which was manufactured by Toyota from December 1970 to December 2001. It was introduced as a sedan counterpart of the Celica, with which it originally shared a platform. Later, it was realigned to the Corona platform, but retained its performance image, with distinctive bodywork and interior — aimed at the youth market and remaining exclusive to Japanese Toyota dealerships Toyota Store. It was replaced in Japan by the Toyota Allion in 2001 and succeeded in Europe by the Toyota Avensis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MG Y-type</span> Motor vehicle

The MG Y-Type is an automobile produced by MG in England from 1947 to 1953. It was offered in four-door saloon and limited production open four-seat tourer versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MG J-type</span> Motor vehicle

The MG J-type is a sports car that was produced by MG from 1932 to 1934. This 2-door sports car used an updated version of the overhead camshaft, crossflow engine, used in the 1928 Morris Minor and Wolseley 10 and previously fitted in the MG M-type Midget of 1929 to 1932, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed non-synchromesh gearbox. The chassis was from the D-Type with suspension by half-elliptic springs and Hartford friction shock-absorbers all round with rigid front and rear axles. The car had a wheelbase of 86 in (2,184 mm) and a track of 42 in (1,067 mm). Most cars were open two-seaters, but a closed salonette version of the J1 was also made, and some chassis were supplied to external coachbuilders. The open cars can be distinguished from the M type by having cut-away tops to the doors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riley Nine</span> Motor vehicle

The Riley Nine was one of the most successful light sporting cars produced by the British motor industry in the inter war period. It was made by the Riley company of Coventry, England with a wide range of body styles between 1926 and 1938.

The SA was Toyota's first new passenger car design after World War II. It was the first in a family of vehicles before the introduction of the Crown. A series of light trucks also shared the chassis and major components of these passenger cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvis TE 21</span> Motor vehicle


The Alvis Three Litre Series III sports saloon or drophead coupé, also known as TE 21, is an automobile produced by English manufacturer Alvis between 1963 and 1966 with a body built by Mulliner Park Ward. It was an updated version of the 1958 TD21.

The Hampton was a British car made by the Hampton Engineering Company which was based in Kings Norton, Birmingham from 1912 to 1918 and at Dudbridge in Stroud, Gloucestershire from 1918 to 1933

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvis TA 14</span> Motor vehicle

The Alvis Fourteen also known as TA 14 was the first car to be produced by major defence contractor Alvis cars after World War II. The entire car factory had been destroyed on the night of Thursday 14 November 1940. Announced in November 1946 it was made until 1950 when its postwar austerity 1900 cc engine was replaced by the 2993 cc 26.25 HP Alvis Three Litre or TA 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvis TF 21</span> Motor vehicle

The Alvis Three Litre series IV, TF21, an updated version of the 1963 TE21, was the last car produced by Alvis Cars, having been announced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1966 it remained in production until 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvis Speed 20</span> Motor vehicle

The Alvis Speed 20 is a British touring car that was made between late 1931 and 1936 by Alvis Car and Engineering Company in Coventry. It went through four variants coded SA to SD.

The Marlborough was a make of car sold on the British market between 1906 and 1926. For most of its life the cars were made by Malicet et Blin in France, but after World War I they were partially assembled (finished) in London and an increasing number of British parts used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bamby Cars</span> Motor vehicle

Bamby Cars was a British-built marque of microcars produced in small numbers in Hull, England, in the early 1980s. Bambys were designed and built by Alan Evans, who manufactured a one-off replica of the Peel P50 which also served as a prototype for further production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvis Firefly</span> Car manufactured by Alvis

The Alvis Firefly is a car manufactured by Alvis from 1932 until 1934. It followed on from the 12/50 TJ model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiat Pininfarina Cabriolet</span> Motor vehicle

The Fiat Pininfarina Cabriolet was a two-door, two passenger, front engine rear drive convertible manufactured by Pininfarina, and marketed by Fiat across two generations, superseding the Fiat 1200 Spider.

References

  1. Baldwin, N. (1994). A-Z of Cars of the 1920s. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN   1-870979-53-2.
  2. 1 2 3 Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN   0-333-16689-2.