Alvis was a mechanical manufacturing company founded in Coventry, England, in 1919 by Thomas George John. Initially, it produced engines, carburetors, and scooters. In 1920, they introduced their first four-wheeled vehicle, the 10/30, which was equipped with a four-cylinder SV engine designed by Geoffrey T. Freville.

Then George Thomas Smith-Clarke and William M. Dunn moved from Daimler, and with their development team at the center, the 12/75 in 1928 became the first British car to adopt front-wheel drive.
The 12/75 also featured other advanced equipment, such as inboard brakes and a Roots-type supercharger.

In the same year, the works car FA12/50 finished 6th overall and won the 1.5-liter class at Le Mans. In 1933, Alvis introduced the world’s first full-synchromesh gearbox and brake servo, establishing itself as an advanced luxury car manufacturer.

However, with the outbreak of World War II, Alvis entered the defense industry, and its automotive division gradually shrank. In 1967, the company was incorporated into the Leyland Group, which led to its dissolution.

The TE21 is a two-seater GT that follows the lineage of the TA21, which was introduced in 1947 and featured a newly designed 2,993 cc inline 6-cylinder OHV engine. Based on the TD21, which was introduced in 1958, the TE21 was equipped with a Mulliner Park Ward-designed coupe and open body, with upper and lower headlamps. The engine was improved with an upgraded cylinder head and manifold, producing 132 hp and achieving a top speed of 172 km/h.

The TE21, introduced in 1963, was the last model produced by Alvis, with a total of 352 units built by 1966. The DHC (Drop Head Coupe) version, which is introduced here, is a rare model with only 95 units believed to have been produced.