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Lot #8 - 1935 RILEY LYNX

  • Auction House:
    Donington Auctions
  • Sale Name:
    A Regional Victorian Collector's Garage - Featuring Classic Cars, Motorcycles & Unreserved Garagenalia
  • Sale Date:
    26 Mar 2023 ~ 11.29am (AEDT)
  • Lot #:
    8
  • Lot Description:
    1935 RILEY LYNX
    Rare, fully restored 4-Seater Sports Tourer
  • Notes:
    Announced at the 1932 London Motor Show, the Lynx was a sports car made in several iterations by Riley Limited between 1933 and 1936. The original Lynx two-door was innovative in a number of ways, sharing the low-slung styling of the new Kestrel and Falcon models, thanks to Riley patent 'footwells' which saw the floorpan dipped either side of the central transmission tunnel. Riley's newcomer also had a disappearing roof, which folded neatly away under a cover behind the rear seat and cut away front doors. The Lynx was powered by a 1468cc six-cylinder engine, featuring twin overhead camshafts with short pushrods, mated to a four speed gearbox via a single plate (or centrifugal) clutch. It bore a 9ft 6in chassis with semi-elliptical leaf spring suspension all round, with continuous cable cam-operated shoes inside 13 inch drum brakes. Top speed was claimed to be 70mph. Although all of this made the Lynx an instant success, the following year, the model was relaunched as a four-door four-seater tourer. The Lynx remained listed by Riley as available on both the 12/4 and 16/4 chassis, although it is thought that the last 12/4 Lynx was built sometime in mid-1937, and there was only ever one 16/4 built. Throughout its production history, the front of the car remained largely unchanged, however the rear was re-designed to accommodate the changeover from two to four seater. Later models also had a more sweeping tail, like the Kestrel, plus reprofiled rear guards, and the addition of bumpers from late 1936. The Lynx would ultimately prove to be the biggest selling and longest running open car Riley ever built, available on every chassis bar the V8, making it a popular model right through the mid-1930s. Built on a 12/4 chassis, the early history of this 1935 Riley Lynx prior to its 2004 purchase out of Mt Isa (Qld), where it had sat for many years in a steel container, is largely unknown. Among its provenance paperwork is a copy of a photo of the Riley wearing NSW registration plates, thought to be from the 1960s or ‘70s. Nevertheless, what we do know is that after its relocation to Melbourne back in 2004, our vendor initially focused on getting the Riley back on the road. The work was done professionally, and included a rebuilt braking system, new tyres, replacement of seals and rubbers and, after an initial test drive, replacement of later 2.5 litre engine was undertaken as it was too heavy, opting for a reconditioned 1500cc Riley 4-cylinder RMA post war engine (circa late 1940s) sourced from Adelaide. The car originally left the factory with a 1500cc 6-cylinder engine which are unprocurable now. Next up, the Lynx underwent a two-year back-to-bare-metal body restoration during which it was discovered that the aluminum over steel frame bodywork originated from the 1960s, built in the manner of the famous Lord March Rileys. The new work refreshed the old body with some corrections to the front fenders and rear tail section. Moving inside, the dashboard was refinished in Burr Walnut, some of the gauges rebuilt, and the four-spoke steering wheel refurbished, while a full trim was carried out in cream leather with matching carpets by Cel Pezzimenti, a renowned trimmer for vintage show cars. Initially after the restoration the Riley was stored before being used for occasional social and club outings. Today, it presents superbly in bright red paint with gleaming chrome, over black wheels and matching soft top. The paintwork is in excellent condition, as is the brightwork, with just the tinniest bit of tarnishing evident in some places. All the correct body accoutrements are there, including the central driving light, dual horns, a badge bar, and a pair of funky ‘fishtail’ exhausts. The black cloth roof – in great condition except for a couple of very small marks – also has a Riley symbol-shaped rear window, while the Lynx even comes with an original crank to operate the inbuilt jacking system. Indicators have also been fitted to assist in modern traffic. The Riley Lynx is being sold with a provenance file that includes period photos prior to and during its restoration, and a VSCCA card found during the work in the name of Dave Parry, possibly a previous owner. This 1934 Riley Lynx is a lovely example with little to do except enjoy. The 1935 Riley Lynx is currently on Victorian club registration. The personalized slimline plates ‘Lynx 35’ currently on permanent retention with Vic Roads will accompany the car if sold to a Victorian buyer. The car is being sold unregistered.
  • Estimate:
    A$0 - 0
  • Realised Price:
    *****

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  • Category:
    Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.



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