1932 Riley 9 Monaco Special Series Plus Ultra | Brightwells | Auction Ends: Wed 16th Sept

Wonderfully original Riley in need of recommissioning following many years in storage; sporting Plus Ultra chassis and floor-change gears; few owners, the current for 26 years; a proper time capsule at a very modest guide price

One of two Riley Monaco Special Series saloons in today’s auction (the other is Lot 84), this fabulous ‘oily rag’ survivor is one of those precious finds that has somehow escaped the ravages of time and decay that so often send old cars to an early grave.

The buff logbook shows that it was first registered in Middlesex in April 1932 and the original owner was a Mr AJ Clarke of Twickenham. The plaque on the dash suggests that he had bought it from Boon & Porter Ltd, London’s premier Riley dealership in the 1920s and ‘30s, with a prestigious showroom on Castelnau Road in leafy Richmond-upon-Thames.

An old V5 shows that by 1978 it was owned by a Mr F Dewey of Shaftesbury, ownership transferring to a Mrs N Gladstone of Preston in 1992 from whom our vendor bought the car back in the spring of 2000.

He tells us that the Monaco had been last driven on the road in the mid-1990s and was still in running order when he acquired it. In fact before the deal was struck, with the aid of an external fuel supply he gave it a short short test drive which proved that it ran well enough, with working brakes, clutch and gearchange. We are told that the cylinders have been regularly oiled since and that the engine (which is original to the car) still turns freely.

A Special Series model with twin carbs, four-speed manual floor-change gearbox of the Riley 'Silent Third' design and the more sporting Plus Ultra chassis, MV 6906 is in remarkably original condition, retaining period Wickens leather gaiters on the road springs, original Andre Hertford shock absorbers, and original lightweight Weymann half-panelled saloon coachwork with a fabric roof, peaked at the front and incorporating a Pytchley sliding sunroof.

The interior is also wonderfully original apart from the driver’s seat squab which has been re-covered at some point, although the original green leather has been kept and is stored in the boot (see photos). The window winder on the driver’s door card has come adrift but is included with the parts that come with the car. Even the wooden floorboards are thought to be original, as are the carpets, and the chassis number is still visible on the structure of the car.

Currently fitted with a non-standard fixed advance Lucas magneto, our vendor has managed to source a correct and completely rebuilt BTH magneto which is yet to be fitted but is included among the spares, along with a fully refurbished dashboard clock plus various other items (see photos for details).

A previous owner had fitted removable front and rear flashing indicators which are also included, the wiring for these being still in place at the front and rear of the car. Although they must be fairly old by now, the tyres look as if they have barely been used, with plenty of tread left.

As you can see in the photos, this rare and sporting Monaco is a proper time capsule with that irreplaceable patina that only comes from decades of light use and careful storage. It is on offer here at a modest guide price that should leave ample scope for the recommissioning now required to get it back on the road where it belongs.

Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – [email protected]