1935 Alvis Speed 20 SC Vanden Plas Tourer
1 of just 21 examples bodied with Vanden Plas Tourer coachwork

Registration No: BLX 277
Chassis No: 11926
MOT: Exempt

• One of 21 examples of the Speed 20 SC bodied with Vanden Plas Tourer coachwork, of which just 10 are thought to survive
• Dispatched new in October, 1934, to London main agent Charles Follett, and a ‘sister car’ to ‘BLX 272’ which Follett raced at Brooklands and elsewhere
• Subject to a comprehensive, chassis-up restoration in the late 1980s and well maintained since
• Offered with a history file and a set of sidescreens
• A true Post-Vintage Thoroughbred!

"The driver has the benefit of rock steady steering, completely accurate, and without a trace of road shocks, while corners and curves merely give him an opportunity to show up the roadholding of the car at its best. Acceleration is greatly assisted by the new all-synchromesh gearbox, with very quick changes to be made absolutely silently right up through the gears."—Motor Sport, February, 1934

Introduced at the 1934 London Motor Exhibition, the Speed 20 SC was among a new breed of Alvis cars that combined high performance with luxury and refinement. Based around a sturdy cruciform-braced ladder-frame chassis equipped with sizable fourteen-inch drum brakes and "jelly mould" wire wheels, it boasted such technological novelties as independent transverse-leaf front suspension and synchromesh on all four forward gears. Powered by a smooth but free-revving 2,762cc OHV straight-six engine featuring dual magneto and coil ignition, triple SU carburettors and an aluminium crankcase, the model was reputedly capable of 89mph. A corollary of its low-slung stance and long bonnet line, the Speed 20 SC proved an ideal canvas for the coachbuilder's art. Although the majority were bodied to factory-approved designs by Charlesworth and Cross & Ellis, a select few received rather more bespoke treatment.

The more bespoke end of coachbuilding included those Alvises bodied by the Kingsbury, Middlesex, firm of Vanden Plas, a name most closely-associated with the conquering Bentley Le Mans team cars of the 1920s. Having been involved with aircraft production during the 1914-18 war, Vanden Plas struggled to gain a foothold in post-war coachbuilding until it was bought in 1923 by Edwin Fox, who cemented the association with Bentley. It then relied almost exclusively on such custom until Bentley went bankrupt in 1931, at which point Vanden Plas had to find new customers. Charles Follett became an Alvis dealer just prior to the Speed 20’s introduction, and his decision to commission Vanden Plas to construct a variety of bodies for the new model was instrumental in prolonging the coachbuilder’s survival.

Chassis 11926 was built early in the Speed 20 SC’s life and was notably from the same batch of bodies as chassis 11960, which Charles Follett ordered as his personal racing car, achieving two wins at Brooklands in 1936, setting a fastest lap at 103mph. Indeed, the SC model attracted very many important customers, most famously George Formby and racing driver Luis Fontés. Other owners were drawn from the ranks of MPs, surgeons, novelists, businessmen, aristocrats, architects and aviators.

Records show that 11926’s chassis was despatched to Follett on October 5th, 1934, and it was completed by Vanden Plas in November, painted blue, for a cost of £145. It was then issued with the London registration ‘BLX 277’ in 1935. Early owners are listed as a Mr. Wedgewood and an Edgar Segar, although with no dates attached. The owner circa 1956 was one J. C. Dickens of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, and around 1959 it belonged to a Mr. Hinchcliffe of Dulwich and later Hove. No further history is known until 1966, when it was photographed at the National Alvis Day at Crystal Palace on May 1st, the picture being published in the June, 1966, issue of Veteran & Vintage; it was then seemingly painted white.

In 1970, it was purchased by Patrick J. S. Griggs of Toot Hill, Essex. He cherished it for 36 years, commissioning a “chassis-up” restoration in the late 1980s by Peter Woodley. The chassis, steering and front axle were completely restored to “original specification,” the engine was overhauled, and the radiator was restored with an “original-type” core. The work also included a new wiring loom and the reupholstering of the interior in an appropriate leather. Upgrades included a modern oil filter and a conversion to run on coil ignition only; it is also likely that this is when it was painted British Racing Green. At some stage, it was also converted to a conventional pedal layout with a right-hand throttle. When the Alvis was subjected to a condition report in 2002, showing 64,360 miles, it was said to still be in “excellent” condition, with all parts inspected in working order. Following the restoration, the Alvis continued to be meticulously maintained by Woodley and was driven by Griggs on many Continental rallies, until it was offered for sale in 2006.

In the subsequent ownership, it remained in use until 2013, but was sold in 2021 from a deceased’s estate showing just over 70,000 miles. It was then that the Speed 20 was purchased by the vendor, who in 2022 presented it to marque specialist Red Triangle for some light mechanical and cosmetic attention. It was put through a 3,000-mile service and MOTed, and several of the body panels were repainted to match the existing Green, the work coming to just under £1,500. Additionally, the Alvis received new Blockley tyres in April, 2024. Now appearing in very pleasing condition, it is sold with a large history file containing MOTs back to the 1970s, old tax discs, historic correspondence, and a multitude of invoices including Red Triangle invoices back to the 1970s.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452