Alvis TA 21

The Alvis Three Litre TA 21, is an automobile which was produced by Alvis Cars 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.^[3]

Alvis TA 21
Three Litre TA 21 drophead coupé by Tickford Limited
Overview
Manufacturer	Alvis Cars
Production	1950–1953 1316 produced[1]
Assembly	United Kingdom: Coventry, England
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door saloon 2-door drophead coupé
Layout	FR layout
Powertrain
Engine	Alvis 3.0 L Straight-6 ohv
Dimensions
Wheelbase	111.5 in (2,832 mm)[2]
Length	182 in (4,623 mm)[2]
Width	66 in (1,676 mm)[2]
Height	62.5 in (1,588 mm)[2]
Chronology
Predecessor	Fourteen
Successor	Three Litre TC 21

Reports noted that the larger new three-litre engine was "square"^{[note 1]} 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.^[3]

Bodies

Rear view of the Tickford-bodied DHC

1953 Alvis TA 21 drophead coupe interior

The car was available in four-door Saloon and Tickford drophead versions. 302 dropheads were made.^[4] The centre section of the body was carried over from the earlier TA 14^[4] 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 in Birmingham.^[1]

Three litre engine

The 2993 cc engine was new and produced 83 bhp (62 kW) 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.^[5] 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 150 bhp (110 kW) in 1965.^[6]

Chassis

Suspension was independent at the front using coil springs with leaf springs at the rear. 11 in (279 mm) drum brakes using a Lockheed system were used, the first use of hydraulic operation by Alvis.^[4]

Test

A saloon version tested by The Motor magazine in 1952 had a top speed of 88.7 mph (142.7 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 15.5 seconds. A fuel consumption of 19.5 miles per imperial gallon (14.5 L/100 km; 16.2 mpg_‑US) was recorded. The test car cost £1945 including taxes.^[2]

Three Litre TA 21 4-door saloon

Notes

1. 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