Makes › Alvis › Firebird · Rare production · 1935–1939 Very Rare
Alvis
Firebird
Four-cylinder 1.8-litre Alvis built in small numbers on a chassis finished by outside coachbuilders.
Still being researched: why it matters, identification guide, full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Steve Glover · CC BY 2.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 450 Built
- Years
- 1935–1939
- Engine
- Four-cylinder, overhead valve · 1,842 cc / 1.8 LFactory: 1,842 cc
- Power
- Not yet verified
- Top speed
- Not yet verified
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Not yet verified
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Alvis Firebird (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Steve Glover · CC BY 2.0
Alvis Firebird (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: TR001 · CC BY 3.0
Alvis Firebird (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Steve Glover · CC BY 2.0
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02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionFirebird cars built, as stated by the club article | 4501,2 | Factory production | Registry reported |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
The Firebird was developed from the Firefly and was supplied as a rolling chassis to coachbuilder Cross & Ellis, so each car was finished to the customer's order. Body styles were tourer, 2+2 sports tourer, drophead coupe and four-door saloon. Alvis car production stopped in 1939 for aircraft-engine work and the factory was destroyed by a bomb in 1940.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Firebird.
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Four-cylinder, overhead valve3 Independently researched |
| Cylinders | 44 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 1,842 cc / 1.8 LFactory: 1,842 cc3 Independently researched |
| Bore | 73 mmFactory: 73 mm1 Independently researched |
| Stroke | 110 mmFactory: 110 mm1 Independently researched |
| Compression ratio | 5.8:14 Independently researchedSource gives CR 5.8, entered in the 9.5:1 format. |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | Not yet verified |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | All-synchromesh manual gearbox3 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
The Firefly, Firebird, Sixteen and the later Silver Eagle Level B Alvis Owners Club (alvisoc.org archive page)
- The Firefly sold some 900 units, the Firebird 450
- bore up to 73 mm, stroke to 110 mm for 1842 cc
-
2
Alvis Firebird - Motorbase Level C
- 449 Alvis Firebirds built 1935-1939, all body styles
-
3
Alvis Firebird - Motorbase Level C Motorbase (archived 2014)
- 4 cylinder overhead valve Alvis engine
- 1842 cc 4 cylinder overhead valve Alvis engine
- all-synchromesh gearbox
- 4
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