Between the wars Riley crafted some of the finest small sporting cars, spanning saloons, tourers, and dedicated sports models.

The marque really took off thanks to the 1926 Motor Show exhibited Riley Nine, the main feature of which was the engine, with its twin camshafts mounted high up in the cylinder block, driving inclined valves via short pushrods and rockers, and fitted with hemispherical cylinder heads - a layout which responded well to further tuning.

Indeed, the Thompson and Taylor team Brooklands-Nine became one of the biggest winners in British motor racing pre-war.

Understood to have been first registered in Warrington in January 1936, ED 9689 was originally a Merlin saloon but by the early 1960s had been rebodied with MG Tourer-style coachwork.

By the late 1970s it had received an all-aluminium four-seat tourer body as presented today.

In current ownership since 2014, during which time the wings and wheels have been repainted and a new dynamo installed, it remains in f...