1935 Riley MPH Le Mans 2 Litre
Chassis:
# AB1/2000
Engine:
# 152777
Registration:
# OET 141
Price:
SOLD
Duty:
UK
1935 Riley MPH Le Mans–Style Sports Racer with 2 Litre Engine
This 1935 Riley MPH Le Mans–style two seater sports racer is no ordinary Riley special or replica, built with genuine works components and Dobbs Special lineage.
Built on Nick Jarvis Snr chassis (2002) using major original Dobbs Riley competition components.
Fitted with rare Riley 2-litre works competition engine, never offered to private customers
Silent third crash gearbox from Riley competition department, correct period specification.
Front axle from original Dobbs car, used at 1948 Enniskerry Hill Climb by Roy Salvadori.
Engine comprehensively rebuilt; gas-flowed head, competition clutch and rebuilt gearbox.
4.5:1 crown wheel and pinion; approximately 21 mph per 1,000 rpm in top gear.
Built on Nick Jarvis Snr chassis (2002) using major original Dobbs Riley competition components.
Fitted with rare Riley 2-litre works competition engine, never offered to private customers
Silent third crash gearbox from Riley competition department, correct period specification.
Front axle from original Dobbs car, used at 1948 Enniskerry Hill Climb by Roy Salvadori.
Engine comprehensively rebuilt; gas-flowed head, competition clutch and rebuilt gearbox.
4.5:1 crown wheel and pinion; approximately 21 mph per 1,000 rpm in top gear.
Dobbs Special Provenance and Riley Competition Lineage
In 1956, the Davie family became custodians of the Riley single seater known as the Dobbs Special, formally titled the Hector Dobbs–Riley 2 Litre Offset Single Seater. This remarkable 1935 car enjoyed an extensive and well documented competition career, including appearances at Brooklands, and is firmly established within Riley’s historic racing narrative.
As is often the case with serious period competition machinery, the Dobbs Special was accompanied by an exceptional cache of original components and period spares accumulated over decades of competitive use. Remarkably, the quantity and quality of these parts were such that they allowed for the construction of a second car. These were genuine, competition-derived Riley components with direct lineage to the Dobbs car itself.
During the 1990s, the original Dobbs was stripped for a comprehensive restoration. At that time, a conscious decision was taken to preserve the integrity and originality of the historic single seater, a new facsimile chassis was constructor by Nick Jarvis Snr. This newly built chassis became the foundation for OET 141, and incorporated usable spare mechanical components from the Dobbs.
Ex-Works 2 Litre Engine and Close Ratio Gearbox
At the heart of OET 141 lies one of Riley’s rare 2 litre works competition engines. These engines were never offered to the public and were reserved exclusively for factory-backed competition cars. This is not an uprated touring unit, but a genuine works-derived powerplant of the type that underpinned Riley’s most serious racing efforts.
The engine is paired with a silent third crash gearbox from Riley’s competition department, reinforcing the car’s direct connection to the marque’s period motorsport programme. The 4.5:1 crown wheel and pinion ratio delivers approximately 21 mph per 1,000 rpm in top gear, suiting fast road use, endurance events, or competitive historic motoring.
Documented Period Components and Recent Mechanical Investment
The front axle carries its own remarkable provenance. It originates from the original Dobbs Riley and was fitted to the car at the time of Roy Salvadori’s crash at the 1948 Enniskerry Hill Climb, where he shared the drive with Joe Kelly. The axle was subsequently straightened and crack tested before installation in OET 141, preserving an authentic and documented piece of period competition history.
Having first offered the car for sale in 2022 on behalf of the Davie family, nearly £70,000 has since been invested mechanically. The engine has been fully rebuilt and now benefits from a gas flowed cylinder head, competition clutch, and rebuilt gearbox. In addition, new 15 inch magnesium brake drums and backplates have been manufactured, with machining costs alone totalling £6,000.
The coachwork faithfully echoes the elegant Riley MPH Le Mans design, while the maroon finish pays tribute to the original Dobbs single seater chassis. Over time, the paint has mellowed attractively, giving the car the visual authority of a machine with a genuine narrative behind it.
An Uncommon Opportunity.
This is not simply a Riley special. It is a car constructed from genuine, works-derived competition components, directly connected to the Hector Dobbs single seater and notable period drivers.
Registered as OET 141, it represents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the very few road-going Riley examples fitted with an authentic 2 litre works competition engine — a machine of unquestionable mechanical authority and documented racing lineage.
Serious enquiries are welcomed from informed Riley and historic competition enthusiasts.
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