Alvis Speed 25 - It doesn't always have to be a Rolls-Royce

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Alvis Speed 25 - It doesn't always have to be a Rolls-Royce

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Created on January 1, 1984

Text:

Wallace Wyss

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Bonhams

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Bruno von Rotz

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- Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

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Gaisbergrennen 2011 - Alvis Speed 25 (1937) - up the Gaisberg

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Alvis Speed 20 SC Charlesworth - Radiator mascot - Dolder Classics September 2015

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Alvis Speed 20 SB Sports Tourer (1934) - offered as Lot 015 at the Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction on August 19, 2016

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Alvis Speed Twenty 'SB' Tourer (1934) - as lot 372 at the Bonhams auction in London Olympia on December 7, 2016

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Alvis Speed 20SC (1935) - as lot 009 at the Bonhams MPH Bicester Heritage sale on September 20, 2020

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Alvis Speed 20 SC Charlesworth - elegant sports sedan - Dolder Classics September 2015

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Alvis Speed 20 SC - Sportsaloon by Charlesworth - already with central lubrication - at the DolderClassics on September 7, 2014

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Alvis Speed 20 SB Charlseworth Coupe (1934) - Vintage car in Obwalden OiO 2011

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Alvis Speed 25 SC Saloon (1939) - as a limousine

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Alvis Speed 25 SC Saloon (1939) - as a limousine

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Alvis Speed 25 SC Saloon (1939) - Interior of the right-hand drive saloon

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Alvis Speed 25 SC Saloon (1939) - View of the in-line six-cylinder engine

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Alvis Speed 25 Sports (1939) - sporty version

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Alvis Speed 25 Sports (1939) - at full speed

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Alvis Speed 25 Sports (1939) - View of the engine

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Alvis Speed 25 Tourer (1936) - with open bodywork

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Alvis Speed 25 Tourer (1936) - the in-line six-cylinder

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Alvis Speed 25 (1938) - at the Gaisbergrennen 2012 - sports car class

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Alvis Speed 25 SB Four Door Tourer (1936) - sold as lot 466 at the Bonhams Tupelo Automobile Museum auction on April 27, 2019

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Alvis Speed 25 SC Roadster (1938) - sold as lot 471 at the Bonhams Tupelo Automobile Museum auction on April 27, 2019

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Alvis Speed 25 Tourer by Cross & Ellis (1938) - offered as lot 241 at the RM Online Only Shift Monterey auction on August 14 and 15, 2020

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Alvis Speed 25 Charlesworth (1936) - The Italian Job Rally on Saturday - 27th BCCM St. Moritz 2021

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Alvis Speed 25 Charlesworth (1936) - The Italian Job Rally on Saturday - 27th BCCM St. Moritz 2021

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Alvis Speed 25 SB Tourer (1936) - offered as lot 219 at the Bonhams 'Golden Age of Motoring 1886-1939' auction 2021

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Alvis Speed Twenty-Five Drophead Coupé (1936) - as lot 66 at the Bonhams auction on the occasion of the Goodwood Member Meeting on March 21, 2015

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Summary

Anyone looking for an English class car as an alternative to the pre-war cars from Rolls-Royce or Bentley could well end up with the Alvis Speed 25. It offers outstanding performance and workmanship and, on top of that, an acceptable price, which is why it was also known as the "poor man's Bentley". This vehicle report tells the story and the special features of the Alvis Speed 25 and shows it in some pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

From piston to car
Spectacular technology led to the speed model
Design as in Detroit
The motto: Class for affordable prices
Less success after the war

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

For a long time, classic car collectors apparently followed the golden rule: the better known the brand, the more expensive the car. This made it impossible to find a cheap Rolls-Royce or a Bentley. Even the owner of a Silver Cloud or an R-Type once believed their car was worth its weight in gold. The only real alternative for someone with a more modest bank account who still wanted to afford a classy English car was therefore a lesser-known brand. However, the car should still have the glorious qualities and dignified appearance. All of these requirements could (40 years ago) certainly bring the prospective buyer to the Alvis.

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