1934 Riley 9 Kestrel sports saloon

For sale is my 1934 Riley 9 Kestrel. I have only had the car for about a year but as we are about to "down size" I am just not going to have anywhere to keep it. This is a very reluctant sale. It is a lovely old thing and a real pleasure to drive.

A great deal of money has been spent on the car over the years and I have a folder of receipts etc going back to the early 90's

The Tax disc and Mot have just expired but as I am sure you are aware it is exempt from both. but I am quite confident that it would pass another test without any trouble and it would take just insurance to acquire another tax disc.

The following description is as informative as I can manage. but if I have missed anything please email and I shall do my best to answer. I would encourage you to visit and inspect the car. I am based in the Central Scottish Borders about 1 hour's drive from Edinburgh. Carlisle or Newcastle.

This is for collection only and payment to be made in full by cash or banker's cheque. And so-- The tyres are a bit hard but not perished and with plenty of tread on them. The tubes could do with replacing. The wheels have good rims. pokes and splines with lovely spinners. The wheel bearings and seals are good all round. The brake drums and shoes are good. It pulls up squarely and effectively. The springs and shocks are good though the rears springs could do with oiling. The front axle is straight and the king pins. track rod ends and links are good. It steers nicely. The rear axle is smooth. oil tight and not unduly noisy. The chassis is covered in years of grease etc but is solid with only one patch that I can see- about mid-way along the offside main rail. It is not very pretty but seems to be good and sound. The pre-select gearbox is a bit loud but it selects and holds all the gears smoothly without slipping so the bands and fly- wheel are fine. The engine was rebuilt a few years ago by a very well known and respected Riley specialist and converted to shell bearings and modified camshafts. I have had the sump and the head off and it is lovely insde. I don't think it has worked very hard since. New head gasket. just serviced. nice and dry though there is a slight oil drip from the dynamo face. I think I have just over-filled the oil. Oil pressure sits at 20psi hot tickover rising to 60psi at 50mph. Starts on the button and pulls well. It is fitted with later twin Su's and a 4/2/1 exhaust manifold. The rest of the exhaust is a cobbled up afair but it sounds lovely. The dynamo. starter. radiator. distributer and prop u/v's are good. The alloy body tub shows the usual cracks to the windscreen pillars and the steel floor sills will need attention. otherwise it is remarkably good. There is filler on the wings and running boards. The bonnet. boot and spare wheel cover are good. The door skins are good. Fronts open and close nicely. The rears catch on the inner wing so are a bit stiff to open/close. The working sun roof has been recovered. The car has been resprayed a lovely dark blue. It's not a great finish. I have touched it up in places and machine compounded all only to find the undercoat faintly showing through in a couple of places and there are one or two pin holes. Looks lovely from a distance but a few flaws show up on close inspection. The front and rear screens are good. The door glass has scratches from being wound up and down. The rear nearside glass is cracked. The radiator surround. headlights and door handles are beautiful. The bumpers are good but with a small peeling patch about 1 inch square on each. The rest of the chrome is original and not very good. It has a prized original Kestrel radiator mascot. The interior has a nice period feel to it. Rear blue leather seats are nice and original. The fronts are well worn. The door trim and roof lining have been replaced. Original carpets are grubby. The steering wheel is peeling so is bound in leather cloth. Original Jaeger instruments except for the later Smiths fuel gauge and clock. Everything works except for the clock.

And so that is all the good and bad I can think of. Once again please email if I have forgotten any points.

Please only bid if you are genuinely interested. sadly I must part with it soon. Prices are exceeding £20 K at the moment and the reserve is much lower. I really only need to recoup what it has cost me.

Thank you for your interest.

Want to buy this car?