1936 | Alvis Speed 20 Special

We are delighted to offer once again, a very special Alvis tourer, previously sold by us, which is quite simply the fastest and most capable pre-war car in our thirty-four-year history of retailing classic and vintage cars.

The Alvis Speed 20, produced by the Alvis Car and Engineering Company in Coventry, England, between late 1931 and 1936, was a luxury touring car renowned for its performance and engineering advancements. Available in four main variants-SA, SB, SC, and SD-it combined elegant design with cutting-edge technology. The model was powered by a six-cylinder, overhead-valve engine, initially a 2.5 litre unit producing around 86-90 horsepower with triple SU carburettors, later upgraded to a 2.8 litre engine in the SC and SD variants for enhanced performance, capable of reaching speeds up to ninety mph. The car was offered in various body styles, including four-door sports saloons by Charlesworth, four-seater sports coupés and four-door tourers by Cross & Ellis, also two-door tourers, sports saloons, and drophead coupés by Vanden Plas.

The car left the Alvis factory in 1936 amongst the second batch of Speed 20 SDs and was sent to Cross and Ellis for the fitting of a saloon body. We know little of its early history but by 1965 it was advertised for sale in the Alvis Owner Club magazine for £90. At that time, it had two previous owners and was described as rough, with a super engine. By 1990, the body had fallen apart, and the car was a rolling chassis, having been stored like that since the 1960s. By 1999 the car was for sale to AOC members for £9,000 as a complete rolling chassis. The next owner was the well-known racing enthusiast the late Albert Sparrowhawk. Sparrowhawk was renowned in Alvis Circles as a spirited racing driver and builder. A gifted enthusiast, a man who really knew these cars, he carried out a complete rebuild using an authentic original Vanden Plas body from a Derby Bentley he owned. It comes from one of just five Vanden Plas tourers built of the design, this one being documented as from Bentley RC44. The car was expertly fitted with the more potent engine from a 4.3 litre SB Alvis.

The engine has been meticulously rebuilt using high compression pistons, and the best bearings available. Around £30,000 has been spent since 2018 and the engine is now run-in having done about 1500 miles since rebuild. It is still in the state of tune as set up by Sparrowhawk - a man who really knew how to tune them. For a thirties car it really does fly and is truly outstanding to drive. With its very robust early synchromesh four speed gearbox, the car is a pleasure to drive enthusiastically and is remarkably high geared for this era. Whilst not impossible to criticise cosmetically, we know we are never likely to surpass DMX 829 as the most exhilarating, and lusty pre-war tourer imaginable. The paintwork has aged well; the alloy bodywork is still in top class condition and the leather upholstery, hood and weather gear now have a nicely aged patina.

The last time we had this car our founder Nick Szkiler commented "If I owned this, I'd never want to part with it". It's the sort of car you would see be thrilled to see (and hear) on the Flying Scotsman Rally or tour the Continent with. DMX 829 comes with VSCC Eligibility document, ‘buff' logbook, dating back to 1961, and a comprehensive file of paperwork. An amazing, unrepeatable car.