1937 Riley 16/4 Special (RHD)

“Everything is exactly where you would instinctively look for it. Spares and tools are quickly accessible and sensibly positioned close to where you are likely to need them, while every control falls naturally to hand and can be operated easily even in the middle of the toughest regularity section. The whole car feels as though it has been built out of titanium; there is an extraordinary sense of strength and solidity to it.

“And we certainly tested that. Bumps, hundreds of miles of riverbeds, gravel, rocks and sand, followed by countless more miles of scorching tarmac – and not a single mechanical fault. The sum total of our mechanical intervention was one puncture and adjusting the brakes once.

“We regularly bested much more modern machinery, and did so in remarkable comfort. Apart from the inevitable dust that comes with crossing this sort of terrain in an open pre-war car, we were perfectly comfortable, cradled by the leather bucket seats and the Riley’s wonderfully forgiving suspension.

“What struck me most was that DPO manages to combine the sense of occasion and involvement of a proper pre-war car with the confidence you need to tackle a genuinely demanding long-distance rally. It never felt fragile or precious; quite the opposite. You very quickly develop the impression that you could simply point it towards the horizon and keep going.

“Rather ironically, towards the end of the Badawi I had to retire due to a health issue. DPO, meanwhile, was perfectly willing to carry on.

“Which perhaps says everything you need to know about the car: it turned out to be considerably tougher and better put together than its occupants.”

That is quite an endorsement of the Riley! You can start to understand the joy of the endurance challenge in a vintage car. To learn more get in touch with us and we will happily give you more information.

• Dashboard: Features a bare-metal rally-prepped fascia with analogue gauges, toggle switches, a mounted compass, and a specialized Halda rally trip computer behind a four-spoke steering wheel.

  Ease of Entry: Open-top, doorless cutaway bodywork allows direct step-in access over low side sills, unhindered by roof structures or windows.

  Comfort Factor (Seating & Cockpit): Vintage leather bench-style seating inside an exposed, functional pre-war cockpit designed strictly for endurance rallies.

  On-Board Space:

  • Cockpit: Tight two-seater layout with door pocket storage for roadbooks and essential kit.

  • Boot: No traditional enclosed boot; cargo space is restricted to open rear bodywork areas.

  • Behind Seats: Minimal rear deck space behind the seats, predominantly used to store the folded soft top.