Vehicle description
Finished in green over black. Sympathetically restored over an extended period , upgrades including Newman cams and twin SU carbs floor change gears extensively used by the prior owner, including various long distance tours nice lots to love about this one Introduced in late 1926, the Monaco was the saloon variant of the brilliant Riley Nine. The close coupled four door styling with an integral rear luggage boot gave it a sporty Continental silhouette that was widely admired at the time and still looks great today. The Monaco remained in production until 1935, gradually evolving along the way with improvements to the chassis and more substantial bodywork on the later cars. First registered in East Sussex in 1932, this Monaco has the sloping radiator and aluminium body panels and steel wings that were introduced for the 1933 model year. It also has the floor change four speed gearbox with silent 3rd rather than the Wilson pre selector gearbox which was often fitted to Rileys of this period. The early history of the car has been lost in the mists of time but in the 1970s, by which time it had fallen off the DVLA radar, it was at least partially restored 1989 it was acquired by a Mr D Waite of Somerset by which time the engine was partially dismantled and some parts were missing. He spent the next 10 years slowly restoring the car, as detailed by many invoices, various work sheets and correspondence on file, spending some £7,000 in the process.This included a full engine rebuild with new pistons, bearings, reground crank etc. The cylinder head was also rebuilt. The brakes, steering and suspension were overhauled as required. The speedo was rebuilt and set to zero and it also had a new petrol tank exhaust system radiator core dynamo front and rear windscreens door and window rubbers re chromed headlamps wheels rebuilt and fitted with a new set of tyres plus much else besides. The interior was also sympathetically refurbished by H Wroe of Yeovil, retaining as much originality as possible. The restoration was halted in 1998 and in 2010 Mr Waite sold the nearly completed Monaco to a Mr M Jones of Woodbridge in Sussex. He really went to town on the car, including hotting up the engine with twin SU carbs, Newman Sprite cams and cam followers, refaced cylinder head plus various other upgrades. He also had work done to the gearbox fitted an electric fuel pump new rear hub seals new exhaust sections many new ignition parts rebuilt magneto new wiper motor battery isolator under the rear seat new set of carpets plus much else besides. A seasoned vintage and classic car owner, he describes the Monaco as follows ,Owned by me for five years and much loved . The paintwork and interior are beautifully patinated but with no significant blemishes. The front passenger seat still has a pneumatic cushion. The car has the feel of a genuine 30s saloon with bags of character and a nicely mellowed patina