1934 Riley Imp news, pictures, and information

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Roadster
Chassis Num: 60354

This 1934 Riley Imp has spent most of its early life in the United Kingdom. In the mid-2000s it was brought to the United States. During the 1960s it was given a restoration, at which point the coachwork was replaced. This example is fitted with the optional Wilson pre-selector gearbox, and was not originally fitted with a fan, as the cooling system is of the thermo-syphon type. The car is painted in black with dark red hides and red accents under the fenders. There is a fold down windshield and a pair of Brooklands style racing windscreens.

In 2008, this Riley Imp was offered for sale at the 'Sports & Classics of Monterey' presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $125,000 - $150,000 and offered without reserve. A high bid of $121,000 including buyer's premium was enough to secure new ownership. The lot was sold.

One of Riley's most successful early model was the Riley Nine. It had an unconventional overhead valve cylinder head engine with hemispherical combustion chambers. The valves were actuated by separate intake and exhaust camshafts located on each side of the block well above the crankshaft centerline. The valves, resting on a 90-degree angle, were operated through short vertical pushrods and shaft-mounted rocker arms. This lightweight valve train and direct valve operation helped earn the Riley Nine around 20 international Class G Records by 1931. This included records that covered distances from 50 kilometers to 3,000 miles, and from one hour to two days with speeds of 64.37 mph to 108.9 mph. Many of these records were earned by legendary driver Captain G. E. T. Eyston.

The Riley Imp was in production for only a short period of time, amassing just 75 examples. Though few in numbers, they did earn a reputation for their performance in road races, rallies, trials, and speed competitions. The Imps featured dual carburetor performance engines and Riley's excellent 'Silent Third' manual transmission, though many were specified with optional Wilson pre-selector gearboxes.

The Riley Imp was given Riley-built steering, cable-operated brakes, and a 1.1-liter four-cylinder engine that offered 50 horsepower.

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Riley: 1931-1940

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