A NEW ALVIS MODEL

A NEW ALVIS MODEL

AN INTERMEDIARY CAR TO FILL THE GAP BETWEEN THE ” FIREFLY ” AND THE SPEED TWENTY.

IN order to meet the demand for a car which has all the roadworthiness of the famous ” Firefly,” but with the addition of a more powerful 6 cylinder engine, the Alvis Company have introduced a new car called the ‘ Sixteen.”

The engine is a 6 cylinder unit with dimensions of 67.5 x 100, giving a total capacity of 2,148 c.c. Brief engine details are as follows : 4 bearing crankshaft, push-rod overhead valves, thermo-syphon cooling, single Solex down-draught carburetter with special Alvis hot-spot induction-system, coil ignition with semiautomatic advance and retard. For the rest, the car has a single plate clutch, and the new Alvis patent gearbox which gives constant-mesh silent gears on all four ratios, with synchromesh change. The ratios are as follows : 1st 3.15, 2nd 2.03, Srd 1.435, and top direct drive. Powerful brakes with 14 inch drums are fitted, and the suspension system is by normal semielliptics fore and aft, supplemented by Hartford friction shock-absorbers. The wheelbase is 9′ 101″, the track 4′ 4″, and the tyre sizes 5 x 20. The frame is double dropped, and has a_ massive crossbracing. Two bodies are being standardised on this new Alvis “Sixteen.” The first is four-light saloon of sporting lines, with panelled lower sides and a fabric top. It has four doors of ample width, and is beautifully finished. The second model is a six-eight saloon of more sober lines, giving luxurious accommodation with

very complete equip ment. These cars sell at 2595 in both cases, the chassis price being R/185. A short run on on e of these cars per mitted us to see that the new ” Sixteen” Alvis is a most pleasant car. The engine is really smooth and gives good acceleration. So far as maximum speed is concerned, 70 m.p.h. is an easy maximum,

and could be exceeded under favourable conditions. The ” Sixteen ” should have a strong appeal for all those wanting a thoroughbred, medium-powered car.