The Alvis Three Litre Series II, also known as the TD 21, was a British sports saloon or coupé made by Alvis between the end of 1958 and October 1963. It was a revised version of the TC 108G, with a body made by Park Ward, and a drophead coupé was added to the range.
Alvis TD 21 at a glance
| Production | end of 1958 to October 1963 |
|---|---|
| Body | Park Ward saloon and drophead coupé; lighter and slightly taller than the TC 108G |
| Engine | 2,993 cc six, 115 bhp (86 kW), compression 8.5:1 |
| Gearbox | four-speed from the Austin-Healey; Borg-Warner three-speed automatic optional; overdrive 1960–1962 |
| Track | 55.5 in (1,410 mm), increased by 1 in, with front anti-roll bar |
| Brakes | discs at the front from 1959; four-wheel Dunlop discs on the Series II from April 1962 |
| Top speed (The Motor, 1960) | 103 mph (166 km/h) |
| 0–60 mph | 13.5 seconds |
| Test car price | £2,827 including taxes |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only, so the figures could not be cross-checked against a second source.
History of the Alvis TD 21
The TD 21 was a revised TC 108G whose body was made by Park Ward, who were better able to supply the quantity, quality and price required. The 2,993 cc engine was again uprated, mostly through an improved cylinder head and a compression ratio raised from 8.0:1 to 8.5:1. Suspension was similar to the TC 21, independent at the front with coil springs and leaf springs at the rear. Wire-spoked wheels became an option, and from 1959 the all-drum brakes were changed to front discs with rear drums.
In April 1962 the car was upgraded with four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes and named Series II. The door frames were now made of aluminium and panelled in aluminium to alleviate persistent problems with the Park Ward body’s wooden door pillar. The fog lamps were built into new circular air intakes, one for the heater and the other for the carburettors. In October 1962 the car switched to a five-speed all-synchromesh ZF gearbox, with the Borg-Warner automatic still available. Graber of Switzerland continued to mount their own bodies on the Alvis chassis.
A sky-blue 1959 Series I TD 21 is the car in the 2011 film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Design and features
- Engine: improved head and higher compression for 115 bhp.
- Brakes: discs at the front from 1959, all four wheels on the Series II.
- Gearbox: Austin-Healey four-speed, later a five-speed ZF.
Alvis TD 21 versions
- Series I (1958–1962).
- Series II (from April 1962): four-wheel discs and aluminium door frames.
- Graber-bodied cars.
More Alvis cars are in our Alvis collection, for example the TC 21, the TE 21 and the TF 21.
Alvis TD 21 questions and answers
Who made the TD 21 body?
Park Ward.
How fast was it?
103 mph in a 1960 test by The Motor, with 0–60 mph in 13.5 seconds.
What is the Series II?
The April 1962 update with four-wheel disc brakes and aluminium door frames.
Sources
- Alvis TD 21, English Wikipedia: history and specifications
_(52856639384).jpg){kind=link}