Coys Auction - Automoto D‘Epoca
Padova Fiera
Padova, Italy

Italy

Saturday 25th October 2008

Admission by catalogue only - admits two.

This highly original Riley Imp started its life as a works car and is well known in Riley circles. Fitted with the pre-selector gearbox and still in its original livery of maroon with black leather interior, this rare British sports car of the Thirties is in lovely original and excellent condition. Originally registered ARW 491 (a Riley works number), the old style buff logbook shows it was reregistered in 1960 as 400 MPA. Indeed, the car has a fascinating history and it is, of course, listed in the British Riley Register, a copy of which is included in the accompanying file.

Registered to its last British owner, Gerald Thorpe, in 1960, it was sold by him for $300 on August 27th 1965 to Alexander Mason of New York where it resided the next three decades. Upon returning home to England