1948 Riley 2.5 Litre Transformable Saloon

Walter Kong was a Swiss coachbuilder based in Basel who created bodies on Bentleys, Mercedes, Cadillacs, and Delahayes. In 1948 he purchased a new Riley 2.5-liter chassis to serve as the foundation to create his dream car. The overall shape is Art Deco; the body is made of aluminum using aircraft technology and includes removable roof panels - hence its name, Transformable. Silk panels are also provided (they are stored in the trunk) to be installed in place of the clear panels when desired. Kong planned to build a series and exhibited it at the 1949 Geneva Auto Show. Although it attracted much interest the price was too high with all the handmade details. The car remained with Walter Kong and he drove and enjoyed it until 1976 when it passed to its second owner. Its current owner has kept it as it was built and it is currently exactly as it was in 1949.