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Riley Kestrel Big Four Special - four pots for one hallelujah

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Created on May 18, 2013

Reading time 4min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Balz Schreier

Archiv

Balz Schreier

Archiv

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Riley Kestrel Big Four Special (1938) - unterwegs im Vorkriegs-Spezial - Rennbrille empfohlen

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Riley Kestrel Big Four Special (1938) - der grosse Vierzylinder ermöglicht überraschende Fahrleistungen

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Riley Kestrel Big Four Special (1938) - das Spitzheck war auch damals schon beliebt

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Riley Kestrel Big Four Special (1938) - grosses Lenkrad, gut lesbare Instrumente

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Riley Kestrel Big Four Special (1938) - der Hebel links vom Lenkrad regelt den Freilauf und den Overdrive

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Riley Kestrel Big Four Special (1938) - aussenliegende Handbremse

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Riley Kestrel Big Four Special (1938) - Geschwindigkeit in Kilometern pro Stunde

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Riley Kestrel Big Four Special (1938) - 2,5 Liter Hubraum aus vier Zylindern

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Riley Kestrel Big Four Special (1938) - der Tankverschluss

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Riley Kestrel Big Four Special (1938) - einstellbare Dämpfung

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Riley MPH (1935) - Preis von Bremgarten im Jahr 1936

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Riley Lynx (1930) - ein sportlicher Tourer

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Riley Krestel Saloon 6 Door Window (1937) - Abbildung aus dem damaligen Verkaufsprospekt

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Riley Falcon (1937) - Abbildung aus dem damaligen Verkaufsprospekt

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Riley Adelphi (1937) - Abbildung aus dem damaligen Verkaufsprospekt

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Riley Lynx (1937) - Abbildung aus dem damaligen Verkaufsprospekt

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Riley 1.5 Litre Krestel Saloon (1938) - Prospektillustration

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Riley 1.5 Litre (1938) - Prospekt-Abbildung

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Riley 1.5 Litre (1938) - der 1,5-Liter-Motor

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Riley MPH (1935) - grosses Lenkrad und funktionales Amaturenbrett

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Riley (1933) - gesehen in Le Mans im Jahr 1985, ausgerüstet mit einem 1091 ccm grossen Motor

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Riley MPH (1934) - mit Rundheck und 1500 ccm verteilt auf sechs Zylinder, aufgenommen in den Achtzigerjahren

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Riley MPH Sports (1934) - Thomas Manson am AVD OGP auf dem Nürburgring im Jahr 1976

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Riley MPH Sports (1935) - versteigert durch Brooks im Jahr 1995

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Riley Kestrel Big Four Special (1938) - attraktive Sportwagen-Karosserie

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Riley Kestrel Big Four Special (1938) - mit Spitzheck

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Summary

The Riley brand became a household name at the latest with the Le Mans triumph of 1934, when Riley sports cars took 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th place. By 1937, countless vehicle variants had been produced, including saloons, convertibles and sports cars, which were enjoyed by many fans. The advanced yet robust technology also forms the basis of many specials. This report portrays a Riley Kestrel Big Four Special from 1938 and briefly introduces the early history of the Riley company. The article is supplemented by original sales brochures from the time.

This article contains the following chapters

Ingenious inventors
Robustness is the order of the day
Motorsport successes
Confusing model ranges
Building blocks for sports car manufacturers to this day
Almost like 80 years ago
Further information

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

When you sit down in the Riley Kestrel Big Four Special from 1938, put on the leather cap and pull down the racing goggles, everyday life disappears and you are transported back to a time when driving was still an adventure and fast locomotion was primarily down to the skill of the driver and not the technology. The Riley brand name has long since disappeared from the magazine landscape, although it once stood for innovative cutting-edge technology and amazing motorsport successes. The history of Riley begins as early as 1773, when a William Ryley (still spelled with two "y "s) moves from Ireland to Coventry in England to manufacture looms. Two generations later, William Jr. switched to bicycles, but his sons began to take an interest in automobiles. In 1898, Percy Riley presented the world's first vehicle with a mechanically controlled intake valve. Even Carl Benz took notice of the young inventor.

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