The most powerful pre-war Alvis — with the Speed 25, widely regarded as the finest cars Alvis built.
The most powerful pre-war Alvis, introduced in 1936 and built to 1940 alongside the Speed 25; 198 built per published production records.
4,387 cc straight-six (92 × 110 mm), 137 bhp at 3,600 rpm, all-synchromesh four-speed gearbox, independent front suspension; 127-inch wheelbase; standard four-door sports saloon plus coachbuilt bodies including Vanden Plas pillarless saloons and tourers and Arthur Mulliner saloons.
In short-chassis Vanden Plas tourer form, capable of exceeding 100 mph — among the fastest catalogued British production cars of the period, per published references. Together with the Speed 25, widely regarded as the finest cars Alvis built.
The pre-war Alvis flagship, rare and increasingly recognised alongside Derby Bentley and Lagonda equivalents.
| Variant | Years | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3-Litre | 1936–1940 | 198 | 4,387 cc straight-six, 137 bhp at 3,600 rpm; standard saloon and coachbuilt bodies by Vanden Plas, Arthur Mulliner and others. |
| 4.3-Litre Short Chassis | 1937–1940 | Within 198 total | Vanden Plas open tourer coachwork; exceeded 100 mph per published references. |
Authenticate stamped chassis and engine numbers against factory or club records. For the 4.3-Litre specifically, verify original coachbuilder (Vanden Plas pillarless saloon or tourer, Arthur Mulliner saloon or factory saloon) against chassis records, confirm short- versus long-chassis identity, and record any continuous ownership history.
Confirm body originality, panel identity and restoration standard against a marque specialist.
Confirm continuous service history and any rebuild history for the engine, transmission and driveline against a marque specialist.
Restoration standard, originality of body and driveline, and any documented ownership record are the main value drivers.
Regional ranges authored independently — each reflects its local market, not an FX conversion
Each region quoted in its local currency — independent market readings, not FX conversions
A thin, provenance-driven market of 198 cars; original coachwork and continuous history dominate value.
Authored against aggregate public-market data and named price guides as set out in What to Pay; regional readings are independent, not FX conversions.
| Date | Auction | Car | Mileage | Result |
|---|
No recent public auction results currently meet our verification standard. We publish sale figures only from verified examples, and will update this guide as qualifying results become available.
The pre-war Alvis flagship, rare and increasingly recognised alongside Derby Bentley and Lagonda equivalents.
Our view, not advice. This section is Car Collector International's editorial judgement on where this model sits in the collector market, based on the production, specification and market data set out in this guide. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell and it is not investment advice. Values can fall as well as rise.
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The valuation figures in this guide are for research purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.
