Designed by Tank Makers, Built by Rolls Royce - Alvis TE21

[@DavidTillyer]

I came home from hospital in a TE21 when I was born. Dad owned that car until he died. The TE21 will always have a place in my heart for that reason. Love them!

[@anatolbaskak]

i came home from the hospital in a wartburg!

[@honestguy7764]

I came home from Athe Hospital in a Dodge 3700 GT

[@philhawley1219]

I came home in my mother's MG A. I recently saw it on Facebook being advertised as the prize in an online raffle. Beautifully restored but painted red instead of the original white. Should have I bought a ticket? No, I don't particularly like MGs.

[@martinda7446]

Wow that beats a number 88 Routemaster.

[@teymourbayat8266]

I came home from the hospital in an XK 150.

[@bruceschneider4928]

Looks a lot like a Facel Vega. Elegant car.

[@gsigs]

Thank you! I knew it reminded me of something but I couldn't place it. Both are good looking cars. With the grille and headlight arrangement it also looks like a Mercedes.

[@jeffreypostma6832]

I certainly thought it was one when I saw the thumbnail image.

[@anderspedersen7488]

Facel Vega with a stiff upper lip!

[@LearnAboutFlow]

Yes, thanks, I was wondering why it looked so familiar

[@FACELOWNER]

Having owned both, I totally agree, beautiful cars.

[@ryanmccormick2150]

I don't think Number 27 can be beaten for the variety of cars on a channel! Cracking stuff as always Jack buddy 👍

[@Number27]

Happy xmas old buddy, hope you have a great holiday!

[@alexandrecouture2462]

Steph from idriveaclassic also has a super interesting variety, both are great!

[@davidhollenshead4892]

​@@Number27 LS Swap It... kzbin.info/www/bejne/onfCe32YjNBki7ssi=Un6KTEMNS3fzKcuA&t=342 And have a great new year, mate...

[@NigelDeForrest-Pearce-cv6ek]

Brilliant Alvis, Beloved by Jim Prideaux in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy!!!

[@lunabouch]

An ALVIS! Another unheard of gem that probably didn’t make too many trips to the US.Thanks Jack for that wonderful one of kind review. Your variety seems endless!

[@Number27]

My pleasure! I do try and cover lesser know stuff as well.. happy xmas and thanks for the ongoing support!!

[@lunabouch]

@ Happy Christmas to you as well 🎄

[@meeshker]

There are some in the USA

[@lunabouch]

@ interesting! Maybe I’ll see one someday.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

@@Number27 ​Too Slow,??? Just LS Swap It & make it to Mr. Bond's new car... kzbin.info/www/bejne/onfCe32YjNBki7ssi=Un6KTEMNS3fzKcuA&t=342

[@markclevedon81]

Beautiful car with a Rolls Continental look. British craftsmanship at its best with a tradition of producing top end cars.

[@samgrant83]

Ah, Alvis - so classy. I used to get driven to school by a friend of my dad who was a car guy and we swapped between an Alvis, a couple of Bristols (don't snigger) and a Jensen. The Alvis was the classy one, the Bristols were pretty ropey (they were late 50's ones), but the Jensen had the most absurd over-powered engine, one of the loudest I've ever heard.

[@brianwillson9567]

If you want an Alvis, have a Stolly.

[@johnfh]

Thanks, a lovely car! Forty years ago I was a Bristol owner, a 407. I liked the aluminium, leather, V8. The Alvis was a bit too understated. But now I would have to think again!

[@RossW-z6s]

One of the most beautiful cars ever.

[@Roger.Coleman1949]

Indeed it was, understated shear class and elegance .

[@sergioleone3583]

@@Roger.Coleman1949 Understated is the word for this handsome machine, for sure.

[@chrisb.2178]

Back in the days when cars had still style and personality. I like the variety of cars on your channel, but I love it when you show us the gems from an era that sadly has passed.

[@gregculverwell]

I love the cars of the 50s and 60s because of the low waist line and consequently large glass area. Excellent visibility and light. Modern cars are like driving a bath tub.

[@ian-nz-2000]

What a beauty! I can still remember those from my childhood and have always admired them. Thanks again for another splendid blast from the past.

[@theodoregarcia8830]

Absolutely gorgeous. Who ever lent you this car is a person has a deeper appreciation for industrial art , and lust for living. Also the wallet

[@MrTimcoronel]

Sir Douglas Bader had a convertible, automatic one. Apparently he used to drive it like a Spitfire and liked to shout 'make way for The Quality!' as he blasted through villages and towns

[@Number27]

😄😄😄😄 didn't know he had one!! Happy Christmas Tim and thanks for the ongoing support!

