Thanks for all the pics. Wish I could have seen this one completed in person. I had the privilege to get a personal tour of Mr Orosco's shop last year before the GNRS when they were working on the ch***is for this car.I can attest to the fact that the man is a true patron of the traditional hotrod arts. He appreciatess the history and is helping to preserve it. The work and craftsmanship coming out of his small shop is a testament to the men he has working for him. Along with all this, Mr Orosco is a genuinely nice guy who seemed happy to spend time with some hot rodders.
i saw it in person, you are correct and in so many words "I agree", really well built, NEAT car... it was a pleasure to see all the parts actually installed on something and in front of me rather than in a blurry B/W photograph. as my tastes refine i find myself following the Less Is More philosophy, moreso i cant afford to throw all my bling into one basket... need to save some of it for other builds, knowmsayin?
I believe the engine was pulled from this: I spoke to Don about it when he visited England for the Festival of Speed. He sold the remainder of the car, with a warm flathead in it, for something like $6500. It was restored before Don got hold of it so someone got a good deal and Don got to keep the engine he wanted. I remember being surprised that the car was in Hemmings for a few months before it sold.
That car also has some kinda pre halibrand 2-speed, quickchange rear end in it. Don told me the maker's name, but I'm kinda empty headed sometimes... I was there and it gets my HAMBR vote. Its a very nice ride and Don said he'll be driving it down to breakfast after a few more shows...
I could'nt stop looking at that car, it was one ride I went back to see at least 3 times and you would'nt find a flaw on it!! what a perfect car, and yes it was way better than the so called AMBR(********!!). Buzz
Don is also one heck of a nice guy - I've had a few conversations with him recently and helped him out with a vintage set of Edelbrock heads. He in return is helping me complete a set of really rare wire wheels. I think the way he builds cars and the respect he has for rare vintage equipment has been a very good thing for the traditional hot-rod world. What a beautiful car . . . as nice as they come!
Great looking car, thanks for posting the photos! I remember a story about another Riley V8 in a race car but I thought it was a sprint car that sold about 20 years ago. I looked at some of my old SCTA newsletters and a Riley V8 in a roadster turned 114.50 back in 1948......a Riley 4Port 4Banger turned 127.76
Absolutely should have won the big one. don's car was not just a collection of rare parts, but a rare example of a completed-to-the-highest-standard Hot Rod. This thing was Period Perfect, and Perfect, period.
I'll bet that axle was built fom the center section of the dodge brothers axle and mated to ends from a drop and filled ford. Nice, but that dodge is just as beautiful left alone, But it would not have given as much drop. OLY The cancer car lives Give to cancer research
the gentlemen that built the car had the same idea about the axle that 'alchemy' did but they weren't sure. the engine is 21 stud with 6 studs removed on each side to accomodate the riley stuff and it has a Kong ignition with the manual timing adjust cable. anyone know how effective these heads were in compe***ion? I noticed that there is only one intake port per head.
I have seen the original race car before. From what I've heard, it was built in Minnesota in the fifties. It was driven by one of my buddies in the IMCA Oldtimers (vintage circle track racing club) uncle back in the day. I have heard that the car wasn't a success, and in fact that the engine was quite fragile. My buddy's granfather was name Carl Dahlen from Minneapolis, and he had had several 4 cylinder Riley race cars in the 40's and 50's. The car was restored by Dave Norgaarden (also a member of the IMCA Old Timers) some time in the past 10-20 years. As I said the engine was quite fragile, so he sold it to someone in Arizona shortly after it was done. I had a chance to buy it about 10 years ago for a very reasonable price, but p***ed on it because of the expense of rebuilding the '54 Hemi in my own dirt car. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Except for the last part about almost buying it, all of the information I have provided is just what I've heard, so it may or may not be true, although I believe it is.
one other thing i noticed about the engine in the riley roadster vs. old photos of these same heads is that there were a number of external oiling lines plumbed into the sides of the heads between the spark plugs. nicely done of course. for the rockers probably? or return?
Yes, those oil lines pointing downward are for return. Just like Arduns use to drain to the pan via gravity. I just looked at an old pic of the Spencer roadster, and the axle looks amazingly similar to this one, except Spencer's wasn't filled on the ends. Still had the I-beam showing. Maybe sombody made a few backintheday? Or maybe this is a new one made to honor Spencer's?
Don is a helluva stand-up guy. It was not a change of heart, Don did sell the Milans early and pulled the auction. The whole Milan set of four will be up for sale again soon, stay tuned...
It uses a Pat Warren 2 speed quick change. This is the one that is in the car. It's based on a model A ring and pinion. We set it up for modern axles and adapted rear spring V-8 ends to the A axle housings so it could run the spring behind the rear axle.
A guy in our high school car club had one of the Riley V8s in the late '50s. Wasn't in a car; he just bought it as a curiosity and had it in his garage. The earlier statement is correct: the heads were made to be used on a 21-stud block, but it was necessary to remove several of the studs. I thought the resultant number was 17, but 15 may be correct. They were not a particularly successful setup. They were rarely used in compe***ion, and as far as I know didn't power any winning cars. Cool looking, though, to be sure.
It's been said a couple times already but it's worth repeating...Don is one of the nicest guys around. Not only does he have an amazing hot rod collection, but his vintage race cars are top notch as well.
When you say 2 speed does it work like a gear splitter ie gives you a low and a high in each gear? If so combined with the flexability of a quick change this would be killer. The more I read and see of this car the more impressive it is.
Was just checking out The AHRF site and in the photo section the 1st photo is a old rod with a flattie with a Riley OHV conversion. Its worth a look as is the whole site. Check it out at www.ahrf.com
I hope these photos will post. I have never posted pics from Flickr... ANyway if they post these are some great shots from KidDuece And if the photos dont work use the link below KidDuece Photo alumbs
Rikster thanks so much for digging these up. Can get a decent view of the oil drain piping in these. This is one of those cars that every time I look at it I notice some other detail.
That quick change is wild. Anyone find shots of this car outside yet? All of that indoor lighting makes it hard to see anything.
I was thinking the same thing... What a brilliantly simple idea. Somebody ought to put that on a list for repop... As an adapter kit for your existing quickie...
this doesnt really add much to this but i just stumblled across this vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGK1Dy0C7j8
Hi,Iam interested to learn more about the Autovia in your picture, as I own an AUTOVIA SPORTS SALOON which was the MOTOR magazine road test car in 1937, and the only one fitted with a manual gearbox, shall be glad to hear from you , regards, WALTER SCOTT.[SCOTLAND]
The Jalopy Journal
