5 photos

1935' Riley Mph

Negotiable

Published 21 February 2026ID: 2K9NwK

Lancashire
+44Show phone

Information from the owner

Body: Sports Car

Age: 91 years

Displacement: 1986 cc

Fuel: Petrol

Transmission: Manual

Exterior color: Red

Seller's comments about 1935' Riley Mph

Style Two Seater Sports RacerEngine No: 152777Registration: OET 141This 1935 Riley MPH Le Mans–style two seater sports racer is no ordinary Riley special or replica. It is a car of genuine pedigree, constructed with unique and highly significant components sourced directly from Riley’s competition department, and built upon an exacting, millimetre perfect replica chassis of the celebrated Dobbs single seater.In 1956, the Davie family became custodians of the Riley single seater known as the Dobbs Special, formally titled the Hector Dobbs–Riley 2 Litre Offset Single Seater. This remarkable car enjoyed an extensive and well documented competition career, including appearances at Brooklands, and is firmly established within Riley’s historic racing narrative.As is often the case with serious period competition machinery, the Dobbs Special was accompanied by an exceptional cache of original components and period spares accumulated over decades of competitive use. Remarkably, the quantity and quality of these parts were such that they allowed for the construction of a second car. These were not miscellaneous leftovers, but genuine, competition derived Riley components with direct lineage to the Dobbs car itself.During the 1990s, the original Dobbs chassis was stripped for a comprehensive restoration. At that time, a conscious decision was taken to preserve the integrity and originality of the historic single seater, while commissioning a new chassis from respected constructor Nick Jarvis Snr., This newly built chassis became the foundation for OET 141, which was assembled using authentic Dobbs associated mechanical components.At the heart of the car lies one of Riley’s rare 2 litre works competition engines. These engines were never offered to the public and were reserved exclusively for factory backed competition cars. This is not an uprated touring unit, but a genuine works derived powerplant of the type that underpinned Riley’s most serious racing efforts. The engine is paired with a silent third crash gearbox also from Riley’s competition department, further reinforcing the car’s direct connection to the marque’s period motorsport programme.The front axle carries its own remarkable provenance. It originates from the original Dobbs Riley and was fitted to the car at the time of Roy Salvadori’s crash at the 1948 Enniskerry Hill Climb, where he shared the drive with Joe Kelly. The axle was subsequently straightened and crack tested before installation in OET 141, preserving an authentic and documented piece of period competition history within the car.The coachwork faithfully echoes the elegant Riley MPH Le Mans design, while the maroon finish pays tribute to the original Dobbs single seater chassis. Over time, the paint has mellowed attractively, giving the car the visual authority of a machine with a genuine narrative behind it — because it has one.