Well-informed TVR enthusiasts know that founder Trevor Wilkinson’s first car was built on an Alvis Firebird chassis. But just what do they know about the now-defunct Alvis Ltd?Alvis was based in the historic British “motor city” of Coventry. Viewers of BBC America on direct tv may have seen the city in series like Angels, Keeping Up Appearances, and Doctor Who. Alvis was founded as TG John and Co. Ltd. in 1919, producing “stationary engines, carburetor bodies, and motorscooters” (“Alvis Cars,” Wikipedia). The name change to Alvis is unexplainedit may be related to the Norse weaponsmith Alviss. In any case, the name was changed in 1921, a year after production on the first Alvis 10/30 began. Read the rest of this entry »