The Antipodean Bugatti-beater: a Brooklands Riley on the streets of Auckland

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For ages, Rileys have perhaps been the most popular choice (or victim, it sometimes must be said) for building a sporting special. They're a sensible choice, too, because the factory's competition cars differed relatively little from its road cars, which were reasonably plentiful, too. Lynx, Kestrel, Monaco and Falcon two-door and saloon models have been turned in their hundreds into replicas or approximations of Imps, MPHs and Ulster racers. Cut a few inches from the chassis, lower it, build one of the signature pointed or bob-tailed bodies and you’re not too far from what could have been a works racer with its great twin-cam engine. It’s a practice which was ongoing even in the 1930s.

This great picture shows a genuine Brooklands, or so we are informed. It dates from 1930 or 1931 and was taken in Auckland, New Zealand. Who is the gentleman in the tweed suit standing with it? Was the car raced and is it a survivor? Any more information would be highly appreciated.

Although fewer than 100 Riley Brooklands were built, it's not unusual for the rakish road-racers to appear for sale on this forum from time to time. Chassis 8083 is one that recently sold; although with an English dealer, it had some interesting history from Australia, where “Bill Thompson had driven a Brooklands model to victory in the 1933 Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, beating the Bugatti Type 37 of Harold Drake-Richmond.” Number 8083 car made it to the Antipodes in 1936. Before that time, its history is mostly unknown. Who knows—it may even have been our tweed-clad gentleman's natty little runabout.

For something even more unusual, this Brooklands special is currently for sale with The Motor Shed. Chassis 8052 was transformed in the 1950s by Bob Gerard, a noted ERA and Cooper racer. Gerard used an original chassis which had been extensively modified, including being shortened and narrowed, and fitted with a supercharged Riley Sprite engine and pre-selector gearbox. Bodied in 1960 in the style of Gerard's beloved ERAs, it looks perfect for this year's hill-climb and sprint season.

Words: Jeroen Booij; picture: Classic Auto News
 

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