1937 Riley 12/4 Sprite Replica

Exceptional Riley 12/ 4 Sprite Replica

An extensive restoration over the last 4 years has created what is currently the most restored and sorted Riley on the market at a fraction of the restoration cost, a truly usable touring car which will cruse at 70 mph, coupled with modern electrics, and full weather gear. If you are looking for an attractive, fast, reliable vintage sports car with long distance capability then look no further.

The engine has been fully rebuilt by Steve and Scott Hughes at Brooklands Enginecraft. It has new +0. 020” Omega pistons, Arrow conrods with shell big-end bearings (MGA) and new white metal mains, with the rotating assembly balanced by Basset Down. The block is fitted with an original Sprite internally-baffled crossflow head, with new Riley Register Spares rockers, shafts and pushrods. The camshafts are Newman ‘Sprite’ profile, with a set of matching tappets. The cooling system flow is exactly as in the original cross-flow Sprites, with a Ralph Wren Sprite inlet manifold. The timing gears are new vernier adjustable Brooklands Enginecraft parts, timed to suit. Compression Ratio is around 9-9. 5:1. The sump is baffled, and fitted with a new Brooklands 12/ 4 oil pump. The cooling system has the original-pattern matrix radiator, fitted with an electric fan and a new Steve Hughes Sprite water pump. There is a Fosseway crank-mounted alternator with hand-cranking facility (original dynamo and control box comes with the car), so the engine can be turned over using the starting handle. The exhaust system has a Brooklands Enginecraft Cerakoted four-branch tubular exhaust manifold, with a single-box system exiting to the rear. A remote spin-on oil filter conversion is fitted, but the original Sprite magnesium oil filter housing is retained (blocked off) for appearance. An original Sprite sump is with the car, but is not fitted for road use. A WOSP hi-torque starter motor is fitted (the original is also with the car).

Fuelling is by a pair of original Sprite HV3 cast carburetters with weighted pistons, rebuilt by David Lonsdale of Classic Carburetters, with an original-pattern slave shaft throttle linkage on the correct Sprite inlet manifold. The car has a stainless steel fuel tank to the original Sprite pattern, with an electronic SU pump.

The ignition system operates via a new Lucas DK4A distributor from The Distributor Doctor fitted with a Pertronix electronic module. A Scintilla Vertex magneto, rebuilt by Vintage Magnetos, can be supplied with the car.

A new, complete Brooklands Enginecraft Sprite manual gearbox was built with an aluminium LM25T casing by Steve Hughes for this car, with ‘inbetweenie’ gear set, a new lightened MGB V8 flywheel and diaphragm clutch, pressure plate and release bearing. The rear gearbox mount is a new Sprite bronze casting, and the often-problematic Riley universal joint arrangement in the torque tube has been replaced with Steve Hughes’ needle roller bearing Hardy-Spicer conversion. The underslung chassis has recently been stripped and repainted, with fully overhauled suspension, steering and braking systems. New Riley Register 7/ 8” kingpins have been installed and all steering balljoints replaced. All wheel bearings and seals, front and rear, are new, and the Hartford shock absorbers have been stripped and rebuilt. The steering box has been rebuilt with new bearings and a correct Ralph Wren Sprite steering tiller arm, and new drilled mounting brackets. Correct Sprite rated leafsprings, new spring bushes and trunnions are fitted. The braking system has all new brake rods in EN36 steel, new pivots and gaiters. The car is fitted with a new set of Alfin aluminium/ steel composite finned brake drums, with newly relined matching Alfin-spec shoes from Typecast Engineering. A spare pair of drums will come with the car.

The rear axle has been completely stripped and rebuilt with all new bearings and seals, new crown wheel and pinion with a 4. 55:1 ratio and new drive shafts with new splined hubs from Graham Brown’s Vintage and Classic Shock Absorber company. The front hubs and splines are also new.

New 19”x wheels were made by Hallewell Engineering, and fitted with Blockley 5. 50/ 6. 00 x 19 tyres.

A new Autosparks wiring harness is fitted, with custom modifications to cope with the alternator, and new-old-stock or restored period switchgear is used throughout. Fused relays have been added discretely for high current components, including an electric radiator fan. The chronometric speedometer and tachometer were rebuilt by Vintage Restorations, and the car has correct Sprite instruments and modern conversion indicator/ stop/ tail lamps.

Please contact us for full details of the restoration, which includes complete Engine rebuild, all new sprite manual gearbox, complete chassis and running gear replacement, new wheels, ali drums, the list is extensive.

Originally built around 1980 by the late Barrie Gillies as a tool room copy from an original car he had in his workshop at the time. Colin Ready modified the Kestrel chassis to MPH style which was then boxed and fully modified to Sprite specification by Barrie. Correct Sprite parts and castings have been used throughout to create an exact replica of a works Sprite. The ash body was made by Mike Stubbings, and it was panelled by Brian Martin.

The current owner purchased the car in 2021 and set about an extensive restoration and detailing. With over 3000 hours of his own time, and with the help of many marque specialists, he has put his own mark on the car. The most obvious visual change was the custom construction and fitting of a full set of aluminium wings, new louvered bonnet sides and running boards by Ian Pitney Restorations. Coupled with a full set of headlamps and driving lamps of the correct L150 pattern for a 12/ 4 Sprite from Vintage Headlamp Restoration International, the car now follows the shape and appearance of the ex-works Sprite CDU63 now in the US.

No expense has been spared; every receipt and invoice has been retained along with extensive photos of the works carried out. Early photos of the car in Barrie’s works, and of the ash frame and body are also present, as is the old registration document. If you consider the personal hours spent on this restoration along with receipts for specialist works and parts it represents an investment of over £200, 000, or close to £275, 000 once you add into the 2021 purchase price: However, when you consider the works TT sprite CDU63 changed hands in 2022 for $450, 000 you could consider this a worthwhile investment to preserve this car for future generations to enjoy.