Riley Gamecock

In 1932 Riley launched a new version of its Riley 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. To capitalize on the sporting nature of the chassis, a new two-seater sports tourer was launched with all-round semi-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension, four-wheel drum brakes and a spiral-bevel back axle.

Called the Gamecock after the Gloster Gamecock biplane fighter, it had a fold-flat screen for that essential raffish look but was also equipped with full weather equipment and a long, flat tail that housed a large boot capable of swallowing all the luggage a couple might need on a long touring holiday. Powered by the marque’s jewel-like 1,087cc twin-cam four allied to four-speed manual transmission, it could touch 70mph and remained in production until 1934.

First registered in Lympstone, Devon, in January 1932, this particular Gamecock was owned by well-known Riley aficionados, the Ullmann brothers, from 1964 until 2007 when it was acquired by the current vendor, a friend of the Ullmann family. Between 1982 and 1988 the car was treated to a total ‘ground up’ restoration which results in the superb example you see today.

The majority of the mechanical work was undertaken by Fiennes Restoration of Bampton, while the body was restored with a strengthened ash frame and lightened body panels by Clanfield Coachworks of Oxford. The blue leather interior was retrimmed by Alpine Eagle of Bampton. Further work was also undertaken in the 1990s by noted marque specialists Barrie Gillies of Bradfield and Blue Diamond Services of Langport. In total some £48,000 has been spent to bring the car up to standard with many bills to substantiate in the history file.

The engine is a twin carb ‘Special Series’ unit with high compression pistons, Merlin crank and con rods, twin exhaust cams, coil ignition and a lightened flywheel. Considerably more potent than standard, the car is said to drive superbly and will happily keep pace with modern A-road traffic. It has a full set of weather gear including hood, sidescreens and tonneau cover, all in excellent condition.

Featured in several books on the Riley marque, the car comes with a very large history file plus various owner’s manuals, instruction books and technical literature relating to the model. It also has a VSCC eligibility form from 1990. Recently MOTd and taxed, the car is said to be in excellent running order but has been very little used in the last few years and may benefit from some precautionary recommissioning before the performance is extended to the full. The vendor believes that it is possibly the best example in existence in terms of both condition and specification.