1935 Riley Merlin 12/4

With only 400 or so ever built, ‘DMH 9’ is a charming example of a very rare car. The previous owner had it in his care for seven years, using it only lightly, for a wedding and some VSCC events, plus the odd golf tournament. Its sporting character had been tested more vigorously before that by way of a couple of VSCC events, including the 2009 Welsh Rally, which explains the presence of a scrutineering label on the door pillar and a fire extinguisher on the transmission tunnel.

Other than that, it is delightfully original with the original engine and four-speed, pre-selector gearbox. It is also thought to still have its original chassis, suspension, wheels, and radiator as well as the factory dashboard and interior.

The seller bought it via us last summer and invested a further £3,000 in getting it ready for him to use before coming to realise what he really wants is a convertible.

For a ninety-year-old car, the Merlin really does present very well. Of course, it’s sure to have had some paint in the past but the underlying structure is very good. 

Take a look at the louvres on the sides of the bonnet and the horizontal front panel, for example, which run straight and true. The vulnerable honeycomb mesh on the radiator grille is still in great shape too, something that also hints at careful conservation.

The wheelarches are also free of rust and scrapes, and decent shutlines conspire with good panel alignment to give the blue paintwork a solid canvas upon which to shine. 

There are no serious dents, dinks, or other damage either and the net result is a car you can use without fear and yet still show without discomfort.

As for the design, it’s simply wonderful, isn’t it? With sweeping wings whose lines are echoed in the shape of the door handles, an imposing radiator grille and two huge headlamps, and over-engineered boot lid and spare wheel handles, it is all the better for being so gloriously OTT.

And that’s before we mention the 18-inch wire wheels. Finished in a vibrant red, they’re not only in great shape but are fitted with a matching set of Waymaster crossply tyres, all of which still have plenty of tread left on them.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The Riley also comes with two spare wire wheels, one white and one red. 

Modern indicators have been fitted front and rear. Their installation adds safety and has been done so unobtrusively using period-appropriate lamp units that few will mourn their presence.

As for flaws, it is true that some of the chromework is a little scratched and faded and that there’s some flaking paint on the boot lid but a car like this carries a patina well, so there’s probably no urgency in getting either sorted. 

More urgent is the glass on the offside BI-FLEX headlamp, which is cracked.

The red interior is very heavily patinated with plenty of holes, rips, and tears to the leather seats. The seats sag too, and the carpets are worn.

Which is nothing but bad news, you might think.

But the cabin’s fixtures and fittings are thought to be the original, so there’s a strong argument for leaving it as it is and continuing to conserve it. Or, if you find you can’t live with it as it is, replacing them and carefully storing the originals.

And, if you do use it in its original condition then most observers, the sort of folk whose opinions we might care about, would find it charming rather than neglectful; most of us buy classic and vintage cars for the romance and history they have, and this one is not short of history.

Now we’ve taken the unusual step of telling you about the bad stuff first, we can point out that the door cards are good, even if the nearside rear has what looks like paint on it.

The dashboard comprises five white-faced instruments with the car’s speed and time being the most prominent, smaller instruments showing the fuel and oil level, the oil pressure, the battery charge, and the temperature of the coolant.

The comprehensive wooden trim on the dashboard and elsewhere is very good.

The steering wheel is not only suitably vast (no power steering, so you need the leverage…) but also plays host to the controls for the lights and ignition advance. 

The pre-selector gearlever mechanism is mounted behind this and offers access to four forward gears and one reverse.

The headlining is very good and brings with it a sunroof, too. 

Two ashtrays and a Saint Christopher medal are later additions.

If you’re happy to leave the seats as they are - and there’s a lot you could do to give the driver and passenger more comfort and support without compromising the seats’ originality and honesty - the only jobs we can see are to refasten the headlining around the sunroof as it’s come adrift at the sides, and perhaps replace the boot retaining straps as they’ve perished and been replaced by modern cord.

Other work, for example retrimming the plywood in the boot lid, replacing the foxed mirror glass, and polishing the controls, is a job for tomorrow. If at all. 

As you can see, the Riley starts albeit with a lumpy idle and is a bit hesitant to rev. 

There is an invoice for a service in 2016 by Blue Diamond Riley Services Limited, a Bicester-based specialist. The bill shows the use of Penrite oil for the engine and gearbox, plus a service for the ignition system and a new oil filter, all of which is a good sign. 

Blue Diamond went through it again in September 2023, running up a nigh-on £3,000 bill in the process for work that included extensive fettling of the braking system. It then serviced the ignition system in November 2023 for another £976. 

The underside looks good and strong and if you peer closely, you can see the modern Mahle spin-on oil filter, an addition that makes servicing much easier.

As for work to do, there is some evidence of oil leaks, but these are common with cars of this type and many owners appreciate the help they give with rustproofing…

It was last MoT’d in 2021 and, as you can see, it emerged with some credit. 

However, it doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the Riley comes with a couple of invoices from Blue Diamond for the recent work we mentioned plus one from 2016.

Eligible for a range of Vintage Sports Car Club (VSCC) events, this charming Riley Merlin 12/4 offers an affordable entry into the vintage car world, a world that’ll amaze you with its friendliness and inclusivity – and competitiveness, if you’re up for it; should you fancy stretching your new Riley’s legs you’ll be able to choose from a wide range of hillclimbs, sprints and track events in addition to rallies, navigation events, tours and much more.

Or you could just enjoy your Merlin’s period charm and authenticity by pottering down to the pub, your local classic car show, or even bigger events like the Goodwood Revival.

As for an estimate of its value, we think it’s going to fetch somewhere between £9000 and £12,000, which seems like fine value to us considering the doors it could open for you.

It still needs a little work to get it running well, so the seller is happy to offer it on a ‘no reserve’ basis, so it’ll sell from the very first bid.

If you’ve ever fancied running a pre-war car – and let’s face it, if you’re reading this then you have – now might just be the time to finally pull the trigger.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ, United Kingdom. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.