[@bfc3057]

Sounds he was a dick on top of his failed Big Wing views

[@Curious-Minds]

I'm now going to shout that as I board the number 26 bus.

[@simonelliott5956]

Fantastic video Jack, you have to love an Alvis! The TD/E/F 21 is so quintessentially British, in every way, the body may have been a Graber design originally, but the coach-built element sets it apart from the competition. It’s up there with Bristol, Bentley and Rolls Royce, of the time in its quality and steadfast traditionalism, the sort of car owned by someone from the establishment, the best of British class.

[@DPG-Guitar]

Thanks for another wonderful video, Jack. I find as I get older I appreciate these types of cars much more than I did in my younger years, I can really see the appeal of having a classic such as this Alvis.

[@cdg3818]

These are lovely. I have an older friend locally who still uses his as a daily for trips to Tesco.

[@edumaker-alexgibson]

Good looking car, the rear look slots in between the Aston Martin DB4/5 and Rolls, the front looks between Mercedes and Jaguar. The detailing is really neat and minimalist.

[@johnknott6539]

In 1965 I had a girlfriend whose dad drove an Alvis. He owned an engineering company near Derby in the UK. Very prestigious and highly regarded

[@paulqueripel3493]

The people who owned the garage opposite work rebuilt one of these (the owner's own car). A drophead, it could also have been a TF. Leyland may have dropped the cars, but Alvis carried on making tanks. The Scorpion was one of theirs.

[@Number27]

Happy Xmas Paul!

[@ellaevansbolt]

I have wanted one for as long as I can remember. At 77, that's a LONG time!

[@gazzafloss]

A beautiful old British car.

[@GT380man]

Love the elegant lines and the paint. Front wings to bonnet transitions are just lovely.

[@ronald1968]

My parents had a te21 in the late 70s early 80s..... I drove it a few times in fields at shows..? Back when a kid could drive around without the h&s people going nuts.... it was a very nice car, but the bodies rot faster than fancies,, the chassis hadn't changed from the 30s it had just had extra chunks of steel added on.... Also worth to mention that the engine has no head gasket... metal to metal with zero issues. Mum and dad always agreed that it was very much a drivers car.... ours went quite well and even though the speedo only goes to 120.... we worked out that from the rev counter that dad had it up to 135......

[@admiralbeez8143]

Alvis and Gordon Keeble. My two favourite British cars.

[@simonelliott5956]

Gordon Keeble for me of the two, there’s one for sale at the classic motor hub at £95k, wish I had that to spend on a classic!

[@philiptidmarsh]

Great to see you do a video on these magnificent cars. They were my grandfather's favourite cars and I have the bonnet mascot of his last one sitting in pride of place on my mantle piece.

[@caseytailfly]

Fantastic! You need to find a Speed 20 to drive next!

[@martinda7446]

These cars are absolutely magnificent and beautiful. The TE21 (and TF) is my favourite with the double headlamp array.

[@grayfool]

I've always felt these cars are undervalued. Great to see you in one Jack.

[@Aleksandr-x3c]

This car must be good in its performance. Perfect classic beauty design.

[@philiprussell3338]

Beautifully constructed car. True English luxury motoring.

[@mkadair]

I completely forgot about these cars. Did Alvis produce more vehicles than Bristol? You are the obscure car king, Jack!

[@Number27]

I am indeed.. i like a lesser known car..especially if it's quality! Thanks for the ongoing support and happy xmas!

[@williamegler8771]

Approximately 9,800 Alvis vehicles were manufactured. Substantially more than the total number of Bristol models produced.

[@mkadair]

@@Number27 Merry Christmas Jack!

[@canucklehead0]

Beautiful car, Steve is a fortunate man to be the caretaker of such a lovely piece of machinery!! As we are a week away from Christmas I would like to wish that you, Jack and all your viewers have a very Happy Christmas!! I look forward to seeing what you have in store for us not only in the coming week or two but for all of 2025!! Cheers and All The Best from the Great White North!! - Dave

[@kevinkohler2750]

As I assume is the case with most Americans, I first heard of Alvis while reading Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. This was a treat to learn more about the company and to see one on the road. Cheers!

