
Louis Frankel
Specialist
LOT 549
1937 Riley 1½-Litre Falcon 'Woodie' Estate Registration no. ABK 526 Chassis no. To be advised Engine no. 35-1130 (block)
"September 1934 heralded the introduction of a new 1½-litre range of cars from the Riley stable, rather a case of 'Something Old – Something New' in a way. Two features made it something old: it was a revival of the four cylinder 1½ litre engine format – extinct as far as Riley was concerned since 1928 - and it incorporated most of the design features of the now-famous Nine. Two features made it something new: it was a completely new range of cars with an engine designed by a newcomer to the Riley design team – Hugh Rose." – David G Styles, As Old as the Industry: Riley 1898-1969.
First introduced in 1926, Percy Riley's 9hp, 1,087cc, twin-camshaft four was an outstanding engine design by any standards, various versions powering Rileys until 1957. Looking to all intents and purposes like a twin-overhead-camshaft design, the Nine's cross-flow cylinder head featured hemispherical combustion chambers and valves inclined at an included angle of 90 degrees. The twin gear-driven camshafts were mounted high in the block, operating the valves via short pushrods.
This successful high-camshaft layout was retained for the new Hugh Rose-designed 1½-litre four introduced in 1935. The Falcon saloon debuted on this new 12hp chassis, which was also available with the familiar streamlined Kestrel saloon and Lynx tourer coachwork, while the following year the range was augmented by the Sprite two-seater sports and three saloons: the Adelphi and six-light Kestrel on the 112.5" long-wheelbase chassis and the all-steel Merlin on the short-wheelbase (106") frame. Other noteworthy features of the 1½-Litre included Girling rod brakes, Armstrong-Siddeley pre-selector transmission, and Bijur automatic chassis lubrication. The well-liked 1½-Litre model in its various guises remained a fixture of the Riley range until the firm's take-over by Morris in 1938.
This Falcon estate started life as a 1,087cc 9hp saloon but has since been fitted with a 1½-litre 12hp engine. Bought at auction in 2013, the car has since been treated to a total strip down and rebuild by respected marque specialists Blue Diamond Riley Services. Completed in 2016, 'ABK 526' won the Ascot Trophy (1st prize in the Specials Class) at the Riley Register Rally that same year. Little used since the restoration, the car is presented in commensurately good condition. Offered with a V5C document.
Please note the vehicle offered is in fact a merlin and not a falcon as catalogued.
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