TG John started a manufacturing plant in Coventry in 1919, and produced his first car in 1920 to a design by Geoffrey de Freville (previously at Bentley). The company was renamed 'Alvis' in 1921 and set about producing cars to their own often innovative designs and manufactured as far as possible on their own premises. During the late 1930s Alvis had some success with aero engines, and later sold armoured cars. After the war car production was handicapped by Alvis not having their own body facility and most of the coachbuilders did not restart after the war or were bought up by rivals. In 1965 Rover bought out Alvis and car production ceased in 1967.