Riley 9 Special Project

RILEY SPECIAL Project

We are building a "Riley-based" 2-seater sports car from parts and running it in "events"

 

 

What is a Riley Special?

A "Riley Special" refers to custom-built or modified sports cars based on the chassis and running gear of 'between the wars' classic British Riley cars particularly the popular Riley Nine from the 1920's & 1930's. These unique vehicles (i.e. in general no two are the same) are detailed by the build team and are often faster and better handling than the original vehicle. They are developed for either motorsport or as unique road cars.

More on Riley Specials can be found here: Rob's Riley Pages

Riley Brooklands story: HERE

 

Background.

In the 1980's and while at Sydney Uni, a good friend of one of our SCHVC members courted a young lady from Cooks Myalls, (Riley Farm "Wendoree" near Bogan Gate, some 50 km northwest of Parkes in New South Wales). Is it true that all good car stories start with a sassy lady? Anyway, he wisely decided to marry the young lady and they went on to have two children. From his first trips to Cooks Myalls, he noted that just about every vehicle since around the turn of the century (early 1900's) that had been purchased by many generations of the Riley family still existed on the property in one form or another (whether it be a pile of parts, scrap at the family tip, converted ute or projects in one of the sheds). Over many years he told his mate (now a SCHVC member) about the stash of vehicles, showed him photos and threatened to drag him up there. Nothing eventuated until one day at the SCHVC morning tea table a relatively new SCHVC member was introduced to a long-standing member, John McNair. The conversation went something like this:

[John] "Hi, I'm John McNair".

[New member] G'day. What vehicle to you own John?

[John] "I own five Riley's".

[New member] Wow, that must be a handful. Is it that hard to find a good one?

[John] "What do you mean! They are all good!"

Instead of giving the new member a backhander (which he really deserved), John took the time to explain the rich history of Riley vehicles, and particularly their racing pedigree. He subsequently took this new member for a ride in his RileyNine (Riley9) and proceeded to run at over 90km/h down a steep hill – having survived that experience anything was possible. Further rides in other Riley vehicles followed (when they were running and roadworthy – thanks Fred!) – all greatly appreciated. 

Then one day while working on one of John's vehicles (a Riley of course), John let on that if one day he was fortunate enough, he still had the yen to own yet another Riley. He showed a photo of the vehicle in question, which was a Riley roadster. John was told by this relatively new SCHVC member that he knew where there was one of those sitting in a shed in far NW New South Wales. Upon hearing this John said:

"I'm sure you are mistaken – they only built 507 of those roadsters and they are very rare". 

Promises to source some photos were made and some weeks later John was presented with a few photos at the club. When John viewed the photos (see example) his eyes became nearly as big as frying pans (their size was only exceeded when John finally got to stand beside the vehicle and touch it – he subsequently was fortunate to purchase it from the estate of John Riley @Wendoree).

1949 Riley Roadster in the shed at Wendoree.

History.

Following our first trip up to Wendoree, we (John McNair, Fred Silk & Bob Cechet) learned that we had arrived at an opportune time. John Riley (now deceased - property managed by his children) and his "car mates" from the Parkes/Forbes area had an involvement over many decades in racing Riley 9 open-racers on the dirt tracks of central New South Wales at locations such as Bathurst, Orange, Cowra and Dubbo. 

 

 

Photo of John Riley (circa 1960'S) with one of his Riley projects @Wendoree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The homestead at Wendoree with the 1950 Riley RM towing a Riley project

 

 

 

John Riley and his wife & daughter in the 1949 Riley Roadster (circa late 1960's)

 

John Riley standing next to his restored Riley9 (shed @Wendoree circa 2010)

 

The family were planning to put WENDOREE on the market soon and had begun undertaking a "clean-up" to catalogue chattels for a "Farm Clearance Sale". There were a large range of Riley 9 parts on the property, some that had been specifically modified for racing. "WE" saw an opportunity for SCHVC here in preserving some of the Riley racing history and more important perhaps building a Riley racer from the parts that existed. Over the next few weeks "WE" discussed with the Riley family a purchase price for the Riley parts and then undertook a presentation to the SCHVC members at the February 2024 monthly meeting (showing photos and proposing the construction of a vintage racer). These actions culminated in a motion to members to purchase the parts and store them "off site" until a way-forward could be decided and agreed [motion carried unanimously].

