Chapter one

Genesis of a Dream: The Birth of AlviAutomobiles



I was always a fan of the legendary GT40. But after Ford vs. Ferrari hit theaters in 2019, that admiration turned into an obsession. I wasn't just dreaming about owning one—I knew I had to have it. What I never imagined was that this obsession would lead me down a road where I'd end up building one myself.

Back in 2019, I was living in New York City, a newcomer to the U.S. with just a few years under my belt. My days were filled with running a modest technology consulting firm, and the idea of forking over a quarter of a million dollars for a high-end continuation car—or, dare I say, an original from the '60s—was laughable. But the idea haunted me.

I dove into research, fueled by an almost reckless curiosity. Within days, I had scoured every corner of the industry, uncovering every obscure component car builder, distributor, and garage with the potential to bring my dream to life. Eventually, I found the one—a partner I believed could help me craft my dream machine.

By late 2020, as my Ken Miles-inspired GT40 Mark II was nearing completion, I was so deeply involved in the process that I proposed a partnership with the manufacturer. It seemed like fate. But as often happens with dreams built on shaky foundations, the deal crumbled. Not only did the partnership fall apart, but I also lost my nearly-finished Mark II in the wreckage.

I was crushed. Two years of hope and effort, gone. But where others might have given up, I made a decision. If I couldn't buy my dream car and I couldn't rely on anyone else to build it, I would do it myself.

From that resolve, AlviAutomobiles was born—not just as a project to fulfill a personal dream, but as the beginning of a journey to create something entirely my own.

This is just the start of a painful yet exhilarating journey, and I'm beyond excited to share every twist and turn with you as we work to bring AlviAutomobiles to life.

In the meantime, check out our brand-new website where you can explore the long-term vision of AlviAutomobiles, discover the inspiration behind our design, and get a sneak peek at what's to come. By subscribing to this newsletter, you'll be the first to know about GT40 updates, the final design reveal, exclusive apparel drops, and more.

This is Salman Alvi, and this is just the beginning of the AlviAutomobiles story. Buckle up and stay tuned—the ride is just getting started.

Salman Alvi
Founder & CEO, ALVI AUTOMOBILES