1934 Riley 9hp Imp
- An excellent example of Riley’s beautiful 9hp Imp, one of only around 120 believed to have been manufactured
- Sold new in 1934 by Boon and Porter of Castelnau, in Barnes, West London
- Several periods of long-term ownership – one for 46 years
- Proven reliability on recent tours and light competition
- Easy to use Pre-Selector transmission
| YEAR | 1934 |
| MAKE | Riley |
| PRICE | £95,000 |
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION
Among the sporting Rileys of the pre-war period, few possess quite the combination of elegance, rarity and competition-bred engineering found in the Imp. With its low-slung chassis, long bonnet, flowing wings and abbreviated tail, the Imp distilled much of the thinking behind Riley’s celebrated Brooklands models into a beautifully proportioned two-seat sports car — and this 1934 example combines that inherent desirability with a particularly well-documented history.
Sold new in 1934 by Boon & Porter of Castelnau in London, the car remained with its first owner until 1948. It subsequently passed to Edward Charles Micklewright and then Brian Michael Stacy before, in 1959, entering the collection of noted Riley enthusiast Walter Smith Williams. Remarkably, it would remain within that collection for the following 46 years — a period of long-term ownership that accounts for a substantial part of the car’s history.
During that custodianship the Imp suffered damage in a garage fire, but was successfully rescued and restoration work subsequently commenced. The car was sold by Bonhams in 2005, after which it underwent further restoration before being acquired by a subsequent owner in 2015.
Recognising that a number of areas still required attention, that owner entrusted the Riley to marque specialists Blue Diamond and Keith Pointing during 2016 and 2017 for a comprehensive mechanical overhaul. The Imp was subsequently used extensively as intended, participating in a number of rallies throughout France and demonstrating the qualities that have made these cars such enduring favourites among pre-war motoring enthusiasts.
More recently, the Riley was acquired by its current owner, who imported the car back into the United Kingdom and has since successfully campaigned it in historic racing. That continued competition use is particularly appropriate for a model whose origins are so closely connected with Riley’s considerable pre-war sporting achievements, and adds another chapter to a history now extending across more than nine decades.
Accompanying the Riley is an extensive history file tracing the car’s story from its earliest years, together with numerous invoices. It also has its tonneau cover, side screens and hood. Eligible for a wide variety of historic motoring events, including the Le Mans Classic, this is an opportunity to acquire one of Riley’s most attractive sporting designs with long-term provenance, documented specialist attention and a history stretching back to its delivery in 1934.
MODEL HISTORY
Introduced in 1934, the Riley Imp was developed from the sporting principles established by the successful Riley Brooklands. Built on a short 7ft 6in wheelbase chassis, swept over the front axle and underslung at the rear, it combined a notably low stance with elegant two-seat sports-car bodywork.
Power came from Riley’s 1,087cc four-cylinder Nine engine, an advanced design employing twin high-mounted camshafts and overhead valves. Combined with a four-speed pre-selector gearbox, the Imp offered performance and sophistication well beyond that of many small sports cars of the period.
With its long bonnet, flowing wings and short tail, the Imp remains one of Riley’s most attractive pre-war designs. Built in very limited numbers, it is today among the most desirable of the marque’s sporting models.