The Alvis six-cylinder 14/40 model
Alvis were motorcar manufacturers which began at Holyhead road in 1919.
T. G. John (1880-1944) was formerly works manager at the Siddeley-Deasy Motor Company before establishing the Alvis Motor Company. Alvis soon found a reputation for making quality sports and touring models, particularly during the 1920s and 1930s including the 14/40, the 12/50 sports, the 'Silver Eagle', the 'Crested Eagle' and the 'Speed' series. In 1920 they became the first British car manufacturers to offer a front-wheel drive model.
During WWII they became more and more active in military projects, and in 1965 were taken over by the
Rover Company. Alvis quickly became associated with the production of high quality military vehicles, and their last cars were built in 1967.
Alvis as a company remained based in Coventry until 1998 when the main operations moved to Telford. The original works on Holyhead Road have been demolished and the site now forms a retail park aptly called ‘Alvis’.