Description
Author: Kenneth Day, Hardbound, 334 Pages, ISBN: 9780856140631, First Edition, 1981 - **Second-Hand book in excellent unread condition**
This book is a definitive history of one of the most famous, influential and successful car manufacturers over the last half century.
It is not surprising that Alvis has one of the largest enthusiast following in this country, as it has built cars of quality, performance and individuality for connoisseurs.
The author tells the story of the Company's sixty years existence and has included technical and performance data of interest to Alvis owners. He has acquired a selection of superb photographs, most of which have never been published before.
Due to the brilliance and perseverance of the founder and leaders of this company, its dedicated workforce and designers have led the British car industry in the fields of independent suspension, gear box design and front wheel drive.
This advanced design and high quality engineering resulted in Alvis producing aero engines, one of which powered the first Hovercraft, and armoured vehicles that are in demand world wide.
Few companies engaged in the manufacture of quality cars have survived the uncertainties of this sector of the car market for very long. Alvis is one of the notable exceptions.
The author has painstakingly researched the company's records, thus revealing the inside story of how this company consistently achieved so much in a business fraught with enormous risk.
Although the author is not directly involved in the motor industry, as a young man he did train to enter it, but later became an international banker. He served in the R.A.F. during the war and now acts as a banking consultant.
He is from a family with a motoring background. He was particularly keen on the Alvis marque and first saw Alvis cars racing at Brooklands in 1932; this was the year Alvis produced the Speed Twenty, a most outstanding British car at the time.
During the last 30 years the author has owned seven Alvis cars, one of which he rebuilt. He now owns one of the very rare 1939 Speed 25 drop head coupes. He became General Secretary of the Alvis Owner Club soon after its formation, an office he held for 17 years.
Now he is the Club's resident and in 1965 he produced the first book to be written on Alvis. He has visited Alvis owners throughout the world and pursues a number of interests, one of which is yachting. He is married with two married children.
