Riley on top at The C&SC Show
A 1935 Riley-amilcar was the star of Brightwells’ sale at the The Classic & Sports Car Show in association with Flywheel on 24 June. First registered in Northern Ireland as a saloon, the special had been fitted with open two-seater bodywork during the early 1990s and looked particularly rakish against the historic backdrop of the former RAF hangar at Bicester Heritage. Retaining its original ‘high-cam’ engine – albeit stretched to 1896cc and fed via a sextet of Amal motorcycle carburettors – the beautifully patinated machine clearly fuelled bidders’ enthusiasm, the Riley soaring more than £50k beyond its £80k upper estimate to change hands for £132,160.
Another pre-war ‘six’ to do well was a ’37 MG SA. Featuring drophead coachwork by Charlesworth, it was believed to be one of only two to survive in the UK, and had remained untouched for five decades. Largely complete but requiring restoration, it blitzed its £4-8k estimate, selling for £19,040.
Other rarities included a beautifully restored, two-owner 1948 Rover P2 tourer that had covered a mere 1000 miles since completion and which sold for £25,200, as well as a 4333-mile 1986 AC 3000ME. The third-from-last car produced, the pristine mid-engined coupé made a whisker short of £23,000. A bizarre Jag V12-powered 1971 Aston Martin DBS with modified open-top bodywork was not to all tastes and needed finishing, but fetched similar money at £24,640.
More affordable lots included a 1932 Morris Minor two-seater tourer, which offered bags of charm for just £6700, as well as an ultrawacky Interstyl Hustler. The angular, William Towns-designed, Mini-based six-wheeler had been recently rebuilt and raised £6500.