1968 Riley Elf MkIII

Registration No: HTJ 349F
Chassis No: RA2S31110242
MOT: January 2023
Estimate: £8,000 - £10,000

Motor Car Location: Lancashire

• 98,969 recorded miles and showing three former keepers on HPI
• The beneficiary of a self-evident previous restoration
• Purchased by the vendor from preceding long-time ownership
• Rated as ‘very good’ throughout by the vendor

Nobody living in the UK in 1959, will ever forget the birth of the Mini - the phenomenon that changed small cars forever. Following on just two years later, the Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet were luxurious versions of that car. They sported longer, slightly finned rear wings and larger boots that gave the cars a more traditional three-box appearance, plus 2.5 cu ft of extra stowage space. The front-end treatment incorporated each marque's traditional upright grille design, giving the cars a less utilitarian appearance than their deliberately basic sibling. They sported larger-diameter chrome hubcaps than the Austin and Morris Minis, plus additional chrome accents, bumper overriders, part-leather seats and wood-veneer dashboards - the full-width version on the Riley being one of the main differentiators between it and the Wolseley. The Riley was the more expensive of the two - the dearest factory-built Mini of all. The Elf name was intended to recall the Sprite and Imp monikers used by Riley in the 1930s. There were three versions of the Elf during the model's nine-year reign. The MkI was powered by the 848cc version of BMC's ubiquitous A-Series engine, while a single carburettor version of the Mini Cooper's 998cc power unit was employed in the MkII variant of 1963. In tune with upgrades on the standard Mini, Hydrolastic suspension was fitted from September 1964. However, it was the MkIII Elf of 1966 that embodied the longest list of upgrades the model was to enjoy, including wind-up windows, fresh-air fascia vents and the remote control gear linkage from the Mini Cooper; also, concealed door hinges two years before they were seen on the mainstream Mini. Some 30,912 Riley Elfs were produced all told.

Manufactured in 1968, this Elf was supplied new to the United Kingdom being first registered on the 13^th of February that year. Fitted with the aforementioned 998cc straight-four engine with the four-speed manual transmission, the Riley is finished in Brown with a Cream roof, and Red leather cloth interior upholstery. Purchased by the vendor from long-term previous ownership, the Elf is understood to have spent some time registered overseas. ‘HTJ 349F’ has a recorded mileage of 98,969 miles and is showing three former keepers on HPI. Subject to a self-evident previous restoration, the Riley offered with a current V5C document.

Vendor Condition Ratings:

Bodywork: 'Very Good'
Engine: 'Very Good'
Electrical Equipment: 'Very Good'
Paintwork: 'Very Good'
Transmission: 'Very Good'
Interior Trim: 'Very Good'

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452