Rob's Kestrel Page.

Progress Report

My car is a 1934 Riley 9 Kestrel Special Series with Manual Gearbox (as opposed to Preselector).
Chassis Nş 6023471, Engine Nş 51496, Registration AHU58, First registered 5/3/34,
Nş Previous Owners 10. Current Mileage approx 51,500.

my_car

This is my Riley 9 Ketsrel.

This is how my Kestrel looked in about 1978, only months before it was taken off the road. If I tell you that the tax-disc's expiry date is 31/1/1979, then you can guess that it is still lying in the shed at the bottom of the garden! I acquired the car from my father when my parents split up, but due to lack of time and money, I have unfortunately been unable to do any work on it myself, so it hasn't been touched since about 1989. This doesn't mean, however, that the car is a 'lost-cause'.

The engine was professionally overhauled in 1977, and last turned around 1979. The gearbox was also overhauled, and so the worst that is likely to be wrong with them is that they have seized! Despite the fact that the car is in many pieces, the only real visible problems with it is that the side-light mounting-holes on the front wings have rusted out, and nearly every single piece of glass (including the 2 headlight covers) has cracked.

The interior trim etc. is all sealed in plastic airtight bags in our loft, after a thorough restoration in 1980-82. The original timber (Ash?) frame had rotted in a couple of places, but the front & middle door pillars have been replaced with steel, which has been painted with rust-proof paint. Before these members were replaced, the body had twisted slightly, but as far as I can tell, it's ok again now - at least 3 of the doors shut properly!

I have about 8 wheels for the car, although 3 need work. The Front wheels spin OK, but the Offside one is a bit stiff, the steering moves freely, and I can find 4-forward gears & reverse with the gear lever. I can't turn the Rear Axle (the wheels are off), but this may be due to a minor seizure, or lack of strength on my part!

Looking in the engine bay, the only thing that seems to be missing is the Petrol Pump. I had an idea that my Father was fitting a new one in the boot, but can't find any signs of it, or indeed of any petrol pump at all!

Previous Owners:

05/03/34: Norman Sprankling, Stoke Bishop, Bristol.

Me in my Kestrel - May 79!
03/07/58: Derek Felton, Stoke Bishop, Bristol. (Paid £140)
18/03/62: Ronald Martin, Frampton Cotterell.
19/12/63: John Cox, Clifton, Bristol.
04/03/64: James Fletcher, Redland, Bristol.
26/10/64: James Massey, Limpley Stoke, Bath.
08/09/67: Gordon Weeks, Claverton Down, Bath. (Paid £90)
??/11/75: Jeffrey Allen, Hanham, Bristol.
08/05/76: Keith Malpas, Burnham-on-Sea. (Paid £350)
02/03/95: Robert Malpas, Burnham-on-Sea.

E-mail me at ab6rnm@bath.ac.uk.