[@sergioleone3583]

Thanks as always for a great vid Jack! I know so little about Alvis cars; I'd skim through articles about them in Classic and Sportscar when I was younger and all about the sportscar aspect. (racing cars too...) Now that I'm getting on a bit, and widening my appreciations, it's great to learn a bit more and see and hear this handsome machine in action. Lovely color combination, the interior with the body color.

[@greatwhite1958]

What a glorious car.

[@sageoz9886]

Gorgeous vehicle! Being from the USA I’ve never seen one before

[@gregharvie3896]

Hi from Sydney, Australia. I'm 69 years old in a month, when I was a kid in the 1960's in Mosman, Sydney, a local man had two of the ULTRA version, the Swiss Graber Bodied Alvis both a TE21 & TF21. With a slimmer more sleek body these were truly STUNNING, the later 1966 Graber one has twin HORIZONTAL headlights like a RR Sliver Cloud 3 or Bentley S3. In fact their main dash is almost a direct copy of a Bentley S3 Continental by Park Ward, i.e. "chinese eyes" with painted metal dash in middle and in front of the passenger, but with a direct copy in wood with black leather frame instrument cluster panel, the same as the Bentley, they even use the same fully reclining front seat mechanism as the Bentley, With the earlier TE31 car it had unique vertical dual headlight "pods" with a lovely glass fairing to cover it akin to a larger version of lighting on a Pagoda roof Benz 230SL, the overall look of the car was like a giant Pagoda Benz, which I always thought was a knock-off a copy of the earlier designed and built Alvis even down to the shape of the front grille and roof & glass of the coupe Alvis, that the later built and designed Benz had purely copied and shrunk to fit the design onto the much smaller Benz. When I first saw a Pagoda roof Benz in 1963, I thought it was a Baby Graber bodied Alvis until I saw the big Mercedes Benz tri star in the grille. So, Jack if you like this one in the video, go online and look at the Swiss Graber bodied cars, additionally the latter TF21's have a "tweaked" engine that gives about an extra 30 hp so for total on the 1966 TF's having around 160HP.

[@martinclapton2724]

A nod from the flat cap, a proper gentleman’s express.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Stunning car, built by artisans, no doubt wearing brown lab coats and smoking pipes. The Alvis Car Company still exists in Kenilworth - I worked on a new build opposite the factory - the site of these beauties driving in and out everyday was a real treat!

[@robertlloyd7493]

What a stylish jam jar 😊

[@richardelson3261]

Absolutely love those 60s Alvis models the drop head is exquisite

[@genzigzag]

Beautiful coupe.

[@mojoe7951]

Better looking than the rolls in my opinion. A cracking car.

[@frednerk8366]

I've always loved this car. About 5 years ago I almost pulled the trigger on one but chickened out.

[@johanankarback6821]

Never heard of that car before. It looks kind of cool and the interior is really nice. Really appreciate the variety of cars you test on this channel!

[@wearetomorrowspast.5617]

Another beauty. What a perfect car. Cheers Jack, hosting the best car show on the air.

[@Number27]

Ah thanks!! 🙏 have a great Xmas 🎄

[@A-world-of-My-Own]

Whilst a mere Boy in the (70,s) , my next door neighbour , had one in the process of being rebuilt, Rusty!. Very high quality in Navy Blue, wire wheels. Passed before he finished it RIP. Nice thou. 352 produced. straight 6 , 3ltr.

[@peteacher52]

My father's friend had an Alvis Grey Lady, much admired and longed-after, ca mid-50s. Dad looked at a near-new Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire of '59, a superb car which I wish dad had bought, a low mileage Daimler Century '57, then a series of Humber Super Snipe, '53 to '57, then the later series with engines designed by Armstrong Siddeley. A Daimler Majestic Major came within his radar but unfortunately no closer. The point is, dad loved these big solid high quality English cars, but because of family and mortgage commitments, satisfied himself with a Wolseley 6/80, a Jowett Javelin, a Wolseley 6/110 and finally a Jaguar XJ6 from '71. My own foray into such cars was in 1977 with a 3-year ownership of a '66 Super Snipe, high mileage but effortless cruiser with masses of torque and the ability to tow any trailer up any hill on the major roads, rarely dropping below 30 mph. I wouldn't have called the King my Uncle if I'd had a TE21! What a beautiful car. "They" most certainly do NOT build them like that any more. The Humbers, Wolseleys and the Jowett could be economically repaired as needed whereas today, you drive a car until it breaks (at a very high mileage) then buy a new one. Why spend $2K - $3K on engine repairs to a 15 year old car? You'd still have a 15 year old car. Col, NZ.

