Alvis (the Automaker) Is Back
British carmaker Alvis is one of many companies reviving old models. How does the once-defunct auto manufacturer fit in the growing continuation car market?
Written by Andrew Koole
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Alvis isn’t what you’d call a household name in the U.S. The English auto manufacturer stopped
producing cars
in 1967. And we admit: to say it’s back is a little disingenuous. Alvis began building cars again in 2010, starting with its Vanden Plas Tourer, a car it hadn’t offered since 1937. Since then, the company has restarted four more
classic models
.But Alvis is part of a growing trend right now—the burgeoning continuation car market. A number of classic car companies, from well-known names like
Jaguar
and Aston Martin to unfamiliar brands like Caterham and Lister, are restarting model names not seen for decades.Who is Alvis anyway?
Alvis goes way back. Founded in 1919, the company began by producing stationary engines, carburetors, and scooters before releasing its first car in 1920. Beyond that, Alvis also built armored vehicles that were used by the British, Dutch, and Hungarian armies.
Unlike today’s most popular automakers, Alvis focused on building the car’s guts, leaving body and interior design to “coachbuilders.”
They attracted some of the era’s most famous engineers, including Sir Alec Issigonis, who went on to develop Britain’s nation-defining car, the Mini, after his time at Alvis.
Despite introducing synchromesh transmissions and front-wheel drive to the industry,
CarBuzz
says Alvis ended up closing shop on its auto manufacturing division in 1967. Alvis didn’t build a car again until 2010.What’s a continuation car?
The revived version of Alvis makes five cars based on concepts from the brand’s glory days. Following the succession down to the parts and model numbers, this “continuation” project is part of a growing movement across the
auto industry
.Automakers as big as Ford and as niche as Ferrari are resurrecting some of the most famous car designs in history. Models back in production include the Shelby Cobra, Land Rover’s Series 1 Defender, the Ford GT40, and
James Bond
’s Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger.Continuations sit between the unauthenticated kit-car world and the rare and classic car auction industry, both in concept and in dollar value. The slight adjustments to make these vehicles roadworthy in the 21st Century give owners the chance to drive their dream cars without devaluing million-dollar collectibles.
What does it cost to insure a continuation car?
You might think the niche interest of continuation cars makes them all six-figure toys for 1-percenters, but prices for continuation cars are actually surprisingly wide. While a new Alvis will cost you about $400,000, you can get your hands on a Caterham Seven for only $32,000.
Price tags affect
car insurance
rates, but they are far from the only driving factors. Insurers determine your premiums on all sorts of things, from your driving record and credit score to your address and work history. Your car’s age also plays a role, which is why continuation cars aren’t eligible for classic car insurance
.If you’re shopping for car insurance,
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