Makes › Riley › Sprite · Rare production · 1935–1938
Riley
Sprite
51 built
Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Lothar Spurzem · CC BY-SA 2.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- Not yet verified
- Years
- 1935–1938
- Engine
- four-cylinder · 1,500 cc / 1.5 LFactory: 1.5 L
- Power
- Not yet verified
- Top speed
- Not yet verified
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Not yet verified
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The Sprite was a 1930s British two-seater sports car. The auction house calls it one of the rarest and most sought-after British sports cars of its decade. Its design was based on the Freddie Dixon car that won the Ulster Tourist Trophy.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Riley Sprite (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Lothar Spurzem · CC BY-SA 2.0
Riley Sprite (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Lothar Spurzem · CC BY-SA 2.0
Riley Sprite (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Softeis · CC BY 2.5
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02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
No production figures recorded yet.
History
The production Sprite two-seater was introduced at the 1935 Motor Show. It was based on the Freddie Dixon car that won the Ulster Tourist Trophy in 1935 and 1936. It had a 'fencer's mask' grille and an MPH-based chassis, under-slung at the rear, with either manual or Wilson pre-selector transmission. It was priced at £425 when launched and was built until 1938.
The lot is chassis S27S6030, registered DMG 497. The auction text says it was used in the 1937 Monte Carlo Rally, where it won the class for under-1,500cc open cars, and was restored in 1997.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Sprite.
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | four-cylinder1 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 1,500 cc / 1.5 LFactory: 1.5 L1 Independently researched |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Valvetrain | twin camshaft1 Independently researched |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | Not yet verified |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | manual or Wilson pre-selector1 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | MPH-based chassis, under-slung at the rear1 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | two-seater sports body with 'fencer's mask' front grille1 Independently researched |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Most Sprites had a single spare-wheel cowl at the rear. The Monte Carlo Rally car described in the lot text had two spare wheels at the rear instead.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
Lot 261: 1936 Riley Sprite Sports (Goodwood Revival sale) Level C Bonhams · 2014-09-13
- Hugh Rose-designed 1½-litre four
- new Hugh Rose-designed 1½-litre four
- twin-camshaft layout was retained
- either manual or Wilson pre-selector transmissions
- The chassis was MPH based and under-slung at the rear
- fencer's mask' front grille
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