1934 Riley 9hp Ulster Imp Sports
Registration no. ADU 303
Chassis no. 602 5036
Engine no. 17734

"In the competition world, it was decided that the Brooklands Nine had reached the peak of its development and so the Imp chassis was fitted with a doorless lightweight body, of boat-tail style, rather shorter than the Brooklands and not quite as low, since the chassis did not feature the sharp gooseneck of the earlier car. Here then, was the Ulster Imp." – David G Styles, As Old as the Industry, Riley 1898 – 1969.

Right from the start it was obvious that the 9hp Riley engine possessed enormous potential as a competition unit, and at Brooklands J G Parry-Thomas and Reid Railton were the first to demonstrate just how good it was. The success of their racer led to a production version, the Speed Model, which soon became known as the Brooklands Nine. Six-cylinder Brooklands and MPH models followed, and from these Riley developed the next of its 9hp four-cylinder sports cars – the Imp. Like the MPH, the Imp featured a short-wheelbase chassis, of 7' 6" in the latter's case, that swept upwards over the front axle and was under-slung at the rear, this layout having been first used on the Brooklands Six. The engine was mildly revised, twin SU carburettors fitted, and a Scintilla magneto offered as an option. With its long bonnet, flowing wings and short tail, the Imp is without question one of the most attractive small sports cars of its era. The term 'Ulster Imp' is generally associated with the competition versions that have a boat-tailed body. Described as 'special bodied Imps', two were entered at Le Mans in 1934 and when several more of this model were produced for the Ards TT in September of that year, the name 'Ulster Imp' was adopted. Made in limited numbers, it is a rarity today and commensurately much sought after.

This Ulster Imp was first registered on 22nd August 1934 by the Riley Motor Company but it was actually owned by Freddie Clifford, who gave his address as The Guards Club, Pall Mall, London. Clifford purchased it to use in the 1934 Ulster TT at Ards and was entered as a privateer. The bodywork was painted cream and the chassis rails and wheels were green. In an inauspicious debut, Clifford and 'ADU 303' were flagged off after 30 laps for being too slow due an error made during set-up that resulted in it being seriously over-geared. Clifford advertised the Imp for sale in Motor Sport magazine (8th January 1935 edition) and in mid-1936 it was purchased by South African sporting motorist, Buller Meyer, on the recommendation of Earl Howe. There is no evidence that the car had been used in 1935.

Meyer's first outing with his new acquisition was the 3rd Kimberley 100 meeting on 5th October 1936 where he finished 10th in a field containing several much more powerful cars. On 1st January 1937 the 3rd South African Grand Prix was held in East London, attracting a varied field that included two works Auto Union V16 Grand Prix cars for Bernd Rosemeyer and Ernst von Delius; Pat Fairfield in ERA R4A; Richard Seaman's Delage; Lord Howe in his T59 Bugatti; and Piero Taruffi in his Maserati 8CM. It was against this impressive entry that Buller Meyer lined up the Imp. In a race run on handicap, Meyer came close to winning, only being passed Fairfield's ERA within less than half a mile from the finish after the Riley had snapped its crankshaft.

Meyer drove 'ADU 303' in the 2nd Rand Grand Prix at Johannesburg on 16th December 1937, but for the 4th South African Grand Prix at East London on 1st January 1938 the Riley was driven by Ronnie Richardson. In his first, and possibly only, motor race, Richardson finished 3rd on handicap in an event won by Meyer in another Riley. Jack Whitehead drove the Imp in the 2nd Grosvenor Grad Prix at Cape Town on 15th January 1938, and then Buller's younger brother Freddie took over for the 1st South African handicap at East London on 2nd January 1939. Freddie finished 2nd.

Over the next few years the Riley passed through various hands in South Africa (all owners known) before ending up with Hugh Lister in 1949. Lister raced the car in various events before selling it to Sparky Davidson in 1950. That same year Davidson sold the car on, its next owner being George Lezard. Lezard sold the Imp in 1955 but there is no record of who bought it. Most likely the car had two owners in the Johannesburg area before being acquired by a Colonel Brett. In 1984 Brett sold the Riley to engineer John Harmsworth, who proceeded to restore it. On stripping the engine, he discovered that the crankshaft and con-rods were missing, so Carrillo rods and a new Allen crankshaft were ordered from the UK. John looked after the mechanical aspects of the rebuild, while the bodywork's refurbishment was entrusted to local specialist, Doug Lindsay. The restoration was completed in 1988.

John Harmsworth and 'ADU 303' attended the Border 100 (First South African Grand Prix) Diamond Jubilee Race Meeting in East London in December 1994, and in 1996 the Imp was brought to the UK to participate in the FIVA Centenary Rally, joining nearly 700 Riley cars assembled at Coombe Abbey in Warwickshire. 'ADU 303' enjoyed further international exposure in 2000 when John Harmsworth took the car to the Riley Centenary Rally in Alice Springs, Australia. Back in South Africa, the Imp attended the First Riley Rendezvous in October 2004 with John Harmsworth and George Lezard. The second such event was attended in October 2007 when the Imp was crewed by Jim and Glenys Runciman from Perth, Australia.

After 72 years in South Africa, the Imp was purchased by the current vendor and returned to the UK in 2008. In 2009 the owner's brother used 'ADU 303' in events commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Vintage Sports Car Cub's foundation and the introduction of the Riley Ulster Imp. The famous Kop Hill Climb was revived for 2009, and the Imp has been a regular attendee ever since. 'ADU 303' has continued to be used for events such as sprints and hill climbs with various guest drivers, culminating in the South African Historic Grand Prix Festival in November/December 2018 where it was reunited with members of the Meyer family. The Riley returned to the UK and was delivered to Bicester Heritage for display at the January 2019 Sunday Scramble before being driven home.

The history of this quite remarkable, and exceptionally original, car is recounted in a 44-page copiously illustrated book written by the owner, which is easily one of the very best of its type we have ever seen (perusal essential). The vendor also has several files of history and photographs that can be copied on to the new owner if so desired.