1936 Riley 12/4 1½-Litre Merlin Saloon

• Long-term single family ownership 1959 to date
• Partially restored 1995-1998
• Last run in October 2020
• Requires recommissioning

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 9hp, 1,087cc, twin-camshaft four was an outstanding engine design by any standards, various versions powering Rileys from 1926 to 1957. Looking to all intents and purposes like a twin-overhead-camshaft design, the Nine's cross-flow cylinder head featured hemispherical combustion chambers and valves inclined at an included angle of 90 degrees. The twin gear-driven camshafts were mounted high in the block, operating the valves via short pushrods.
This successful high-camshaft layout was retained for the new Hugh Rose-designed 1½-litre four introduced in 1935. The Falcon saloon debuted on this new 12hp chassis, which was also available with the familiar streamlined Kestrel saloon and Lynx tourer coachwork, while the following year the range was augmented by the Sprite two-seater sports and three saloons: the Adelphi and six-light Kestrel on the 112.5" long-wheelbase chassis and the all-steel Merlin on the short-wheelbase (106") frame. Other noteworthy features of the 1½-Litre included Girling rod brakes, Armstrong-Siddeley pre-selector transmission and Bijur automatic chassis lubrication. The well-liked 1½-Litre model in its various guises remained a fixture of the Riley range until the firm's take-over by Morris in 1938.
This 12/4 Merlin was acquired by a member of the vendor's family (Barry Jackson) in 1959. Ownership passed to his brother Colin Jackson in 1967 and the Riley was inherited by Rollo Jackson on Colin's death 10 years ago (the car was not registered in his name as he was too young at the time). 'CLY 459' was partially restored over the period 1995 to 1998, and according to the lady vendor, was running well in October 2020. She describes the car's condition as generally good apart from an oil leak, while the bodywork and paint are reported as 'fair'. The car is offered with an old-style logbook; a V5C document; and various spares, tools and books relating to the Riley 12/4. Recommissioning will be required before the car returns to the road and thus it is sold strictly as viewed.