Lot details
Registration No: GRV816E
Chassis No: RA2S3996973
Mot Expiry: Sept 2011

Nobody living in the UK in 1959, will ever forget the birth of the Mini - the phenomenon that changed small cars for ever. Following on just two years later, the Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet were luxurious versions of that car. They sported longer, slightly finned rear wings and larger boots that gave the cars a more traditional three-box appearance, plus 2.5 cu ft of extra stowage space. The front-end treatment incorporated each marque's traditional upright grille design, giving the cars a less utilitarian appearance than their deliberately basic sibling. They sported larger-diameter chrome hubcaps than the Austin and Morris Minis, plus additional chrome accents, bumper overriders, part leather seats and wood-veneer dashboards - the full width version on the Riley being one of the main differentiators between it and the Wolseley. The Riley was the more expensive of the two - the dearest factory-built Mini of all. The Elf name was intended to recall the Sprite and Imp monikers used by Riley in the 1930s. There were three versions of the Elf during the model's nine year reign. The MKI was powered by the 848cc version of BMC's ubiquitous A-Series engine, while a single carburettor version of the Mini Cooper's 998cc power unit was employed in the Mark II variant of 1963. In tune with upgrades on the standard Mini, Hydrolastic suspension was fitted from September 1964. However, it was the MKIII Elf of 1966 that embodied the longest list of upgrades the model was to enjoy, including: wind-up windows, fresh-air fascia vents and the remote control gear linkage from the Mini Cooper; also, concealed door hinges two years before they were seen on the mainstream Mini. Some 30,912 Riley Elfs were produced all told.

The Elf being sold was manufactured in 1967 and is painted Blue with contrasting White roof. The interior is trimmed in Blue leather. One of the more desirable MKIIIs, it is powered by the 998cc engine and includes all the niceties that were standard on those last-of-the-line versions, plus a pair of period wing mirrors. MOT'd into September next year, this cheeky little Elf surely deserves a happy new home.