Alvis TC 21

Alvis Three Litre TC 21
TC 21 100 Grey Lady drophead coupé
Overview
Manufacturer	Alvis Cars
Production	1953–1955 7576 produced[1]
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door saloon 2-door drophead coupé
Layout	FR layout
Powertrain
Engine	Alvis 3.0 L Straight-6
Transmission	4-speed manual
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	Three Litre TA 21
Successor	Alvis TC 108G

The Alvis Three Litre, TC 21 was a British sports saloon and drophead coupé made by Alvis cars between 1953 and 1955. It was an updated version of the Three Litre TA 21.

TC 21

Body

The car was available in four-door saloon and drophead versions essentially the same as the TA 21. The doors now had chrome-plated window surrounds and swivelling quarter-lights were fitted to the rear doors. The saloon bodies were made for Alvis by Mulliners (Birmingham) and the dropheads by Tickford. A sunshine roof remained standard as did "separately adjustable front seats; heater and air-conditioning unit; Trico windscreen washers" drawing the comment from Autocar "In detail fittings . . . this car leaves little to be desired.^[3]

Engine

The 2,993 cc engine was upgraded to produce 100 bhp (75 kW) by modifying the cylinder head and fitting twin SU carburettors. Suspension was the same as the TA 21, independent at the front using coil springs with leaf springs at the rear. The 11 in (279 mm) drum brakes using a Lockheed system were also retained.

However this update found few buyers during a very difficult year for the British Motor Industry and though it remained in the catalogue and continued to be advertised^[4] it was in practice replaced by the Grey Lady.

TC.21/100 Grey Lady

The TC.21/100 or Grey Lady announced 20 October 1953 came with a guarantee of a speed of 100 mph resulting from an improved exhaust system and an engine compression ratio raised from 7:1 to 8:1 to take advantage of the availability of better petrol.^[5] The final drive ratio was raised from 4.09:1 to 3.77:1.^[2] A paired front fog lamp and matching driving lamp became a standard fitting. The bonnet gained air scoops and wire wheels were fitted to try to enliven the car's image. A heater was fitted as standard but a radio remained an expensive option.

A saloon version tested by The Motor magazine in 1954 had a top speed of 100.1 mph (161.1 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 15.4 seconds. A fuel consumption of 20.6 miles per imperial gallon (13.7 L/100 km; 17.2 mpg_-US) was recorded. The test car cost £1,821 including taxes.^[2]

Alvis Grey Lady Manufactured 1953

Few concessions to fashion trends

Nevertheless just 18 months later the Times' Motoring Correspondent tested and reported on the Grey Lady under the headline "Few Concessions to Fashion Trends". His opening gambit was that this Alvis was now one of the few British cars that did not look American and, he said, there was little concession to the cult of streamlining beyond the two air scoops in the bonnet. He wrote that spacious internal headroom and wire wheels completed that picture. It was noted the instruments were not in front of the driver but in the centre of the dashboard (instrument panel) and so the speedometer was apt to be masked by the driver's left hand. However the front seats were comfortable and rear seat passengers received padding on the wheel arches surmounted by armrests. Leather upholstery, pile carpets and walnut facings for the dashboard and lower parts of the window frames completed the traditional picture. He did however say that "the driver who is sensitive to the "feel" of his car will enjoy every moment of his motoring irrespective of the traffic" and reported the car's behaviour on corners was extremely stable though potholes like those caused by recessed manhole covers proved very heavy going for the springing.^[6]

The Graber body would be displayed at the 1955 Earls Court Motor Show^[7]

References

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.