Lot Ended
Description
A stunning example of perhaps the most desirable Alvis made; only 400
miles since full mechanical overhaul which cost over £100,000; just
serviced by Red Triangle; Vanden Plas-style
aluminium coachwork
Lithe and
handsome with tremendous performance, the Alvis Speed 25 is the epitome of
pre-war sporting elegance. Beautifully made and bristling with technical
innovations such as independent front suspension, all-synchro gearbox, one-shot
chassis lubrication system, adjustable Luvax hydraulic shock absorbers and
four-wheel servo-assisted brakes, the car was capable of a smooth and refined
100mph and is widely regarded as the finest Alvis ever
built.
A development of the 2.5-litre Speed 20,
the 1936 Speed 25 SB had a 3.6-litre straight-six with triple SU carburettors, a
balanced seven-bearing crankshaft, novel spring-cluster overhead valve gear and
developed 108bhp. Despite weighing a hefty 36½ cwts, in Charlesworth saloon
form, it could charge to 50mph in just 10.4 seconds and cover the standing ¼
mile in only 20 seconds – remarkable performance for the time.
An outstandingly sophisticated and handsome car,
it was also very expensive (stealing sales from both the Bentley 4.25 litre and
Lagonda LG45) and just 391 examples were made before production came to an end
in 1940.
As copies of the factory build sheets
confirm, this gorgeous Speed 25 started out in life as a Charlesworth Saloon,
leaving the works in May 1937 destined for Henlys of London. Little is known of
the car’s early history but in 1989 it was acquired by a Mr T Tratalos of
Cheshire who was to keep it for the next 23 years.
When he passed away in 2012, the Alvis appeared at an H&H auction
in Buxton which is where our vendor acquired the car (for substantially more
than the guide price suggested here). The catalogue description stated that the
car had been rebodied as a lightweight four-seater in 1966 and had then been
used for racing “at Silverstone and elsewhere”. The competition body was
replaced in the mid-1990s with a new aluminium body made by Simon Isles of Pott
Shrigley, modelled on the coachwork fitted to the short chassis 4.3-litre cars
by Vanden Plas.
The description also stated that the engine was original
to the car and had been rebuilt by Alvis specialists Walkers Radiators in 2003.
It also referenced a buff logbook showing previous owners: Carl Athestan Smith
of Dudley (1958 - 1965); Michael Bishop of Dudley (1965 - ?) and Courtenay
Forbes Warner of Wilby Hall, Quidenham, Norwich, from whom Mr Tratalos acquired
it in 1989. It further stated: “The Alvis has been employed on a trip to the
Isle of Man and several of the Lagonda Club's Fougeres rallies to France, and
has won the following awards: Tatton Park Vintage & Classic Show - 3rd in
the best pre-1950 sports car class (2001) and Tatton Park Vintage & Classic
Show - Best Alvis (2007).”
Although the buff
logbook referred to is no longer present, there are many bills for upkeep going
back to the late-1980s which confirm that Mr Tratalos did indeed look after the
car well – hence all the awards.
Our vendor has
been even more assiduous. Immediately after buying the car he sent it to Tim
Walker Restorations of Aylesbury with instructions to go right through it and
carry out any work necessary to ensure it was good to drive. This resulted in
the front suspension being rebuilt along with the entire braking system
including the servo. A new radiator and electric cooling fan were also fitted,
the chassis was cleaned and rust-proofed and all five wheels were rebuilt and
fitted with new Blockley tyres and inner tubes, the bill for this lot coming to
some £10,500.
The car was then used lightly
before the vendor got posted abroad so he sent it back to Tim Walker in
late-2015 with instructions to bring it up to perfect condition mechanically,
regardless of cost, and incorporate any upgrades necessary to make it suitable
for long-distance touring in modern road conditions.
This ultimately took six years and cost another £103,000. The full
extent of the work carried out is far too detailed to list in full here but is
amply documented in many invoices on file.
Highlights include: engine fully rebuilt with new custom-made
pistons, bearings, con rods, timing chain etc; new uprated aluminium cylinder
head and camshaft; carbs rebuilt; gearbox rebuilt; new lightened flywheel with
integral Rattler vibration damper; new clutch kit; new high torque starter
motor; back axle rebuilt; steering and suspension rebuilt including hardened
king pins; braking system upgraded with new lightweight Alfin brake drums – you
get the picture, it was an extremely thorough job!
As the vendor is 6ft 3” tall, he also had the seats moved back, the
footwell modified and the steering column extended to make it more comfortable
to drive. The original windscreen also proved too low, blasting air into his
face, so a new taller one with integral side-screens was custom-made by Hightone
Restorations of Bicester, a complex job that involved removing the dash and
steering wheel, making a new scuttle panel and strengthening the bulkhead, the
cost for this lot coming to another £21,000.
In
March/April this year, the car was sent to Alvis specialists Red Triangle of
Kenilworth for a major service, check-over and tune-up which cost a further
£1,200, a compression test recording 160 – 165psi across all six
cylinders.
Although it no longer needs one, it
has an MOT until March 2025 with no advisories recorded. There are also 17 old
MOTs and many old tax discs showing light regular use from 1987
onwards.
As you can probably tell by now, this
magnificent machine has wanted for nothing, with over £135k spent on
improvements and upgrades during the current 12-year ownership. It has only
covered some 400 miles since the engine was rebuilt and will require a further
period of careful running-in before the prodigious performance is exploited to
the full. It has been starting promptly and running beautifully as we have moved
it around on site, with good 50psi oil pressure.
One of the best examples we have ever seen, this stunning Speed 25 is
on offer here at a very attractive guide price and will bring a huge amount of
pleasure to its fortunate new owner. Go on, you only live once...
For more information contact James on 07970
309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com