Description
Alvis Car and Engineering Company model Speed 25 SC.
First registered DRW 211 on May 16th 1938 by Coventry county council and supplied to the original owner Peter Sturgis of 4 Porchester Close, London W2 on 22nd July 1938. The car was exported to USA in 1965 by Cdr Clinkard where it spent the next 44 years and underwent a body change from saloon to tourer. I purchased the car as a rolling chassis and full collection of parts in 2009 from Wayne Brooks (Alvis Owners Club 4. 3ltr model secretary). It has been in my ownership since then and undergone a complete, detailed and documented restoration to the highest standard costing well over 100k over a period of 10 years. In my opinion the car is now complete and drives exceptionally well and easily. All new suspension, pins and bushes combined with an overhauled steering box, new wheels, close tolerance wheel bearings and Blockley tyres provides light and precise steering and straight line running. The overhauled servo assisted drum brakes and importantly all new cables mean the brakes are safe and effective for such a large car. The synchromesh gearbox eliminates the need for double de-clutching and crunching gears, while the engine provides a very satisfying intake roar and plenty of low rev torque meaning it can pull away quickly in town and hold its own cruising in modern day motorway traffic. Having had the benefit/ pleasure of one European tour around Brittany and two trips to Prescott (from the Netherlands) I can say it is a very accomplished and comfortable grand tourer with an enviable turn of speed, looks and handling. Since the car body is not original I felt the car colour could be changed. The car has been finished in green "Jewelescent" (metallic) paint, the colour is a shade of green selected after many years of research, agonising and conversations with Alvis owners such as the late Idris Francis who encouraged me to be bold "These were the supercars of the 1930s and not for shrinking violets". On tour or around town you will not be disappointed, as you pull up to a hotel or petrol station, people are agog and in awe of this car, the complements are amazing and make ownership so rewarding.
