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Riley Kestrel

Riley Kestrel

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Riley KestrelRiley KestrelRiley KestrelRiley KestrelRiley Kestrel
Riley KestrelRiley KestrelRiley KestrelRiley KestrelRiley Kestrel
Riley KestrelRiley KestrelRiley KestrelRiley KestrelRiley Kestrel
Lot number 89
Hammer value £18,000
Description Riley Kestrel
Registration DDU 373
Year 1938
Colour Blue
Engine size 2,443 cc
Chassis No. 38KX1214
Engine No. KX1214

Riley’s moto ‘as old as the industry – as modern as the hour’ was starting to look less of a reality as the 1930s drew to a end.

Sales were falling sharply, Riley's relatively modest output making it increasingly difficult for the Coventry based concern to keep ahead of the competition. By this time, the likes of Morris and Ford were able to offer equally technically advanced products for less money.

Factor in a series of reliability issues brought about by badly executed cost-cutting measures and by 1937 the writing was on the wall. Come February the following year, the receivers were in, ironically talking to BMW of Munich (who now own the Riley brand) about a merger, as well as nearby Triumph who were the preferred option. In the end, nothing was to come of this and in October 1938, Lord Nuffield had taken over the company’s debts, paying off the creditors to the tune of £140,000.

A savaging of the model range left just the 1 ½-litre 12/4 and a new 2 ½-litre  ‘Big-4’ to uphold Riley traditions. This included the elegant Kestrel sports-saloon which could be ordered on either chassis. Very few were produced with the bigger engine prior to the outbreak of war, making this Big-4 Kestrel a 'rare bird' indeed.

The Kestrel's six-light body pleased the traditionalist as did its performance, which was excellent thanks to the lusty 85bhp 2,443cc engine and pleasant three-speed plus overdrive gearbox.

Purchased by the vendor in 2006, it comes with a buff logbook dating back to 1953 and a fabulous history folder going back even further. Numerous invoices from Riley themselves show a major overhaul in 1945 costing £123. More bills show continual care and expenditure including a full engine rebuild in 1955 by which time it had covered 77,450 miles. The file shows that £232 was lavished on the car again in 1959 (enough to buy a small car) and it also had a body off restoration at some time in its past. By 1982 the recorded mileage had increased to 118,108, the car last being used on the road in that year.

The vast majority of the woodwork is in excellent order, with the principal exception of the A-posts which need significant remedial attention. It maybe that the sunroof drains, or windscreen seals have caused their deterioration as they seem to have suffered more than any other area of the car. The car runs and drives, retaining its lovely original interior and nicely patinated exterior and once the woodwork has been sorted, should be a straightforward recommissioning job.

This rare and powerful VSCC eligible sports saloon will have plenty of performance and comes with a really comprehensive history. The vendor’s concern is that it will be turned into a pre-war Riley hot-rod which would be such a shame – please don’t let that happen to it! 

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