The models featured here are the Speed 20, produced 1932-1936, and the Speed 25, made 1936-1940. These cars had six-cylinder motors, hence their proportionally long hoods.
Alvis did not build its own bodies -- that task was handed over to coachbuilding firms. The rare 2-door saloons presented here were crafted by the well-known Vanden Plas firm.
English cars of the '30s were behind the times compared to the design evolution going on in America. Alvis vehicles as late as 1940 looked like slightly smoother and more rounded 1933 American cars. But I don't see much wrong with that, provided the designs were attractive. And the cars shown below are interesting, attractive examples from their homeland setting.
Note the extremely long hood. It seems there is (cramped?) room for rear-seat passengers, but over-the-axle seating implies a rough ride for folks forced to sit there.
The Speed 25 was a slightly modernized Speed 20. Most Alvis 2-door saloons had full-height B-pillars, but a few were pillarless, as shown in this Vanden Plan drawing.
The spare tire was moved from the rear end to the left front fender, and away from the right hand drive piloting position.
The "fastback" slope is slightly greater than on Speed 20 Vanden Plas two-doors. Note the reversed-Packard style pen-nib side trim. This was also seen on four-door Speed 25 saloons by other coachbuilders.
Photo of a survivor. The spare tire can be seen peeking over the hood.
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