Riley - Riley 9
The Riley 9 was the new model that took over from the side valve models produced previously. Built from 1926 as the Monaco saloon and a tourer, the compact 1098 cc engine designed by Percy Riley had a pair of gear driven camshafts placed high in the block, with short push rods actuating the valves, which opened up to a hemispherical combustion chamber. Parry Thomas could see the tuning potential of it which led to the Riley Brooklands model, initially built at Brooklands. There were so many different body types and styles on the Riley 9 throughout its production span to 1938. Well known models were the variations on the Monaco, Kestrel, the Lynx (2 door in 1933 and 4 door in 1934), and sportier models like the Gamecock and Lincock, and the Imp. The sportier cars, and Plus Ultra option had the twin carburettor set up, and toward the end the Merlin saloon had the engine with the largest crankshaft journals. The Riley was so much better built and robust and therefore a little heavier than their competitors, with torque tube drive and latterly preselector gearboxes, and this was probably the Riley weakness - they built something far too good for the price they were being sold it at, and there was such a vast choice of models and specifications - not too unlike the Blockley Tyre Co. philosophy!
Riley 9hp tyre size was the 4.40x19 originally, and latterly 4.50x19. Blockley has produced the perfect 4.50x19 tyre for the Riley 9, built because we have a Riley Brooklands ourselves and wanted something that was just perfect. Nothing comes close to the quality of what we produce, and our low price is only because we sell direct to the end user and garages and not through the Classic tyre wholesalers. That way a truly perfect product can be sold at a realistic and low price. Our Blockley is not a dual marked 400/450x19 or some other modern combination, and the Blockley also has a correct tread depth, looking and handling perfectly - see full details of these tyres at the links below. For anyone wanting something non standard and a little wider, we also make a 4.75x19, as well as pretty much all other tyre sizes for a 19" wheel . . .
