Description
Date of Registration: 31. 05. 1935
As written by Ian Gladstone, the founder of Blue Diamond and font of all knowledge when it came to the Riley motor car.
First registered in Esher, Surrey, on the 31st May 1935 to a Mrs Barbara Baker Harvey. The car has its original colour scheme. Mrs Harvey sold the car in 1951, having covered 29, 000 miles, to Mr John Evans who used the car until 1967 and covered 140, 000 miles. He then dismantled and began repairing the car. and after a work on it ceased.
I bought the car from John Evans in 1989 and began a major rebuild which was completed in November 1992.
The car has a 1 1/ 2 litre twin cam engine, is fitted with two 1 1/ 4" SU carbs, Lucas distributor and has a compression ratio of about 7:1. It has a gas flowed 4-branch exhaust manifold. The tyres are 4. 75/ 5. 00 x 18, although they are marked at the U. S. A. size of 5. 50 x 18 and the rear axle is 4. 75:1. The car cruises very easily at 50-60 mph and has a top speed of 70-80 mph. I have deliberately slightly over-geared the car for modern roads. I have covered about 20, 000 miles in the car.
In recent times the Riley has had a new radiator core fitted together with new steel front wings and running boards.
Additionally, not only is this Riley Kestrel fitted with seatbelts but also a heater! A heater for colder mornings and a sunroof for those hot, balmy summer days!
A lovely, desirable example of the 22T series with the powerful 12/ 4 engine, in this case fitted with twin SU's and 4-branch exhaust all in the narrow track chassis.
