In August 1936, the British manufacturer Alvis introduced their Speed 25, which was a more highly developed version of the 3.5-liter model it had announced a year earlier.

Utilizing a shorter 126-inch wheelbase, and improvements such as a revised air-cleaner system and Luvax hydraulic shock absorbers, the Speed 25 was equipped with the same inline six-cylinder engine, although output was raised to 106 horsepower.

A total of 391 examples were built in four series through 1940, a great majority of which were clothed by coachbuilder Charlesworth, including 246 saloons.

Of the remainder, just three examples were believed to have been fitted with two-door coachwork from Vanden Plas, which featured styling by John Bradley.

Today, there are very few Alvis chassis (of any model) bearing Vanden Plas coachwork, and this 1939 Speed 25 Pillarless Two-door Saloon is one of only two known surviving specimens of this particularly wonderful collaboration.

A pillarless saloon such as this Alvis de...