So rare, so likeable - if the limousine survives
02/28/2018
In the 1930s, Riley built popular sporty saloons with various engines and different bodies. Compared to the saloons, the sports cars of the time, whether they were called Lynx or Sprite, were more of a marginal phenomenon. Even back then, people wanted to buy practical and spacious cars.
If you look at the remaining population of Riley vehicles from the 1930s today, you will only occasionally come across a saloon, but many sporty versions, which often have a "Special" in their name. In most cases, a saloon was "decapitated", i.e. stripped of its bodywork. This was then replaced by a newly designed roadster body. And the engine was probably also tinkered with to increase its power somewhat. The result was certainly an attractive and interesting sports car to drive, but the saloon also has its charm. You will never ask yourself what era the body came from and whether it is original.
In addition, the Riley Saloons had really attractive shapes that are still impressive today, if you ever get to see a four-door car.
Bonhams is auctioning a Riley 9 Monaco Saloon from 1936 with chassis number 5672330 at the Goodwood Members Meeting on March 18, 2018 .
The car has retained all its thirties charm and it would be a shame if the new owner were to destroy it in favor of a sports car conversion, especially as the car is in largely original condition following an earlier restoration. The engine was overhauled in 2006 and the car is accompanied by many valuable books.
Because it is a limousine, this gem was estimated at just £8,000 to £12,000 (EUR 9,000 to 14,000, CHF 10,000 to 16,000), which is actually incredible when you consider how much mobile cultural property you can get for just under five figures.
In any case, should the car find its way to our latitudes, or if an Zwischengas reader has a similar car in their possession, we would be only too happy to compile a comprehensive report on an early Riley limousine.
If you want to take a look at the Rileys in their original form, please refer to a sales brochure from 1937 , which can be found in the Zwischengas archive.
