Alvis Firebird

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Alvis Firebird
An ALVIS tourer in Braemar Castle car park - geograph.org.uk - 1435956.jpg
4-door sports tourer by Cross & Ellis December 1934
Overview
Manufacturer Alvis
Production1935–1936
449 made
Body and chassis
Class sporting chassis, bodied to suit owner's requirements
Body style Tourer, coupé or saloon
Powertrain
Engine 1842cc Straight-4
Dimensions
Wheelbase 118.5 in (3,010 mm) [1]
Length173 in (4,394 mm) [1]
Width64 in (1,626 mm) [1]

The Alvis Firebird was a British touring car made between 1935 and 1939 by Alvis Ltd in Coventry.

Developed from the Alvis Firefly, 449 Firebirds were produced, as a two-door Tourer, a 2+2 sports tourer, a two-door drophead Coupé, and a four-door Saloon. [2]

Powered by an 1842 cc 4-cylinder overhead-valve Alvis engine, it had an aluminium body on an ash wood frame. As with other Alvis cars, the Firebird was built as a rolling chassis then sent to the coachbuilders Cross & Ellis, to be finished to the customer's requirements, so all Alvis Firebirds are different. [3] The Firebird had an all-synchromesh gearbox, and the chassis was lubricated by grease nipples under the bonnet. [4]

In 1939 World War II halted Alvis car production to make aircraft engines, and a German Luftwaffe bomb destroyed the Alvis car factory in 1940. [5]

4-door sports saloon, 1935 1935 Alvis Firebird 9188474182.jpg
4-door sports saloon, 1935

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN   0-333-16689-2.
  2. "Alvis Firebird". Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  3. "Alvis". Archived from the original on 31 August 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  4. "The Firefly and Firebird". Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  5. "Alvis cars - clever drophead coupes and saloons". Archived from the original on 9 June 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.