1934 Riley Gamecock Alpine Team Car

Lot details
Registration No: ADU 29
Chassis No: 44T1735
Mot Expiry: 26.3.2004

We are delighted to be able to offer at auction a 1934 Riley Alpine Team Car, chassis number 44T 1735 being one of three Riley works built Gamecock six entries for the Alpine Trials of that year. After a Riley Nine Gamecock four had won a Coupe des Alpes in 1932 and four sixes had acquitted themselves with distinction on the 1933 event, winning the Coupe des Alpes in Group 4 for a penalty-free run - one of the drivers being Cecil Riley, the factory Competition Department went for an Alpine hat-trick in 1934.
The 2-seater sports bodies were taken from the 1933 cars and recycled bodies were fitted. There is some evidence that Riley also adapted the 1933 chassis for the 1934 team cars, the chassis being based on the normal type of 6-cylinder 14hp frame. Alpine regulations required the chassis employed by participants to be the normal production type of which a definite number were supposed to have been manufactured prior to the event. It was also necessary for the bodywork to comply with certain minimum dimensions, hence regulations compliant Gamecock bodies were fitted, the 2-seater coachwork being the lightest then made by Riley.
The 1934 Alpine Gamecocks were powered by Special Series 14/6 engines of 1633cc capacity with magneto ignition, increased compression ratio, Brooklands valve timing and triple 1 1/8in SUs. This engine could withstand prolonged high revs. Pre-selector rather than the former traditional manual gearboxes were fitted, which involved moving the gearbox crossmember back four inches in the chassis.
Unfortunately, ADU 27, ADU 28 and, the car being auctioned today, ADU 29, were unable to repeat the 1933 event success due to ADU 28 losing time and incurring penalties through having to change the head gasket which failed on the Splugen Pass. All three Rileys had to storm up the timed climb of the Stelvio Pass, at that time the highest such road in Europe, with its ascent of some 9000 feet via forty-seven hairpin bends, followed by a 10 kilometers at 100kph test on an autostrada. After nearly 2000 miles, the Gamecock trio had to be content with a Second Class award on this occasion. Happily, both ADU 28 and ADU 29 have survived to this day.
The history of this ex-works Gamecock six has been fully documented since its prewar days in Maurice Smith of Autocar magazine ownership, by when it sported Aston Martin roadster bodywork. Then, in the 1960s, a British Aerospace employee owned it in Bristol and had the body changed again to incorporate a dickey seat for his children to travel in the back. In the 1980s, however, the sister car ADU 28 was being rebodied and, fortuitously and at the same time, it was decided to restore the bodywork of this car to the exact spec of the original works cars.
The London vendor, in whose collection the Riley has been a much loved resident since 1982, tells us that the overall cosmetic condition of chassis, body, black paintwork and maroon interior are excellent, wiring loom brand new and electrics excellent, and the mechanical state of the 1539cc 6-cylinder motor and 4-speed pre-selector gearbox very good.
On file is lots of history, with 1934 Alpine results and sports pages clippings, together with a press cutting from the August 1st edition of Autocar showing the car when fitted with Aston bodywork. As presented today, 44T 1735 has been faithfully returned to its Alpine Rally ex-works spec and, with just 101 miles on the clock since that total restoration, this historic Riley is action-ready for some more Col storming.
PLEASE NOTE: We have received a telephone call today from a previous owner of this vehicle who whilst moving has found some early paperwork for this car including bills, photos, drawings and other items which is about an inch thick. For details of how to contact this person please contact the auctioneers.