Spiritual successor to the ‘Brooklands’ competition model which had achieved so much success around its namesake circuit, not to mention on the Tourist Trophy, Irish Grand Prix and Le Mans 24 Hours, etc., the Riley Nine ‘Imp’ débuted in prototype guise at the October, 1933, Olympia Motor Exhibition.

Fast enough to accrue silverware but tractable enough for road use, the newcomer was also among the prettiest automotive designs of the 1930s.

Notably compact, its 7ft.

6in.

wheelbase chassis featured all-round leaf-sprung suspension, four-wheel drum brakes and an underslung rear axle.

Fed by twin carburettors and utilising an optional Scintilla magneto, the two-seater’s free-revving 1.1-litre engine developed some 42bhp and was allied to a four-speed transmission.

Tipping the scales at just 17cwt., the Imp was reputedly capable of 80mph (a speed few rivals could match).

Total production figures are unknown but have been estimated at 120 to 150 cars, of which some 80 are known to hav...