9th Oct, 2024 13:00
Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire

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1 of only 1,000 Mk1s manufactured and 1 of just a handful thought to survive
Boasting its original two-seater Tourer with Dickey coachwork by United Motor Body Ltd. in Australia
Subject to a comprehensive restoration during the 1980s
Upgraded sensibly with a more modern radiator and discrete coil conversion
It is no exaggeration to say that the appearance of the 1100cc 9hp Riley at the Olympia Show in October 1926 revolutionised concepts of light car design - its lower build, outstanding handling, and good brakes, the products of careful detail design, were matched by the strong, light and advanced engine, which developed remarkable power for its modest size and began a chain of development that continued until well after WWII and also spawned the E.R.A. racing voiturettes, the most successful British racing cars of their time. Breathing efficiently through hemispherical combustion chambers and 45-degree overhead valves opened by short pushrods from twin high-set camshafts, the unit simply wanted to rev and permitted a lowish rear axle ratio that in turn gave good acceleration. The 4-speed gearbox was a joy to use. Apart from a handful of obscure, low-volume specialised sports cars, no other light car produced in similar quantities offered anything comparable.

A very early Mk1 Nine, of which just a handful are thought to survive, chassis number ‘60316’ was ordered on the 27th of September 1927 and thereafter was delivered to shipping agent Tozer, Kemsley, and Millbourne on the 15th of November that year. Bodied in two-seater Tourer coachwork with Dickey seat by United Motor Body Ltd. of Australia, the Nine was known to have been in the possession of Noel Wyatt (a (late) well-known Riley club member) in 1949/1950, before being sold on by him in 1955 when a self-proclaimed ‘impoverished university student’. When Mr. Wyatt was invited to see a collection of Rileys in Australia in the 1970s, he was amazed to be shown a large collection which happened to contain the remains of ‘60316’, encompassing just the chassis and bodywork. After ten years of attempting to persuade the collection owner to sell the Riley back to him, he was successful in purchasing it in 1983.

Lavished a full restoration including a new ash frame, coachwork restored, and a correct type axle, engine, and gearbox sourced, the restoration was completed in 1993. Finished in Maroon paintwork with Black wings and a Black hood, the Riley has a complementary Maroon leather interior. Repatriated in 2018 and registered ‘BF 8528’, shortly afterwards the Riley achieved 2nd place in the Vintage Open class at the Riley Register Rally 2018. Acquired by the vendor five years ago, since then used for an annual long weekend camping trip, lengthy classic car runs, and local trips, the Riley has been improved during his ownership with five new tyres in 2022 and full re-wiring at the end of last year.

Featuring in ‘Australian Coach Built Cars’ by David Trunfull, a disc of restoration images, a collection of invoices, images while in Australia, information on Australian bodied Rileys, and a V5C document also accompany. The Riley has been sensibly upgraded with a modern radiator in the original radiator core, a coil conversion but with the magneto in-situ for appearances, and discrete indicators. With around 1,000 Mk1 Nines manufactured and just a handful thought to survive, this highly rare Nine which pleasingly sports its original coachwork started readily and ran well during the recent photography session.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452

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