The traditional Christmas special

ALVIS Speed 25.

The final iteration of the famous 1930’s Alvis ‘Speed’ series sporting cars that had begun with the Speed Twenty in 1931. The Speed Twentyfive series was just under 400 chassis introduced in October 1936 and was a more popular development of the earlier 3.5 Litre. The car illustrated is the standard Speed Twentyfive saloon with Coventry built Charlesworth saloon body with a total production of 246 bodies, the remaining 145 chassis being fitted with various makes of open and bespoke coachwork. These were comfortable, silent, rapid bolides capable of close to 100mph, with triple carburettors, double sunroofs, and gearboxes with synchromesh on all four speeds. They were offered in two series, Type ‘SB’ and Type ‘SC’ from early 1938. Early 1938 cars had a revised ‘short-stud’ cylinder head with improved breathing and vacuum-servo brakes, 1939 onwards cars were further modified with special double exhaust manifolds, a twin exhaust system, higher compression ratio, revised camshaft and coil ignition further improving performance. These later cars were continued with slightly revised coachwork up to late 1940 when car production ceased for wartime production and may be identified by their modified wing lines without running boards.

Nick Simpson.