 

Some of the Riley 9 parts within one of the sheds @Wendoree

 

PARTS Transfer to SCHVC.

Following the presentation to members, Walter Kung (Unimog) and Ian Hankock (Dodge Ram) offered their vehicles to tow trailers to move the parts (see pictures). Most parts for the Riley project were obtained from the farm of John Riley (WENDOREE) located some 50 km northwest of Parkes in New South Wales and some nine hours drive from SCHVC. SCHVC purchased two large trailer loads of Riley9 parts consisting of five subframes, five gearboxes, 3 engines (in parts), and a number of mainly used spare parts. There were no vehicle body parts apart from one door and part of a front cabin scuttle (Note: We left three of the subframes behind for the scrappers – scrap metal.) The team consisted of John McNair, Fred Silk, Bob Cechet, Walter Kung, Ian Hankock and Dave Taylor (a ring-in). SCHVC would like to extend their "HUGE THANKS" to Walter and Ian. A significant effort in trying conditions was required to locate and move the parts to the two SCHVC trailers and then offload them into temporary storage.

If you ever get the opportunity to visit the Bogan Gate Pub, you might hear the story of the day when a big old army truck with a caravan on its tray, and towing what looked like a few tonnes of old car parts was seen barrelling down the Bogan Way towards Forbes bouncing on the potholes (with a line of locals open-mouthed by the side of the highway [YEH , it's a myth!]).

 

 

 

The "RAM" & "MOG" on the trip to Wendoree.

 

 

 

 

Rear view of the "RAM" & "MOG" showing the two trailers of Riley 9 parts.

 

The parts were initially stored off-site where they were cleaned, sorted and some scrapped. They were moved to SCHVC in April 2025 in readiness for the start of the project.

 

RILEY SPECIAL Project @SCHVC.

Discussions with SCHVC executive and interested members regarding "what is possible" are on-going. The broad aim of the project is to build a historic racer, similar to the one shown in these two photographs, and to encourage its use at vintage events, such as hillclimbs and reliability runs, to promote SCHVC as well as general wellbeing.

 

An example of a Riley Special (similar to the one being assembled)

 

There is an adjunct aspirational BHAG [Big Hairy Audacious Goal] around developing community interest in historic racing events, and whether SCHVC should take advantage of our geographical location (and environment) to host an annual "vintage racing event" to get more SCHVC members "involved" as well as providing a new form of income for the club.

The project has developed a management team (led by two ex-racers) and a number of functional areas led by mentors:

FUNCTIONAL AREA	MENTOR
Project Management	Robyn Vella & Allen Atkens
Engine & Gearbox/clutch	Fred Silk
Subframe/chassis	Cliff Richard
Suspension - incl. axles, diff & wheels	John McNair
Timber Frame & Bodywork	Stuart Baillie, Geoff Graham, Col Woodhouse
Brakes & Hydraulics - incl. cooling & fuel	Ian Hancock
Electrical	Rod Newman

 

 

Project Status (February 2026)

The project officially started in February 2026. It was initially planned (Feb 2024) as a "follow-up" project to the Railton build. In reality, the project started slowly from when the parts were picked up from Wendoree. Once the Railton build is completed it is expected (and planned) for the Riley Special to move into the vacated space in the workshop. 

Project Highlights	So Far
Management	First collaborators meeting planned for Feb 2026
Engine/gearbox	Updated engines & gearbox obtained - assessing work required
Subframe/Chassis	Chassis stripped, cleaned and undercoated
Suspension	Upgraded Diff obtained and fittings for springs being fabricated.
Steering options being considered
Parts swap with Canberra Riley Club	Commenced
Timber Frame	Initially mocked up on spare chassis now being prepped and undercoated chassis (ex racing that has been strengthened). Initial panel work for boattail commenced, Doors commenced.

 

 

Status of the timber frame and fuel tank for the Riley Special.

 

Testing location of seating and controls – steering appears to be very light!