Descripción
The Firebird was produced as a successor to the Firefly and incorporated changes to keep up with developments. The modified brake shoe pivot positions incorporated in the later Speed 20s, the new type of central nut for the wheels and the cast brass grease plugs were all used. A modification to the chassis allowed the installation of the new and now legendary synchronised gearbox. In fact, much of the Firebird's equipment and accessories were aligned with the other models, e. g. bonnet latches, dynamo/ water pump unit and pistons etc. No fundamental changes were made to the model during its production run and all models were designated SA 13. 22. Minor changes were made to the exhaust system, the clutch pedal linkage and the addition of a front bumper, that's about it. The car lacked the charisma of its larger stablemates, although it was built with similar and often identical parts, such as hubs, axles, brakes, chassis (smaller in size but with the same sections and thicknesses).
The standard Alvis 4-cylinder engine was supposed to pull this car along with acceptable performance, which it did very well considering that a single SU carburettor somewhat deprived the driver of the possibility of pouring alcohol down his gullet as could be done with its big brother. The car's average fuel consumption was 24mpg, although it was possible to achieve 30mpg in perfect conditions without engine damage.
The model was not a great commercial success when new; the last car was bodied at Cross & Ellis in June 1935 but was not sold until December 1936, meaning that when Alvis announced the Firebird as the continuous 4-cylinder model for 1936, all the cars they could sell that year were at least 6 months old.
Powered by an Alvis 4-cylinder 1, 842cc OHV engine, the Firebird had an aluminium body on an ash wood chassis. Like other Alvis cars, it was built on a rolling chassis and sent to coachbuilders Cross and Ellis or Holbrook. The chassis was lubricated by grease nipples grouped under the bonnet, the grease being piped to the components. This example, an SA 13. 22, was fully restored at Red Triangle, the Alvis specialist in the UK, in 2004. Then, in 2013, the engine was rebuilt, the gearbox overhauled and the clutch changed. The car is chassis-engine-box matching number, with various documents attesting to this. The car runs very well, fitted with an Alvis four-speed synchronised gearbox, and is ready for any distance!
