The Alvis Three Litre TA 21, is an

automobile A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with Wheel, wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, pe ...

which was produced by

Alvis Cars 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 oth ...

between 1950 and 1953. It was announced to the British public the day it went on display at the opening of the Geneva Motor Show 16 March 1950.New Alvis Saloon. ''The Times'', Thursday, 16 Mar 1950; pg. 3; Issue 51641 Reports noted that the larger new three-litre engine was "square"Tax regimes had encouraged long-stroke engines but when the tax system changed manufacturers were able to supply engines with more or less equal (square) bore and stroke which produced a more even flow of torque to the wheels to provide flexibility in top gear and though the front suspension was once again independent it now used coil springs in place of Alvis's previous transverse leaf system. In external appearance the headlamps were now semi-recessed and there were aprons over the rear wheels.

Bodies

1951 Alvis TA21 Drophead Coupe by Tickford, rear right

The car was available in four-door Saloon and

Tickford Tickford is an automobile engineering and testing business in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, known for tuning and such products as the 140 mph Tickford Turbo Capri. Under the name Salmons & Sons and their Tickford products the firm has ...

drophead versions. 302 dropheads were made. The centre section of the body was carried over from the earlier TA 14 with minor changes but the engine and luggage compartments were new and accounted for the extra length. The front doors remained rear hinged. Separate seats were fitted at the front and in the rear was a bench seat with fold down centre armrest. Leather trim was used. The saloon bodies were made for Alvis by

Mulliners Mulliners Limited of Birmingham was a British coachbuilding business in Bordesley Green, with factories in Bordesley Green and Cherrywood Roads. It made standard bodies for specialist car manufacturers. In the 19th century there were family ties w ...

in Birmingham.

Three litre engine

The 2993 cc engine was new and produced fitted with a single Solex carburettor and a compression ratio of 7.0:1. Unusually, the engine incorporated timing gears at the rear of the cylinder block and a 7-bearing crank to increase smoothness. This was the first appearance of the engine that would power Alvis cars until the manufacturer withdrew from passenger car production in 1967, although modifications, when branded petrol returned to the market and higher octane fuels became available including increased compression ratios, would enable the power output to be progressively raised after 1953 until, fed by three SU carburetters, it reached in 1965.

Chassis

Suspension was independent at the front using coil springs with leaf springs at the rear. drum brakes using a Lockheed system were used, the first use of hydraulic operation by Alvis.

Test

A saloon version tested by

The Motor ''The Motor'' (later, just ''Motor'') was a British weekly car magazine ''Car'' is a British automotive enthusiast magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. International editions are published by Bauer Automotive in Republi ...

magazine in 1952 had a top speed of and could accelerate from 0- in 15.5 seconds. A fuel consumption of was recorded. The test car cost £1945 including taxes. 1952 Alvis TA21 8728988537

Bodies

Three litre engine

Chassis

Test

Notes

References

Further reading