Lot Ended
Description
Restored to show-winning condition in 2010 and
carefully maintained since; national concours winner in 2024; recent
suspension overhaul and service; nice original number plate; a fine example of
this most handsome Riley at a very attractive guide price
Introduced in
late 1932, the Riley Nine Kestrel is widely hailed as one of the most striking
sporting saloons of the pre-war era. While traditional 1930s motorcars were
upright and boxy, the Kestrel embraced pioneering aerodynamics with a sweeping
semi-fastback roofline and flowing Art Deco lines that made it look fast even
when standing still.
Underneath its stylish
bodywork lay the celebrated 1,087cc twin-camshaft overhead-valve engine
designed by Percy Riley. Producing around 32 - 40bhp depending on the
carburettor setup, this high-revving four-cylinder engine punched well above its
weight. Coupled with a low-slung, stiff chassis and precise steering, the
Kestrel offered exceptional handling for its day, cruising comfortably at 60mph
with more in hand from the sportier
versions when required.
A refined
touring car, the Kestrel had a well-equipped cabin with plush leather seating,
polished wood trim and comprehensive instrumentation. Initially an option, the
ENV pre-selector gearbox proved so popular that it became standard from 1935
onwards.
Optional one-shot chassis lubrication
was another desirable convenience while all cars were equipped with ingenious
rod and cable drum brakes which could be adjusted from inside the cabin. This
kept them working at peak efficiency without having to crawl around under the
car with a spanner to tighten things up every few hundred miles, a particularly
useful feature for the press-on driver during rallies or long-distance
tours.
First registered in London in July 1934,
this Kestrel is the sporting Special Series model with twin carbs and various
other tweaks to enhance the performance. Fitted with the pre-selector gearbox,
it also has the one-shot chassis lubrication system.
Supplied new
by Dobson's of Staines (their plaque is still on the dash), the buff logbook
shows that BMH 942 had just two local owners until 1965 when it was
acquired by a Mr E Rhodes of Halifax who was to keep it for the next 55 years.
Old MOTs show that he used the car regularly until 1983 when it seems that it
was taken off the road.
In 2008 the car was sent
to Simon North of Carmarthen for a sympathetic restoration of the bodywork and
the following year it was sent to Glenn Crawford of Bridport for a full
mechanical overhaul which took 12 months to complete, around £18,000 being spent
on the car.
The interior was also
sympathetically refurbished by SJ Bowles Coach Trimming of Bridport at a further
cost of £1,950 which included a new headlining and carpets and careful
refurbishment of the original seats and door cards.
The full extent of all the work carried out is far too detailed to
list in full here but is amply covered by invoices and work sheets on file (see
photos for a brief summary).
Back on the road in
March 2010 after flying through an MOT with no advisories recorded, the Kestrel
has been in regular use since and has attended various shows, scooping plenty of
silverware along the way including the Pride of Ownership award at the Riley
Register National Rally in 2013.
When Mr Rhodes
was forced to give up driving in 2020, the Kestrel briefly had one more owner in
Notts who continued to look after the car well, including fitting various new
weather seals and gaskets. In June 2021 he had the wheels repaired as required
using new carbon steel spokes after which they were fitted with a new set of
five Longstone tyres. He also had the car insured with an agreed value of
£30,000 in March 2022 which gives you a good idea of just how nice it
is.
Our vendor acquired the Kestrel in the summer
of 2023 and has improved it still further, including having much of the
brightwork replated, overhauling the speedo and rebuilding the suspension with
all four shock absorbers refurbished, the springs re-tempered and new Silenbloc
bushes fitted. In the spring of this year it was serviced with new spark plugs,
a new battery and fresh oils in the engine, gearbox and rear axle. A battery
cut-off switch is also discreetly fitted under the dash.
We are told that the car drives as well as it looks and has completed
a number of long journeys without drama. Well-known in the club, the Riley has
also continued to attend various shows and garnered more silverware along the
way, including an award at the Riley Register National Rally in 2023 and three
further awards at the same gathering in 2024, including Overall Concours
Winner.
As you can see in the photos, this
much-cherished Riley is in wonderful condition throughout, with a beautifully
mellowed and pleasingly original interior. It has been starting promptly and
driving nicely as we have moved it around on site, with healthy oil pressure.
The icing on the cake is the original London-issue number plate, BMH 942, which
is transferable and doubtless has a value of its own.
On offer here at a very enticing guide price, this handsome
Kestrel is ready for a sixth owner to enjoy and is no doubt capable of
scooping more awards on the show circuit, should they feel so inclined.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907
– james.dennison@brightwells.com