Description
H&H Classic Auction @Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire
12th Feb, 2025 9:00
1939 Riley 12hp Saloon
No Reserve
Registration No: JRE 747
Chassis No: 2958705
MOT: Exempt
Rare 12hp Riley, with only some 575 units produced
'Intact' and very 'original' example
Ideal candidate for 'oily rag' motoring or for full restoration, with the engine free
In storage for several decades being unearthed in 2020
After the Nuffield group took over Riley in 1938, the model range was streamlined to just the 12/ 4 and 16/ 4 engines. Each chassis offered two body styles: a 6-light 4-door Saloon with a swept tail, and a 2-door drophead Coupe. The Saloon, which had begun development before the takeover, was a clear evolution of the Adelphi body style, with some 550-575 units produced. The design featured the fashionable in-period helmet-style wings instead of the traditional Riley flowing designs. The rear doors were rear-hinged, unlike the centrally hinged doors of the Adelphi. Additionally, the rear of the car possessed a squarer design, with a larger rear quarter light and a bigger boot. This is a rare car, beginning production at the outbreak of war meant that production then stopped for the duration, with Riley introducing the RM post-war.
In an 'intact' state, this rare Riley 12HP isn’t a stalled restoration or box of bits. In the words of the vendor, ‘nothing has been done to this car and everything is original’. It is uncertain as to how many miles the Riley has covered. We are told the Riley went into storage in the late 1960s and remained there until 2020. It was recovered by the previous owner and awaited restoration, but other projects got in the way. The engine hasn't been started in the current ownership, however, we believe the engine turns. Inside, the leather seats offer the potential for cleaning up nicely. The vendor adds, ‘all the doors, boot and bonnet open and the car rolls freely. The floors and boot floor all look to be sound and the chassis is likewise.’ It could make a great restoration project, or even form the basis of a ‘special’. It is offered with the original logbook and a single key.
