Guide price: £60000 - £70000. <div><ul><li>Beautiful open Coventry classic coachbuilt by The Mayfair Carriage Company</li><li>2,511cc 6-cylinder, 3 SU Carburettors, 86bhp at 4,000rpm. 90mph</li><li>4-speed all-synchro gearbox. Independent front suspension-Live rear axle. Four-wheel drum brakes</li><li>Very comprehensive mechanical rebuild 2003/5 including some chassis works and other ancillary components</li><li>Coventry registered from new. Three owners. Buff Log Book. Original instruction book</li><li>45,000 miles-believed genuine. Essentially unrestored. Restore or use and enjoy?</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Introduced in 1931, the Alvis Speed 20 proved to be a very popular model for the Coventry-based marque and it's probably fair to say that the Speed 20 can be counted amongst the best of English sporting cars made in the 1930s. The powerful 2.5-litre six cylinder engine was set deep in the chassis allowing a low bonnet line which gave these cars a more elegant outline than many of their more perpendicular competitors. </div><div>The Coventry-based Alvis Car and Engineering Company had become known for its focus on exceptional engineering, handsome styling, and a very high standard of build quality. The second of four series of Speed 20 models, the 'SB', introduced a number of important refinements. It now featured a longer, reinforced chassis with Bijur lubrication, revised independent front suspension, Hartford Tele-control dampers and steering, and the world’s first fully-synchronized four-speed transmission in a production motorcar. The Speed 20 was truly one of the most technologically advanced British cars of the era. They were all supplied in chassis form to be bodied by the customer's preferred coachbuilder, with many cars wearing 'catalogue' bodies by Charlesworth, Cross and Ellis, and Vanden Plas, however, in this case, a bespoke body by 'The Mayfair Carriage Company' was chosen. Despite the rather pretentious title, Mayfair Carriages were actually based on the Edgeware Road building bodies for Buick and Minerva with the occasional commission for Humber, Wolseley and Alvis.</div><div><br /></div><div>This Alvis Speed 20 is an SB Open Tourer and was first registered in Coventry (its home town) as KV 7061 during 1933. It is powered by a 2,511cc, OHV, 6-Cylinder engine producing 86bhp at 4,000rpm.The fuel is provided by triple SU Carburettors and ignition by a Lucas coil for starting and a BTH Magneto when running. The gearbox is a four-speed all-synchro with a 'lockout' reverse.  Interesting features for this model year include independent front suspension, built-in jacking system, passenger operated chassis lubrication ( 1 shot every 100 miles), multiple valve springs (9 per valve-total 108), accelerator between the clutch and brake, and a hand throttle on the steering wheel. It has 14” cable brakes on all four wheels and the rear shock absorbers are adjustable from the dashboard.</div><div>The original Buff Log Book shows the first owner as being Mr Robert Bushrod of Westcliffe on Sea ( 1933 – 1971) who sold it to a Mr Robert Ward of Chelmsford Essex ( 1971 ). In 1977, the Alvis became the prize possession of Mr Anthony Bell of Maldon Essex who transferred in 2014 to his son Alistair. The car has covered an indicated 45,000 miles which, although not warranted, may well be correct given the low ownership and history.</div><div>The Alvis is fundamentally as it was when Tony bought it in 1977 and has not changed since. Ideally, it could do with some paint and putting a bit of life back into the seating or it might justify a total restoration. Alternatively, a new owner might choose to do as most other owners of PVT tourers seem to do and just use it and enjoy it.</div><div> </div><div>However mechanically it has been gone through. Between December 2003 and March 2005, the engine, gearbox and drivetrain were completely stripped and rebuilt by an Alvis specialist and further mechanical and chassis work was undertaken at the same time. There is a detailed breakdown of all this work and a couple of discs illustrating the process. This work was carried out by John Downes Engineering of Southminster and , including a re-cored radiator, the account totalled around £17,000.</div><div>With the car there is a selection of older invoices, some MOTs going back to the 60s, the original 'Speed 20' instruction manual, and importantly, its original buff logbook proudly sporting the Coventry registration number KV 7061.</div><div><br /></div><div>This Speed 20 is a great example of Alvis' craftsmanship from the 1930s. Mechanically excellent, the old girl does have a certain 'lived-in' look, however, she is over 85 and has undoubtedly earned a few 'laughter lines'.  Personally, I wouldn't change a thing.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><p> </p>