When a car piques your interest what is it that first attracts you? Is it the bodywork? Is it the exhaust note? The mechanics? The radiator badge? There are endless reasons to like a car and we got to thinking why we like this 1934 Riley Imp. The Riley marque has a good reputation for cars with a sporting performance and pleasing lines and BGW 119 has both.
Visually, the car ticks all the boxes. The close-coupled 2 seater body has perfect proportions with shapely flowing wings incorporating traditional running boards. The wire wheels, chrome radiator sitting behind two large headlamps and choice of aero screens or low windscreen all combine to bring a smile to your face. 
Open the door, lower yourself into the leather seat and take in the steering wheel, controls and instruments. This is a car to be driven quickly with a pre-selector gearbox, large speedo and rev counter and a big steering wheel.Riley made about 100 Imps in 1934 and 5 with a 4 cylinder twin cam engine of 1087 cc which would do 80mph but this willing little engine can be tuned to perform much better.
Remember Prince Bira and Mike Hawthorn both started with Riley Imps and history is packed with stories of its six-cylinder big brothers.This particular car has been in single ownership for 34 years and has always been fastidiously maintained whilst being driven all over Europe and even enjoyed a few seasons racing.
During that time, like all passionate owners, he acquired some spares including a spare engine with Brooklands sump, along with a spare EN75 gearbox.
The time has come for the car to find a new owner and I don't think it will take long for someone to snap it up. The engine and gearbox have recently been rebuilt and the engine tuned which prompts the owner to say, " it is a surprisingly quick car that accelerates hard over 3000 revs without being over-temperamental. A sure way of putting a smile on one's face!"There is a good collection of relevant books and archive material included along with a UK V5 registration document and FIA papers.
Text Robin Batchelor, pictures PreWarCar.com.