1938' Riley Special photo #1
1938' Riley Special photo #2
1938' Riley Special photo #3
1938' Riley Special photo #4
4 photos

1938' Riley Special

Report This Ad!Rate This!Bookmark This
£145,000
Published 14 November 2021ID: g3bffh
Expired
3 years, 1 month ago

Information from the owner

Body: Sports Car
Age: 83 years
Exterior color: Blue
Exterior: Tonneau Cover

Seller's comments about 1938' Riley Special

1938 Riley Supercharged “Blue Streak” Special
This Riley “Special”, is composed of solely Riley common period main components. They were not available in this combination direct from the factory and the engine is supercharged. The Adelphi chassis was Riley’s most advanced preWar chassis that normally carried the smaller 12hp engine but still had a lively performance allied to great stopping power from its 12 inch drum brakes. Replacement of this engine by Riley’s largest, 16hp engine, the “Blue Streak” dramatically increases the performance particularly when supercharged!
This combination of chassis and engine probably represents the greatest power/ weight ratio ever achieved from a Riley before the factory was absorbed into the Nuffield group.
This amazing car built to the highest exacting standards by Beaufort Engineering for a cost exceeding £200000(bills included in huge archive). The 2. 5 litre Supercharged engine delivers some 224. 5 bhp as measured on the dyno making probably the fastest and powerful prewar Riley. It carries VSCC official “buff” eligibility papers allowing it to enter the most prestigious events, concours, sprints, Hill climbs and race circuits as well as long and short touring. There is weather equipment , hood and tonneau plus luggage space for two. This Riley is impressive. Even more so “in the flesh”. It has a number of detail features, such as a hinged running board to facilitate access and underfloor secure storage.

The car was designed and built solely for use on the road although it took part in an official Continental Rally over the Pyrenees just after it was built so it must at least a FIVA form but I have not seen it in the paperwork. An FIA form has not been applied for, It is expensive when the VSCC form is sufficient for the U. K.
It is built on a 1938 Riley Adelphi Chassis which are quite rare. The chassis number is listed as factory original in the official Riley Register.
The car is approved for competing in vintage and historic racing by the U. K. Vintage Sports Car Club which carries world wide recognition. The eligibility approval is recognized by the issue of the VSCC “buff” form which comes with the car which is fully road registered. Please note that as with any certification (FIVA, FIA, VSCC Buff) reapplication upon ownership transfer is required.

Support Ukraine