Descrição
Under offer.
1932 Alvis Speed 20SA Tourer – GY 6949
Chassis No: 9874 | Engine No: 10326 | Coachwork by Vanden Plas # 1824
The Alvis Speed 20SA marked a turning point in British sporting motoring. Introduced in 1932, it combined advanced engineering with long-distance touring ability—quickly becoming a favourite among enthusiastic drivers. With its low-slung stance, crisp steering, and smooth six-cylinder power, the Speed 20 earned a reputation as one of the most capable sporting cars of its time.
Chassis 9874 is a notably early, ‘flater-rad’ example and among the most desirable of the series. Delivered new to Chas. Follett Ltd of London on 28th June 1932, it was fitted with striking Vanden Plas Tourer coachwork (body no. 1824), finished in Gray with Blue painted under wings. First registered as GY 6949 on 20th July 1932, it remained in the capital until the Second World War.
By the early 1950s, GY6949 passed to Lieutenant Commander Clinkard of the Royal Navy, who carried out a mechanical overhaul and rewire in the late 1970s. In 1980, Clinkard sold GY to John Horne Esq., with retrimming and paint completed during Horne’s tenure. GY6949 then moved through the hands of other respected enthusiasts including Mrs Caroline Hobbs—who loaned it to the Brooklands Museum—and Anthony Paskell Esq., who commissioned further reconditioning by marque specialist Red Triangle in 2006.
By 2009, the Speed 20 joined its current owner—a knowledgeable collector with a focus on quality and originality. Over the past 15 years, the car has benefited from over £73, 000 of work by Tim Walker Restorations, a name synonymous with excellence in pre-war Alvis care. Highlights include a full rebuild of its original engine (no. 10326), plus careful attention to the steering, suspension, brakes, clutch, gearbox, and carburettors. The brightwork has been re-plated, and a new hood and frame sourced—replacing the one misplaced during its time at Brooklands—along with new carpets and a tailored tonneau.
Fast, capable, and beautifully proportioned, this Speed 20SA Vanden Plas Tourer represents the best of pre-war British sporting motoring. With its desirable early spec, original engine, and well-documented restoration history, GY 6949 is both a driver’s delight and a discerning collector’s prize.
