Lot Ended
Description
From a deceased estate; fully restored over a 14-year period and only
17,900 miles since; one of the nicest we have seen
During the late
1920s and ‘30s, the Coventry firm of Riley produced some of the best small
sporting cars in the world, whether saloons, tourers or out-and-out sports cars.
One reason was the excellence of the power unit, an
innovative 1,087cc four-cylinder, twin-cam design by Percy Riley that was good
for 60mph and 40mpg.
Other reasons were lovely
coachwork and fine handling, largely the work of Stanley Riley who had a gift
for chassis, suspension and body design. A bewildering variety of models
were produced in this era, including the Monaco, Biarritz and Kestrel saloons,
the Lynx tourer and the Imp, Sprite and MPH sportscars.
A big step forward came in 1932 when Riley launched a new version of
its Nine chassis called the ‘Plus Ultra’. This was considerably stiffer than
previously and was also dropped to give a lower seating position and create more
room inside the cabin.
This particular Lynx
four-seat tourer was first registered in Coventry in June 1933. Little is known
of the early history of the car but an old green logbook shows that by 1964 it
was resident in Cheltenham, being acquired in 1969 by a Geoffrey Barwick of
Coventry who was to keep it for the next 22 years.
During Barwick’s ownership the car was treated to a total
nut-and-bolt restoration that was to take 14 years to complete, the whole
process being amply documented in notes and dozens of photographs on file. The
bare chassis was shot blasted, primed and painted before being refitted with
fully renovated running gear including suspension, steering, brakes, wheel
bearings, back axle etc, using many new parts throughout. All the lubrication
points were renewed and converted to grease nipples in place of the original oil
system.
The ash frame was repaired as necessary
by Riley Register member, Jack Gibson, and all the floorboards replaced. The
body (number 15105) was repaired as necessary retaining as much original metal
as possible, and the wooden running boards renewed and strengthened with an
additional central bracket, the original stainless steel trim parts being
retained. All the brightwork was re-chromed and a new radiator guard and
headlamp bar supports were fabricated in stainless steel. It was repainted in
BLMC Damask Red (code 099).
The interior was
retrimmed in new Connolly leather to the original pattern by Jack and Doll
Gibson, and a new mahogany dashboard was made to pattern and fitted with fully
refurbished instruments, the odometer being re-set to zero. All the wiring was
renewed, a modern type battery fitted, and the lights refurbished and
re-silvered as required, the headlamps being modified to take twin filament
bulbs.
The engine was fully rebuilt with new high
compression pistons; the crank and con rods overhauled and balanced; all
bearings renewed; valves, guides, rockers and shafts replaced; new timing gears
and a new starter ring. The floor-change gearbox was found to be in good
condition although an uprated output bearing was fitted along with new clutch
facings and new transmission joints and bushes.
From 1996 – 2008 it was owned by a Mr M Mugglestone of Leicestershire
and from 2008 – 2016 by Professor J Silver, a Riley collector in Oxford. These
two gents barely used the car but kept it in good running
order.
Our vendor acquired the Lynx via
Brightwells in 2016 (for substantially more than the guide price suggested
here). The catalogue description at the time said that it was “in excellent
running order, starting promptly and driving nicely as we moved it around the
Brightwells yard to take the photographs with a notably smooth and
sweet-sounding engine”.
He added only 200 miles
to the odometer before he sadly passed away and the Lynx has been kept
tucked away in a nice dry garage ever since. Regularly started and
well-maintained by the current owner, it has been starting promptly and running
very nicely indeed as we have moved it around on site, with healthy oil
pressure.
Since the restoration was completed in
June 1983, the car has only clocked up some 17,900 miles documented by an almost
unbroken run of 26 old MOTs from 1983 to 2017 with numerous bills to show
regular upkeep. Now nicely mellowed, It comes with a full set of weather gear
including hood, sidescreens and tonneau cover, all in good
condition.
Utterly charming in all respects and
well-known in Riley circles, this is one of the nicest Riley Nines we have seen
in 20 years of hosting these sales. On offer here from a deceased estate, it
looks excellent value at the modest guide price suggested.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 –
james.dennison@brightwells.com