202 | GOODWOOD REVIVAL SALE
261
1936 riLey sPrite sPorts
Registration no. DMG 497
Chassis no. S27S6030
Engine no. TBA
‘The best of the series was the Sprite, which... had a distinctly lively
performance up to its maximum of nearly 90mph...’ – John Stamford,
‘The Sports Car’, Batsford 1957.
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. Clothed in stylish bodywork by Stanley
Riley, the Coventry marque’s pre-war offerings were among the
world’s finest small-capacity sporting cars.
Percy Riley’s proven twin-camshaft layout was retained for the new
Hugh Rose-designed 1½-litre four introduced in September 1934.
The Falcon saloon made its debut on this new 12hp chassis, which
was also available with the familiar Kestrel saloon and Lynx tourer
coachwork. The following year the range was augmented by the
Sprite two-seater sports and three more saloons: the Adelphi and
six-light Kestrel on the 112.5” long-wheelbase chassis and the
shorter-wheelbase (106”) all-steel Merlin. In Standard trim the 1.5-litre
12/4 engine produced 45/46bhp with single Zenith carburettor. The
Special Series came with twin SUs and 52bhp while at the top of the
range was the 59/61bhp Sprite specification engine that added £48
to the car’s purchase price.H C Ballantine, Team Manager for Ecurie Ecosse aboard ‘DMG 497’