1932 Alvis Speed 20

Lot details

Year: 1932

Make: Alvis

Model: Speed 20 SA Open Tourer Two-Seater

Registration: GY 7179

Chassis No: 9827

Engine No: 10278

Odometer: tba

• Desirable and rare two-seater tourer by Vanden Plas

• Needing a full restoration and comes with many spares

This highly desirable, non-running, 1932 Alvis Speed 20 SA Open Tourer, wearing the unmistakable and elegant 'low door' coachwork by Vanden Plas, represents a pinnacle of pre-war British sporting machinery. The engine, running gear and chassis were sold to Charles Follett who then commissioned Vanden Plas to make a two-seater touring body which was painted Tuscan Red and Black. It was then sold by Charles Follett to a Miss Audrey Sykes of Clarence Gate Gardens, London and in1933, Miss Sykes entered and completed the 1933 Hastings RAC rally coming 69 out of 95 in the class 1 section with 175 points. In October 1933 it was then sold to Henlys Ltd. Fast forward to 1965, a Mr Tim Batten bought the Alvis from a dealer in Northampton and with his friend Peter Reynolds worked on the car and used it including a trip through France in 1969. Bearing the distinct UK registration number GY 7179, this initial-series SA variant is celebrated by motoring connoisseurs for its traditional beam front axle, providing a more purposeful, low-slung stance and a significantly more responsive driving dynamic than later variants. Under the long, louvred bonnet sits the potent 2.5 litre six-cylinder overhead-valve engine evolved from the famous Silver Eagle line, fuelled by triple SU carburettors to deliver an impressive 90bhp. This robust mechanical setup paired with a four-speed manual gearbox allowed the car to comfortably exceed 90 miles per hour in its day, a startling performance benchmark for the early 1930s that leaves it perfectly suited for modern historic rallying and continental touring.

The exterior is finished in a striking deep red, perfectly complemented by contrasting black cycle-style wings and sweeping running boards that accentuate its low-slung, athletic silhouette. Its sporting nature is further enhanced by classic black wire-spoke wheels, a fold-down windscreen, and large, prominent chrome headlamps straddling the classic Alvis mesh radiator grille. Inside, the cabin features rich red leather upholstery arranged in traditional vertical pleats, providing a wonderfully authentic period environment for long-distance motoring. Combining exceptional engineering integrity, legendary handling and rare post-vintage performance, this elegant Vanden Plas two-seater tourer offers a magnificent opportunity to acquire a true milestone of British automotive history in need of full restoration and comes with a substantial array of various spares and a copy of its original Car Record. A great project for those who love to indulge themselves in the world of vintage classic cars. In 2006 the rear outer body was removed and the rotten ply was replaced with a steel rear body shaped round the wooden frame and some work was done on the engine to get it recommissioned for a wedding and the car has not been on the road since 2010. Consigned by James Good