Front-wheel drive
The highly innovative production front-wheel-drive cars were offered from 1928 to 1931. There are some 35 survivors out of a total production of about 150. This model is an out-and-out sports car with a fine competition history. The advanced 4-cylinder engine was of 1481cc, with overhead camshaft and available with or without a supercharger. The majority carried sporting two or four seater open coachwork, although a few handsome low-built fabric saloons were also made. Maintenance is relatively complicated and the cars were suitable for a specialised market only. They were a very ambitious project for the time and are now highly sought after.
Alvis also built 4 and 8 cylinder FWD racing cars from 1925 onwards. Two 4-cylinder cars ran at Le Mans in 1928 and came 6th and 9th overall to win the 1500cc class, a very fine achievement, whilst another came second in the 1928 Ards Tourist Trophy race, only 13 seconds behind the winner after six hours of racing. Teams of supercharged straight-8 sports cars (1491cc) were entered in both the 1929 and 1930 Ards TT races, the latter being the last works competition entry. A few production 8 cylinder cars were also built.
For further information see http://www.hells-confetti.com/
