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Riley Ulster Imp - successful as a racing car and everyday vehicle

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Created in 2010

Reading time 4min

Written by:

Archiv Jeroen Booij / Tamara Tanner

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Archiv Jeroen Booij

Bruno von Rotz

Rudolf Menzi

Quirin Schön

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

Archiv Jeroen Booij

Bruno von Rotz

Rudolf Menzi

Quirin Schön

Archiv

Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - ein Werksteam-Rennwagen, der auch den Alltagsbetrieb verkraftet

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - abgebildet auf dem Programm der RAC Tourist Trophy von 1934

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - lange Haube, kurzes Cockpit

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - ohne Spitzheck, aber umso authentischer

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - attraktiver Zweisitzer

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - auf Nötigste konzentriert

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - Vierzylindermotor mit zwei über Ketten gesteuerte hoch liegenden Nockenwellen

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - der leistungsoptimierte Vierzylinder

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - Ventilsteuerung

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - hier ist Technik noch sichtbar

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - grosse Trrommelbremsen

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - Vorderradaufhängung

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - der brühmteste der Werkswagen, ursprünglich im Besitz des jungen Mike Hawthorn

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - schnell unterwegs im historischen Rennsport

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - unterwegs im historischen Motorsport

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

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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 Ulster lmp (1934) - am Rossfeldrennen 2014

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Riley Ulster Imp (1934) - am Klausenrennen 2013 in der Gleichmässigkeitswertung

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Riley Nine Ulster Imp (1934) - am Gempen Memorial 2014

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Riley Nine Ulster IMP (1934) - kurz nach dem Start in Basel - RAID Suisse-Paris 2012

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Riley Lynx Special (1934) - Vorkriegsfahrzeuge und Vintage Sports Car Trophy am AVD OGP 2014

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Riley Lynx (1934) - am Vintage Revival Zandvoort am 27./28. September 2014

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Riley Nine Brookland (1930) - im Rennen R8 - Pre 1940 - Vorkriegsfahrzeuge - AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix 2013

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Riley Brooklands Speed Model (1930) - am Concours d'Elégance der Schloss Bensberg Classics 2014

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Riley Gamecock (1933) - am Klausenrennen 2013 in der Gleichmässigkeitswertung

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Riley Blackcock Special (1933) - am Klausenrennen 2013 in der Gleichmässigkeitswertung

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Riley MPH (1934) - am Grossglockner Grand Prix 2012

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Summary

Racing cars from the factory were rare at Riley. One of these rather rare examples is the 1934 Riley Ulster Imp, which was used for years as an ordinary everyday car, even though it was originally built specifically as a racing car. In this vehicle report, we tell the story of the second best-known Riley Ulster Imp and how it overcame all its ups and downs.

This article contains the following chapters

Success in motorsport thanks to the Riley 9 HP
More power and less weight
Resignation from racing
Back on track after restoration
Massive increase in value

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In the past, many so-called "specials" were made from Riley saloons and convertibles. Such conversions are still very popular today. Then as now, countless Falcons, Lynx and Gamecocks of the Riley brand were and are converted into special racing sports cars. This was not particularly difficult, as Riley used roughly the same mechanics in their road cars as in their racing cars. However, there were also racing cars that were manufactured ex works, but these were much rarer. One of these rather rare examples is the Riley Ulster Imp as a factory team car from 1934. And although it was built as a racing car, the car portrayed in this article was used as an ordinary everyday vehicle for many years.

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