This is an exceptionally rare Riley 15/6 Kestrel. With only eight or nine believed to be still in existence, this is a true collector’s piece and is extraordinarily original having never required a full restoration. The Riley has been superbly maintained throughout its life and the original dealer badge is still present on the bulkhead. DPF 336 was first registered on the 31st December 1936 and has only had six owners from new. The Riley comes with a Vintage SportsCar Club Eligibility document, issued in 2004. We sold the Riley to its last owner five years ago, a long term regular customer with a lovely collection of classic cars. Prior to that it was owned by a retired Doctor who is still a prominent member of the Riley Club and who purchased the car in 2012. He bought the Riley whilst having his 16/4 Kestrel restored and once that was on the road and completed, this wonderful example was brought to us to sell.
DPF 336 presents beautifully with delightful, good quality paintwork and an excellent body, frame and chassis. The Riley has a lovely aged feel with lovely brightwork, excellent wheels and a nice level of detail. The boot compartment is well presented, so is the engine bay with the impressive six cylinder 1726cc engine looking the part. The interior is just delightful and so original. The leather is beautiful retaining an unrepeatable originality. Door cards, carpets, dashboard and headlining match equally giving off an impressive first impression and once in the car, it feels comfortable, very correct and how these cars should be. On the road this Kestrel is impressive, the engine runs beautifully with smooth performance. The gearbox was said to be rebuilt prior to 2012 and it is faultless, changing up and down perfectly on depressing the clutch. The Riley feels tight with good steering and handling and has covered around 2000 miles since we sold it.

There is a large file of invoices dating back to the 1980's which comes with the Riley. Recent work when we sold the car included a full service, a brand new set of tyres and prior to that in 2016 the Riley had a spin on oil filter conversion and new chassis lubrication pipe. In 2013 the Doctor owner had both rear hubs stripped and cleaned, replacing oil seals as necessary. In 2011 over £1500 was spent on having new front shackle pins, all new rear shackles, pins and tail bushes in the rear of the chassis. From 1996 2000 substantial mechanical work was carried, invoices detailing all the work. The differential was stripped down and fitted with a new crown wheel and pinion, rear brakes were relined, new wheel bearings fitted and new pinion thrust bearings fitted. An engine rebuild included grinding cam followers, new cylinder head studs, the cylinder head was gas flowed, camshafts reprofiled to Sprite specification, new cylinder block liners were fitted, centre main bearings were resized, main bearings were subject to white metalling, the crankshaft reground, conrods were converted to take shell bearings and new small end bushes were fitted. The crankshaft and conrods were balanced and the engine built up and refitted to the car with a reconditioned clutch, rebuilt carburettors, new inlet manifold and six branch exhaust manifold. Invoices are also present for reconditioning the speedo, work to the propshaft and new king pins.

This really is a wonderful opportunity to purchase a remarkably original car, not in ‘concours' condition but beautiful in every respect. It's on the button, driving and presenting superbly, and has a real provenance being such a rare, honest and original car with a comprehensive history file. Examples like this are not easy to find, a real collector's piece.