Riley TT Sprite Chassis

Riley 1.5 TT Sprite chassis 1936

Key facts

  • Year

    1936

  • Country

    Great Britain

  • Capacity

    1,496cc

  • Cylinders

    In-line 4

  • Valves

    8 overhead

  • Output

    60hp @ 5,000rpm

  • Performance

    85mph

  • Price new

    £425-Two-seater

  • Owner

    Montagu Collection

  • Manufacturer

    Riley (Coventry) Ltd

This is the chassis of a Riley Sprite, built as a works team car and raced at numerous events in the late 1930s. It was raced by Mike Hawthorn during 1951, winning the Ulster Trophy, Leinster Trophy and races at Goodwood, Boreham and Castle Combe. Hawthorn rose to stardom in Grand Prix racing, eventually becoming World Champion in 1958. He re-purchased the car and restored the chassis shortly before his untimely death later that year.

The Riley Sprite is typical of the way the majority of cars were constructed up to the middle of the 20th century, with separate chassis and body. In this case, the chassis is underslung below the rear axle. The frame consists of sturdy box section side members, linked by cross members. It narrows at the front to allow space for the wheels to swivel.

It handled as near perfect as one could hope for a car of pre-war design without independent suspension … it could be cornered with incredible speed in the wet

Mike Hawthorn, Quote from Challenge Me The Race,1958

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Panoramic view of the first floor of the National Motor Museum

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