[@gbentley8176]

Excellent cars and first rate engineering. My pre war Charlesworth speed saloon remains a delight to drve and rear passengers love it for comfort.

[@rs3096]

Great, loved it! Even here in Germany we have some. Watching your video was pure pleasure, thank you!

[@rogerhudson9732]

Red Triangle will have the specification sheet of that car in its library, keeping the marque going into the future.

[@DavidMorley]

One of my dream cars.

[@Drmcclung]

I always admired the drophead coupe, it's a very pretty car!

[@Treviscoe]

Good video Jack. BTW, celebrity owners of Alvis cars have included Douglas Bader, World War II flying ace and subject of the film "Reach For The Sky," and Michael McCartney, photographer, one time singer and younger brother of Paul McCartney (who also had a 3-litre coupe).

[@Treviscoe]

BTW, I've just re-read that comment and I can see that it "reads wrong", so apologies. It was Michael McCartney who had the Alvis 3-litre couple not Paul McCartney; Paul had a Sixties Aston Martin (I think it was a DB6 but I'm not sure).

[@P.Galore]

Absolutely gorgeous automobile.

[@Steven-p4j]

If anybody were to introduce the delightful Alvis, it was going to be you, Jack, I adore these cars (they are still available) I love the coupe convertible in a soft grey-blue. So happy one has shown up, finally. Oh, a little secret, Jack, by comparison, the Jaguars are cheap.

[@johnscarsandstuff]

Ive got some first-hand experience of an Alvis TE21. Unfortunately my memory is not so positive, although I am certain that "my" car was not so well sorted as the one you drove. The suspension seemed terrible, finding bumps on the smoothest of surfaces. Wind noise at speed was appalling. The engine seemed unwilling to rev and the gearbox was stiff. When I recall a passenger ride in a Bristol 407 (swift, near silent and smooth-riding) the Alvis was very poor in comparison. Perhaps it is just as well that the Alvis brand was dropped, it would have been a shame to see it applied to some tarted-up BL product.

[@iangeorge6409]

The stillborn Alvis V8 designed by Issigonis would have been an interesting car to drive.

[@johnandrews3568]

Very interesting car that only came to Canada as the odd one off import. Jack, you've had a cracking year. Have a happy Christmas and all the best in 2025, mate.

[@Lemma01]

Just a note on that price-tag: 3-bed new-build detached my parents bought in 1968. So say £200k+ today, with a Jag at £100k, and the Roller at £400k. So it sort of adds up... Superior quality? Well, the interior in this one has been redone, clearly - probably for several thousands, which adds to the premium tone. As for a 7 main bearing crank, so had the MGC...which was under grand. Do love an Alvis - but only ever looked like value compared to Bristol! ❤

[@stephenboitoult8774]

Got to love an Alvis, not quite Bristol engineering but still quality. The TE and TF are my favourites (love the stacked headlights) More of a Grand Tourer than a Sports car, It'd be interesting to see how many horses could be wrung from that 3 litre I-6 if you really tried! Only the Gordon Keeble to do now to complete the British triumvirate.

[@patrickshannon4854]

Clean lines, simple classic design with a warm , welcoming interior. Beautiful sedan.

[@pml394]

you just keep driving the cars I want to learn more about - thanks a lot

[@Number27]

Glad to hear that! Thanks for watching!

[@paulclarke245]

closest i will ever get was doing a massive auto electrical job on an alvis saracen. what a mission that was. even managed to fit a stereo, one day we strapped a set of horn speakers to the turret and drove it down the road playing "ride of the valkyries"

[@grrfy]

Just Magnificent,what a beautiful machine.

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

late 80's, on the 281 into Sutton to rummage record shops and a computer shop for games for my Atari 800xl, remember seeing one of these parked up in front of a house just about every time I made the trip, fantastic looking vehicle. Also remember seeing one of only 3 Ford Anglia Estates I have ever seen that was not my Grandparents car.

[@margaretbehler4935]

I like this one Jack. I really like it.

[@carlharvey7098]

Another cracking video matey and what a lovely car ❤

[@Number27]

Thanks Carl, hope you have a great xmas!!

[@carlharvey7098]

@ You too Jack, dont do anything i wouldnt 🤔😂

[@MC-bu6ez]

I love Alvis cars, another example of a car made in a shed by people wearing oily brown coats Somehow manage to look lovely and drive beautiful. Regrettably zero investment, resulted in death.

