Lot details
Registration No: JJ 3233
Chassis No: 14709
Mot Expiry: April 2009

"My outstanding impressions of the new Alvis Speed Twenty are, firstly, that I did not like giving it back to you, and secondly, that I have never driven a more delightful motor car from every point of view. The steering is superb and appears to be ideal from the point of view of control. The springing is excellent. The brakes are very powerful. The engine is very smooth throughout its range and is extremely docile and smooth running at slow speeds. The roadholding qualities are in my opinion second to none, whilst the driving position and the position of the controls are admirable . . . a truly magnificent motor car for the man who is a connoisseur, while the speed is ample even for the most blasé speed merchant" (Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin writing to thank T.G. John of Alvis for the loan of an early tourer, 22nd March 1932).

There is little doubting that Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin was (a) genuinely impressed by the Speed 20 SA and (b) keen to promote British products whenever possible. Courted alongside the Hon Brian Lewis by Alvis' principal London concessionaire, Charles Follett, the pair were shown a pre-production car in late 1931 and loaned several examples thereafter. A contemporary associate of Follett, A.F. Rivers Fletcher reported that Birkin and Lewis agreed to drive this very car - chassis number 9900 - in the Ards Tourist Trophy race on August 20th 1932. Whether the build was commissioned by Birkin or for him remains unclear (though, Follett almost certainly ordered / underwrote the process). Interestingly, a copy of the factory Car Record sheet for chassis 9900 shows that it was originally finished in red with black wheels (Birkin's racing colours). The same piece of paper lists a standard 10ft 3in wheelbase and 4ft 8in track but the fitting of a high 4.1:1 rear axle ratio, Brooklands silencer and Special Hartford shock absorbers. While, the modified Speed 20 SA's Special Four-Seater Racer coachwork was entrusted to Carbodies (Number 6797). Sporting a BTH magneto and triple SU carburetors, its 2511cc OHV straight-six engine was allied to a four-speed 'crash' gearbox.

A.F. Rivers Fletcher also recalled that the project suffered a number of setbacks. Frustrated by the lack of modifications permitted under TT regulations and annoyed at Birkin's demands that an Amherst Villiers supercharger should be installed Alvis' chief engineer G.T. Smith Clarke seems to have dragged his feet somewhat. Once it became clear that chassis 9900 would not be completed on time and after a falling out with Birkin, Lewis signed up to race a Talbot 105 Fox & Nicholl Team Car instead. While, the Ards classic saw Birkin revert to an Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 (a model with which he was familiar having partnered Earl Howe to victory aboard one at Le Mans the previous season). Thus, by the time that chassis 9900 was dispatched to Messrs Follett Ltd of London on 16th September 1932 both Lewis and Birkin had moved on to other things. Apparently tested by Charles Follett and A.F. Rivers Fletcher on Brooklands' Outer Circuit and loaned to R.F. Oats (Follett's service manager) for a time, the Speed 20 SA remained unsold until January / February 1933. Acquired by the wealthy amateur racer, Sir Ronald Gunter of Wetherby Park and road registered as 'JJ 3233', the Alvis made its competition debut in the JCC International Trophy on 6th May 1933 (having been listed as a non-starter at an earlier BARC Brooklands meeting).

Partnering Gunter for the event was his friend and former Le Mans winning 'Bentley Boy', Dr Dudley Benjafield. Hopelessly outgunned aboard the normally aspirated Speed 20 SA, Benjafield was forced into retirement after just three laps when a gudgeon pin broke. Though, whether 'JJ 3233' would have made much of an impression over the full 250-mile race distance against the likes of Whitney Straight's Maserati, the Hon Brian Lewis's Alfa Romeo, Eddie Hall's MG or Kaye Don's Bugatti is open to debate. Aside from Rivers Fletcher's assertion that "Gunter owned the car for quite a time but never raced it again" and a note on the Car Record seemingly concerning the fitting of a 4.3:1 differential in March 1934, little is known of chassis 9900's history between 1933 and 1960. Correspondence on file from an Ernest Shenton Esq. of Normacot (Stoke on Trent) suggests that he was a former keeper prior to 1960 or at least had a great familiarity with the car. While, an accompanying continuation green logbook indicates that 'JJ 3233' had undergone an engine change (exchanging the 19.82hp unit 10325 for 10584) and was in the hands of Christopher Drake Esq of Plymstock by September 1960. Later passing to Richard Shepherd Esq. of Yealmpton, the Alvis was bought by Andrew Naish of Towcester during July 1967 complete with roundels and scrutineering sticker.

Subsequently treated to a sympathetic restoration that included an engine overhaul, suspension refurbishment and new wings etc, the four-seater was the subject of an article entitled 'A Tale of Two Alvises' in the 1st March 1975 issue of Autocar magazine (coincidentally the same publication which had run an illustration of "A Speed Twenty Alvis with full International road-racing equipment built for Charles Follett for the Tourist Trophy race but not finished in time to compete" on 18th November 1932). Benefiting from further engine fettling in February 1980 (including a replacement cylinder head), 'JJ 3233' was acquired by Guy Spollon, secretary of the ERA Club, that same year. With Mr Spollon for almost two decades during which time it was further cosmetically enhanced and maintained, this unique and historic Speed 20 SA entered the current ownership via Brooks' 1999 Goodwood Festival of Speed auction. Sparingly used since then, the past few years have nevertheless seen chassis 9900 gain a refurbished starter motor, overhauled magneto and fresh Michelin 'Double Rivet' tyres (19-inch front / 18-inch rear). Linked to some of the most charismatic figures in 1930s British motor sport and based on what is arguably Alvis' most highly regarded sports chassis, 'JJ 3233' is a very special motor car. Featured in the aforementioned issues of Autocar magazine not to mention A.F. Rivers Fletcher's 'Mostly Motor Racing', Kenneth Day's 'Alvis - The Story of the Red Triangle' and Nick Walker's 'Alvis - Speed Models in Detail', chassis 9900 is accompanied by a VSCC 'buff form', letter from A.F. Rivers Fletcher, old style FIA Historic Vehicle Identity Form and sundry other paperwork.