Description
The Firebird was produced to succeed the Firefly and incorporated changes to keep up with developments. The modified positions of the brake shoe pivot incorporated in the latest Speed 20, the new type of central wheel nut, and the cast brass grease caps were all used. A chassis modification allowed the installation of the new and now legendary synchronized gearbox. In fact, most of the equipment and accessories of the Firebird were aligned with other models, such as the hood latches, the dynamo/ water pump unit, and the pistons, etc. Although typical of Alvis, some details like the Hobson telegraph, the twist choke control, the absence of a fan, the solid front axles, the unique central engine mount, and the brake cross shaft with internal adjustment wheel were stubbornly retained.
No fundamental changes were made to the model during its production, and all models were designated SA 13. 22. Small modifications were made to the exhaust system, the clutch pedal linkage, and the addition of a front bumper, that’s about it. The car did not have the charisma of its larger stablemates, although it was built with similar and often identical parts, such as hubs, axles, brakes, the chassis (smaller in size but with the same sections and thicknesses).
The standard Alvis 4-cylinder engine was supposed to drag this car with acceptable performance, which it did very well considering that a single SU carburetor somewhat deprived the driver of the ability to pour alcohol into its throat as one can do with its big brother. The average consumption of this car is 24 mpg, although it is possible to reach 30 mpg in perfect conditions without damaging the engine.
The model did not achieve great commercial success when new; the last car was bodied at Cross Ellis in June 1935 but was not sold until December 1936, which means that when Alvis announced that the Firebird was the continuous 4-cylinder model for 1936, all the cars they could sell that year were at least 6 months old.
Powered by a 1, 842 cc overhead valve Alvis 4-cylinder engine, the Firebird had an aluminum body on an ash wood chassis. Like other Alvis cars, it was built on a rolling chassis and then sent to coachbuilders Cross and Ellis or Holbrook. The chassis was lubricated by grease fittings grouped under the hood, with grease being routed to the components via pipes.
This example, an SA 13. 22, was fully restored at Red Triangle, Alvis specialist in England, in 2004. Then, in 2013, the engine was redone, the gearbox was overhauled, and the clutch was changed.
The car is matching number chassis-engine-gearbox, with various documents attesting to this. The car comes with documentation tracing part of its history.
It runs very well, equipped with a synchronized four-speed Alvis gearbox, it is ready for any distance!
