Description
Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire
Viewing: Tues 8th April from 12pm
Auction: Wed 9th April from 9am
Location: IWM Duxford Airfield, Cambridge CB22 4QR
1932 Giron-Alvis Speed 20 Special
Estimate
£100, 000 - £120, 000
Registration No: N/ A
Chassis No: 9489
MOT: N/ A
An incredibly competitive full-blooded single-seater racing machine, described by many as an 'ERA - eater'
Built in the mid 70s as a collaboration between Paul Holdsworth, the famed Louis Giron and Rod Jolley
Fitted with a Supercharged 4. 3 Litre Speed 25 power unit developed and built by the late Louis Giron of ex-Bugatti fame
Aluminium single-seater body expertly crafted by owner Rod Jolley - internationally respected coachbuilder
Eligible for several historic racing events such as within the VSCC
It is without doubt that the Alvis Speed 20 caused a sensation when previewed in October 1931 and eventually released to the public early the following year. Inspired by Donald Healey's Monte Carlo Rally-winning Invicta S-type, the Speed 20 was the brainchild of marque draughtsman Arthur Varney. The `double dropped' chassis frame was fabricated from high tensile carbon sheet steel and enjoyed a notably low centre of gravity. The newcomer was equipped with all-round semi-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension, a Marles Weller steering box and cable-operated 14-inch drum brakes.
Fast forward some fourty years after the Speed 20's release, and Rod Jolley, who by trade is a master coachbuilder responsible for the restoration and rebodying of some of the finest motor cars in the world, had a brainwave to create a pre-war racing Alvis which would give the ERA's a run for their money on the circuit. Teaming up with his friend Paul Holdsworth who financially backed the project provided Rod completed the physical work, a plan was drawn up to use a Speed 20 chassis with a supercharged Speed 25 engine fitted with a 4. 3 Litre cylinder block and head. Rod had already used famed Belgian engineer, Louis Giron to build a 4. 3 Litre engine for a road car which he had used on track, so therefore Giron was approached again to help develop an engine that would be fitted with a Godfrey Marshall blower and ran on Methanol. Giron himself was a master engineer and his apprenticeship had taken place at Bugatti where he had helped to construct the 1924 Grand Prix car. He then moved to England in the 1930's, setting up his own business as a motor engineer and after a long career he eventually became the technical lead at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum. Giron became very interested in the whole project and dedicated much of his time to helping Rod get the car together. In Rod's own words:
"I met Louis Giron, the famous Belgian engineer who came over to the UK in the 1930's before fully settling in 1939 with his family, to escape the war, or so he hoped.
He was best known for his work with GP Bugattis and Maseratis but was also a pretty handy racing driver in his day.
In his later years he worked at the National Motor Museum as their chief technical engineer, which is where I met him, frequently visiting the museum for whom I carried out various coachbuilding tasks.
We became firm friends and when I told him that I wanted to build and develop a competitive Alvis racing car, he immediately offered his help, which was very welcome because my knowledge of supercharging and methanol at that time, was almost zero, but I learned pretty quickly!
In the end, Louis did most of the machining and together we built the engine, but he also had major input in the chassis setup. I built a body, based loosely on a GP Mercedes / Alfetta 158. The car still proudly wears the rev counter from Louis' dynamometer, which he kindly donated to the project."
And thus was formed what became the Giron-Alvis Special. During its first time out testing, Rod was at the wheel and Giron was in attendance to keep an eye on the mechanics of the car, and it was initially presented badge-less. Rod recounted that a particularly proud moment came when he stuck the bespoke enamel badge on the radiator cowling and surprised his friend who is said to have been very moved by the occasion.
It would take some five years to develop the car enough to achieve the magic combination of reliability and speed, which would ultimately lead to some thirty years of success. Rod has advised that the ultimate specification is as follows:
The engine is fitted with a billet steel crank and con rods, shell bearings, Mahle forged pistons, high lift cam and an updated oil pump. This was mated to a very desirable close-ratio Silver Crest gearbox with straight-cut gears and an uprated main-shaft for strength. Finally, the Godfrey Marshal supercharger was fitted with lightweight steel rotors which were machined from solid billets as they were found to be much lighter than the original aluminium ones. The supercharger is currently set to a low boost configuration yet develops some 300hp and 300ft/ Lbs of torque, but Rod estimates that reconfiguring it to high-boost format should develop an extra 100hp – a rather frightening thought given how quick the car currently is!
During fifty years of ownership, the Giron-Alvis has turned heads and become a highly regarded car, if not just for its race wins (in many cases in post-war classes!) but also for its genuine good looks thanks to Rod’s skilled coach working. Today, the single seater still appears to be in exceptional condition, testament to the ongoing maintenance schedule that has been kept up. In fact, in preparation for sale, it was noted that one cylinder had lost compression, so Rod immediately stripped the cylinder head from the car to discover a loose valve seat which was immediately taken to the engineers to be re-machined. We can confirm that the car when inspected was running very well indeed and Rod confirms that it is in ‘excellent’ order all round.
Due to Rod’s advancing years and limited time to enjoy all the cars in his collection, he now feels that it is time to part company with this machine which has become a faithful old friend and is sure that it will bring a lot of joy to any prospective new owner. Rod has advised that some prep will be required to get it back out and competitive, but this is to be expected with any historic racing car and is all part of the fun.
So, if you have been considering getting into pre-war racing and want to be genuinely competitive then surely the Giron-Alvis is one to be considered? Both beautiful and competitive, the modest estimate does not get close to the cost outlay to build a machine of this calibre today, and especially not with the expertise onboard to get it quite as right.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
Catalogues can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people).
