In 1919 T. G. John founded the T.G. John and Co. Ltd., a company producing stationary engines, carburettor bodies and motor scooters.
T. G. John was approached by Geoffrey de Feville with the design of a 4-cylinder engine with aluminium pistons and pressure lubrication. These units were called Alvis. In 1921 the company changed its name to Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd. and moved production to Holyhead Road, Coventry.
From 1928 to 1931 the Alvis 12/75 F.W.D. was produced, a front wheel drive car with overhead camshaft and in-board brakes. The car was available as 4-seat sports, 2-seat sports, and sports saloon. 142 cars were produced. Until the end of the 1920s, mostly smaller sports cars were manufactured. One of them was the Alvis 12/50, a successful classic sports car. One of the successors was the Alvis 12/60 HP. It was a 4-cylinder rear wheel drive sports car available as 2 seat, 4 seat, and saloon. 282 cars were built.