[@stephenricketts7764]

I believe you are right in saying pre-war cars were a little more sporty. This the Alvis TE21 has to be one of the best and beautiful cars of that era. They were so well put together and as you pointed out those details are wonderful. They are different cars to Rolls Royce but in a way they are in a similar class in that they were built for the 'discerning driver' as you mentioned. This one is in excellent condition and also looks well cared for, the colour is just right for such a car. I am glad you mentioned the company who still build them they are dedicated to the Alvis. They collect 'barn finds' and what many would consider junk bodies and such like and will build you a 'new' car. Thank you Jack for another interesting video, wonderful Happy Christmas. 👍👍

[@RedLP5000S]

Never heard of Alvis. But now that I have, I want one. ✌🏻🇺🇸

[@Ashfielder]

Thanks Jack, a car I didn’t know existed! A very pretty thing indeed, too.

[@redbaron9029]

i love it.!

[@NTSCuser]

The Alvis factory is now a Morrisons store. The Alvis figurehead is carved above the entrance and there are framed aerial pictures of the old factory lining the walls.

[@Hattonbank]

And the Triumph Motors site barely a mile away is a retail park with Sainsbury the main store

[@PortugalCarp]

What a beautiful car. I have to laugh, these days so many complain about the "dials" in the center of the dash... they didn't mind years ago!

[@theapplepaul]

No more will a new Alvis waft down the road. But at least it has been immortalized on No. 27, Thank you.

[@lablackzed]

It screams class and style i remember these beautiful cars not like todays no style one size electronic droid boxes .

[@Saltybuher]

They aren’t fast as an owner once told me but they are lovely.

[@eric-wb7gj]

TY Jack 🙏🙏 An elegant looking car!

[@flyinghedgehog3833]

Mr Dabuzzi ,had a restaurant in Highgate London + a bar/restaurant in St Johns wood...I regularly parked his Alvis at Ritz Casino back in the day....always wonder if its still on the road.You can imagine the customers back then..Aston,Bentley, Mercedes, Ferrari,Jaguar etc...Sultan of Brunei was a regular !

[@villafish1]

Stately performance!

[@kenon6968]

Between this, the Bristol you had on recently and the Lagonda you've pretty much covered my favourite British cars.

[@kimberlysilenge734]

Nice car.i can see a db5 there little bit

[@wfifa199]

She's a beauty!

[@MilosBrajkovic-rc3ik]

At last... Thank you, good sir...

[@SlapShotRegatta22]

Remember the marketing campaign that made Jaguar feel woke?

[@realLsf]

Fabulous looking car

[@dtrain1634]

Wow this is a beauty 😮

[@andrewdking]

I'm pretty sure the Alvis was at one time considered for having the Rover gas turbine engine, similar to their own Jet 1. I remember seeing it in some illustrated car book back in the 1960s. My company Lucas Aerospace at Hemel Hempstead took over the Rover gas turbine engine for aerospace use as an APU. I remember seeing Rover drawings in our Print Room. A designer I worked with at Lucas named Wilf Prowse, at one time works at Rovers on Jet 1 apparently.

[@thatcheapguy525]

lovely lovely cars lost to the endless consolidation of the motor industry

[@raywest3834]

I disagree that the Alvis "makes Jags feel cheap." I don't see much difference in the quality from my 1958 Mk. VIII, but what would be noticeable, is a large drop in horsepower.

[@liminal-m3g]

Alvis TE21 looks very similar to the Facel Vega?

[@tolrem]

Sad because we'll never see this level of quality again.Puts me in mind of a Longines watch or Mathew Norman carriage clock in the quality of workmanship.

[@mossi408]

Graber in Switzerland delivered the TE 21 also as a saloon.

[@ernestfinch1578]

Another GREAT show. Nice Quality Lux ride, I would also really like to see what a European, English/Italian car enthusiast, thinks of a 1970 Pontiac RAIV TRANS AM, after a good test. Hopefully on a dry road. Peace.

[@sammygirlie345]

Love those and a vega

[@michaelarchangel1163]

Pre TR6 clocks but none the worse for that. I always liked that font for instrumentation. A late pal had them in his TR3 Spartan conversion.

[@andymcgeechan8318]

Still a name well known in Coventry (Alvis Railway Bridge and Alvis Retail Park on the site of the Holyhead Road Factory) And Alvis Car Company on Common Lane Kenilworth, south of Coventry.

[@SimonJones-jy8ly]

That is a beautiful car. It's sad that you can't buy anything with that much style in modern times.