Introduced in 1926, Percy Riley’s 9hp, 1,087cc twin-camshaft four was an outstanding engine design by any standards, various versions powering Rileys until 1957.

Clothed in stylish bodywork by Stanley Riley, the Coventry marque’s pre-war offerings were among the world’s finest small-capacity sporting cars.

This Riley 9hp has the ‘Ascot’ style of drophead coupé coachwork that provides two-seat plus dickey accommodation as well as a golf club/fishing rod stowage compartment unique to the model.

One of only a handful of its type known to exist, the car was acquired in Hayling Island by its late owner in May 1999 as a restoration project, having been off the road since the early 1960s.

Included in the sale is a CD of photographs plus its late owner’s detailed record of this demanding project, which was eventually completed in 2002.

When printed out, this runs to 20-plus closely-typed pages recounting the restoration’s trials and tribulations, as well as the considerable imagination an...