Delivered new to the Brooklands Motor Company in August 1936 with coachwork by Charlesworth of CoventrySporting itsoriginal registration number, DPN 539,colours complemented byre-plated brightworkThe history file includes the original owners handbook, factory build sheets, tax discs and invoicesRefreshed paintwork, new headlining, carpets, refurbished woodwork and lightly patinated leatherOffered from a private collection of classic and vintage motor cars and presented in spiffing conditionFast and handsome with tremendous performance and a low, purposeful stance, the Alvis Speed 20 is the epitome of pre-war sporting elegance. Beautifully made and bristling with technical innovations such as independent front suspension, all-synchro gearbox and servo-assisted brakes, the car went through four versions, SA to SD, between 1932 and 1936 before being replaced by the Speed 25 in 1937. Engine size grew from 2.5 to 2.7 litres, culminating in the 3.5-litre unit in the Speed 25, capable of a smooth and silent 100mph and widely regarded as the best Alvis ever built.The SD model (as here) came out in 1936 and had the SC's larger 2.7-litre engine (good for an easy 90mph) improved steering and suspension, stiffened chassis and twin electric fuel pumps plus slightly wider bodywork. The low-slung chassis endowed the car with tremendous handling and grip for its day: 'When cornering it is not only free from rolling the low build sees to that but the layout is such that it clings to the intended path at quite unexpected speeds, and when centrifugal force does eventually produce a skid, it is of the rear wheels only and easily controlled, observed Motor Sport's tester.Motor magazine was equally enthusiastic: The new Alvis Speed Twenty is the type of car which looks right, feels right and is right. From the driver's point of view, the controls are all just where they are required and the power, speed and acceleration provided by the silky six-cylinder engine are a real eye-opener to anyone accustomed to driving about in more ordinary motor cars.Although the car was available in rolling chassis form to receive acoachbuiltbody of the owners choosing, the majority of customers plumped for the handsome Charlesworth Saloon bodywork that you see here. By the time production came to an end in late 1936, just 1,165 Speed Twenties of all types had been built and all are increasingly sought-after today.Delivered new to the Brooklands Motor Company in August 1936, DPN 539 is one of the last Speed Twenty models produced. Long periods of cherished ownership meanthat the car stands proudly in its original colours which, naturally,havebeen refreshed periodicallywithre-plated brightwork. The interior has benefited from new carpeting and headlining whilst the woodwork hasalsobeen refurbished. The leather seats are beautifully patinated and the car presents the best of both worlds witha welcoming, lived-ininterior and shining chrome and paint.Presented to auction from a small private collection which our vendor is trimming due to an imminent house move, the history file includes the original owners handbook, old tax discs fromthe1950s, invoices for various service items and the original factory build-sheets.