In an era where speed often outpaces sentiment, The Alvis Car Company is doing something truly rare—taking the time to bring the past into the present with grace, precision, and unmistakable British craftsmanship. This spring, at the prestigious Automobile Council 2025 in Chiba City, Japan, Alvis will unveil its latest triumph: the Lancefield Continuation car, a stunning recreation of a 1938 Art Deco masterpiece—now fully road legal, reimagined for the modern driver.
It’s been 88 years since the original Lancefield stole the spotlight at the London Motor Show, designed by the iconic Lancefield Coachworks Ltd. Back then, it cost £1,350—more than twice the price of an average British home. Today, the new Lancefield carries a price tag starting at £325,000, but its value lies far beyond numbers. This is not just a car; it’s a journey through time, one shaped by heritage and redefined by innovation.
Hand-built at the historic Alvis Works in Kenilworth, UK, the Lancefield is a tour de force of detail, pulling from an unmatched archive of 25,000 blueprints and a treasure trove of new old stock parts dating back to the company’s pre-1968 production era. While the design retains its iconic two-tone cream Art Deco aesthetic—complete with concave flutings and disappearing hood—the technology under the hood tells a different story.
The 2025 Lancefield features a faithful recreation of the original straight-six 4387cc engine, now enhanced with fuel injection and electronic engine management. The result? A smoother ride, more torque, and surprisingly quick acceleration, reaching 0–60 mph in under 10 seconds—all while wrapped in vintage elegance.
From its galvanised steel chassis to its painstakingly handcrafted aluminium body stretched over an ash frame, this car is a love letter to traditional coachbuilding. The process demands more than 3,800 hours of craftsmanship—each hour poured in by Warwickshire artisans who merge modern tools with time-honoured techniques.
Despite its nostalgic silhouette, the Lancefield is no museum piece. Power steering, servo-operated brakes, and a collapsible steering column have been seamlessly integrated, along with modern compliance features like a catalytic converter and indicator repeaters. This is a vehicle built to be driven—on scenic routes and sun-drenched boulevards, just as Alvis intended nearly a century ago.
The very first Lancefield Continuation is destined for a discerning collector in Japan, marking the first of several Continuation Series deliveries planned for 2025, including a forthcoming drop-head Graber. Alvis’ long-time distributor in Japan, Meiji Sangyo, has rekindled its relationship with the marque—reviving not only the car but a legacy of craftsmanship and culture that spans continents.
“The Lancefield continuation car is a clear demonstration of Alvis’ rich legacy and our dedication to quality,” says Alan Stote, owner of The Alvis Car Company. “The 1938 original is a car very close to my heart, and it’s wonderful to continue the legacy of this special machine with a brand-new build.”
Each vehicle comes with a bespoke handbook inspired by the original and a three-year warranty—a thoughtful nod to the modern collector who demands not just beauty, but reliability.
As the automotive world increasingly turns its eye to electrification and autonomous technology, Alvis’ Lancefield offers a compelling counterpoint: a living, breathing homage to the golden age of motoring, built not just to be admired, but to be driven.
For those seeking the poetry of the past, delivered with the performance of the present, the Lancefield Continuation is not simply a car—it’s a masterpiece reborn.
