Alvis TC 108G

The Alvis TC 108G was a British sporting car made by Alvis cars between 1956 and 1958. Coachbuilders Graber of Switzerland had produced some bodies for the TC21 that were much more up to date than the standard offering built for Alvis by Mulliners (Birmingham).

Alvis TC 108G
A 1957 car with body by Graber
Overview
ManufacturerAlvis Cars
Production
Body and chassis
Body style2 door saloon
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
EngineAlvis 3.0 L Straight-6
Transmission4 speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase111.5 in (2,832 mm)[4]
Length189 in (4,801 mm)[4]
Width66 in (1,676 mm)[4]
Height62.5 in (1,588 mm)[4]
Chronology
PredecessorAlvis TC 21
SuccessorAlvis TD 21

Mulliners production was becoming devoted to Standard Triumph —which purchased them in 1958— and Alvis's body supply had been getting difficult. Alvis's supplier of expensive drop head bodies was Tickford and they had been bought in 1955 by David Brown and his Aston Martin and Lagonda bodies had priority.

New English body
A 1957 car with body by Willowbrook

It was therefore decided to make the Graber style (October 1955 Paris Motor Show car[note 1]) the basis of a new model and the rights were bought resulting in the TC 108G. A contract to build the new bodies was placed with bus builder Willowbrook of Loughborough. The car was only available as a two-door, four seat saloon made by forming metal around a traditional wooden frame. Graber later resumed production —probably at the request of Alvis— but modified the shape of their subsequent bodies.

The Willowbrook body proved to be too expensive and few were sold. The deal was terminated and a new contract placed with Park Ward Alvis having bought Graber's drawings, jigs etc. The new car was designated the TD21 and it entered production in October 1958.[2]

The 2993 cc engine was uprated slightly to produce 104 bhp (78 kW) at 4000 rpm by modifying the cylinder head and fitting twin SU carburettors. Suspension was the same as the TC 21, independent at the front using coil springs with leaf springs at the rear.

Production
Chassis — 31 produced. Chassis numbers 25909-25945 (31 made -- some of these chassis numbers were not used).[2]
Bodies — Willowbrook: 16[2]
Graber: 8 (1955), 11 (1957)[2]

Notes
  1. It was widely reviewed as perhaps 'the most beautiful car in existence'

References
  1. Michael Sedgwick & Mark Gillies, A-Z of Cars 1945-1970, Bay View Books Ltd, 1989, page 17
  2. Kenneth R. Day. The Alvis Car, Lewis Cole & Co., London, 1967, pp.170
  3. Robson, Graham (2006). A-Z British Cars 1945-1980. Devon, UK: Herridge & Sons. ISBN 0-9541063-9-3.
  4. Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16689-2.

Further reading
  • Clarke, RM (1989). Alvis gold portfolio 1919–1967. Cobham, Surrey, England: Brooklands Books. ISBN 978-1-870642-84-2.
  • Culshaw, D (2003). Alvis three litre in detail: TA21 to TF21 1950-67. Beaworthy, Devon, England: Herridge and Sons Ltd. ISBN 978-0-9541063-2-4.
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