Registration No: KTY 712E
Chassis No: SABTVR03520062325
MOT: Exempt

Motor Car Location: Lancashire

• Current ownership for approximately 12 years
• Used by the vendor for the first two years of ownership before being placed into dry-storage for Winter and only now resurfacing
• Fitted with a convertible body style

Nobody living in the UK in 1959, will ever forget the birth of the Mini - the phenomenon that changed small cars forever. 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 overrides, 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.

Manufactured in 1967 and first registered in the United Kingdom on the 17^th of February that year, this Riley variant is fitted with the 998cc straight-four engine mated to the four-speed manual transmission. Finished in Dark Blue with Red interior upholstery and a Cream hood, unfortunately, there is little further known of the history of this Elf Convertible. Showing some 60,190 unwarranted miles (at time of consignment) ‘KTY 712E’ entering into current ownership approximately twelve years ago (although an erroneous keeper change is showing in 2021). Said to have been used by the vendor for c.2 years before being driven into dry storage ten years ago for the upcoming winter period, the Elf remained there until recently being resurfaced in 2021. Now offered for recommissioning/restoration, the Elf certainly gives the purchaser a very intriguing and worthwhile project.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452