Estimated Price: £18,000 - £24,000

Introduced in 1926, the Riley 9hp twin-camshaft four-cylinder engine was an outstanding design by any standards with various versions powering Rileys until 1957, so it was not so surprising that to create its first six-cylinder engine the firm simply scaled it up, adding two cylinders. This new power unit retained the 9hp Four's 60.3mm x 95.2mm bore and stroke dimensions for a total capacity of 1,633cc, and first appeared late in 1928 powering the Stelvio fabric-bodied saloon.

Alternative styles on the Six chassis were the saloon and special tourer, both bodied by Riley's Coventry neighbours, Hancock and Warman. The Coventry marque's pre-war offerings were among the world's finest small-capacity sporting cars and its new 14/50hp Six was no exception featuring a chassis similar to that of the contemporary Nine, consisting of open, channel-section main members swept up over the rear axle, and measuring 10ft in the wheelbase.

Only a small number of original 14/6 Alpine Tourers were built, with estimates between the Alpine Tourer and its predecessor (the Hancock & Warman built Tourer) ranging from 175-200 units total, the majority being Alpine models. The low production numbers, combined with the confusion surrounding chassis numbers from that era, make genuine examples highly sought after by collectors.

Manufactured in 1933, this Alpine Tourer is a delightful example and has a continuous history from new. It’s also a ‘special series’ model fitted with the correct four-speed ‘silent third’ gearbox and upgraded with 10” Rotax headlamps, bronze-bodied triple carburettors and twin spare wheels. It’s a proper four-seat pre-war tourer ideal for family trips or VSCC rallies and its rarity and handsome looks contribute to its appeal as a classic and distinctive sporting car from the era.

Purchased by Richard Hammond in 2019, he has enjoyed the handsome tourer on his local Herefordshire roads and recently serviced and running well, this venerable Riley is ready to enjoy the next chapter of its interesting life.