motor cars

MOTOR CARS | 203

In its ‘TT’ guise the new Sprite more than upheld Riley’s sporting
traditions, winning the Ulster Tourist Trophy in both 1935 and
1936 with the legendary Freddie Dixon at the wheel, while there
were numerous privateer successes at Brooklands and elsewhere.
Dixon’s winning car formed the basis for the production Sprite two-
seater introduced at the 1935 Motor Show. Clearly related to that
of the existing Imp and MPH sports cars, the Sprite’s handsome
streamlined bodywork was distinguished by a ‘fencer’s mask’ front
grille. The chassis was MPH based and under-slung at the rear,
while there was a choice of either manual or Wilson pre-selector
transmissions. The Sprite was priced at £425 when launched and
continued in production until 1938.

This example of one of the rarest and most sought after of 1930s
British sports cars was campaigned by E.A (Ted) Denny and E. N.
R. Hewitt on the 1937 Monte Carlo Rally. Motor Sport Magazine
reported that “the Denny-Hewitt Riley was steady and quick”,
resulting in a class win for under 1,500cc open cars. Interestingly, for
that event DUG 497 was equipped with two spare wheels at the rear
and not the single spare wheel cowl that most Sprites had.

Denny sold the Riley after the War to T C (Cuth) Harrison who

continued to use it in trials and speed events. Harrison sold it to

fellow racer and friend Ms Nancy Binns and H C Ballantine who

was the Team Manager for Ecurie Ecosse. Whilst in their ownership

‘Willie’ Wilkinson prepared and maintained the Riley.

Acquired by the current vendor in 1995 it has been used on a regular

basis in the West Country. In 1997 the car was extensively restored

by Barrie Gillies, whose instructions were to achieve mechanical

perfection yet leave the exterior unchanged, thereby preserving the

well worn patina. Photographs of this ‘chassis upwards’ restoration

are on file together with numerous related invoices totalling £35,000.

There are additional bills on file for subsequent maintenance and

servicing, the most recent being issued by Sigma Engineering of

Gillingham, Dorset for a service and other works carried out in

January 2013.

The car is currently MoT’d and comes with a V5 registration

document. Rarely do cars of such sporting provenance come to the

open market.

£100,000 - 150,000

€130,000 - 190,000