Alvis - Alvis 12/50
The Alvis 12/50 was first available in 1923, with a 1.5 litre four cylinder overhead valve engine, from a company that had only been manufacturing motor cars for 3 years. The first Models of 12/50 were the SA and SB models, with the 12/50 SC having a stroked engine to increase the capacity from 1.5 to effectively 1.6 litres. In 1926 a lot of revisions took place where the 12/50 Alvis chassis frame got strengthened for the 12/50 TE model while at the same time a new crankcase was made that bolted straight into the chassis and discarded the earlier Edwardian style "subframe" method. This also marked the time when 4 wheel brakes were added to the 12/50. As years went on the 1645cc engines were in the 12/50 TE, 12/50 TG, 12/50 TJ, as well as the 12/60 models of TK and TL. The shorter stroke 1496cc went in model order of 12/50 SD , 12/50 TF , and 12/50 TH. The 12/50 Alvis is probably one of the best known cars of the Vintage period, for its good performance and overall longevity. Alvis 12/50 production went on until 1932.
Alvis 12/50 tyre size was quoted as 26 x 3 (also called 700x80) in 1923, and from photographs you can see the tyres were beaded edge type. But by 1924 things had changed and the Alvis 12/50 tyre size was now quoted as 29x4.95 (which means 4.95 x 20, which is 20" and not 19 inch). Shortly after Alvis later, for 1926, changed the 12/50 tyre size to 500x20. The correct tyre size today is the Blockley "475/500x20" which we produced with a correct tread pattern after we were persuaded to make this size by many Alvis 12/50 owners, because 20" tyre sizes are not so popular, and what was already available was of pretty low quality. So this Blockley 20" tyre was made and is the perfect tyre, even having the correct looking tread pattern. If your car has had any other non original size wheel size fitted over the years, we are sure to make the tyre size for whatever wheel size you have from our 60 + tyre size range! See full details of the Alvis 12/50 tyre below:
