DARLINGTON RILEYS
DIPSTICK BOB SHANKS
British designed Riley motor cars were well engineered sturdy cars manufactured from 1913. Many of the early cars from the 1930s to 1950s are collectibles, and Dipstick Bob Shanks has three of them. He shares a bit about his Rileys, his 1962 Volvo PV, and his 1962 Austin 1800 Ute.
Left to Right: 1937 12/4 Riley 6-light Kestrel Sprite; 1937 Riley Special; 1948 Riley RMA
1937 12/4 RILEY 6-LIGHT KESTREL SPRITE
A very original car bought from a Riley mate in Boya and decidedly the most desirable car of all I’ve ever owned. When LeeNaa & I repatriated to Canada for a proposed business venture the Kestrel was reluctantly sold to the editor of the WA Riley Club newsletter who still retains ownership.
1937 15HP, 6CYL, DUAL-COCKPIT RILEY SPECIAL
Built in Perth in 1995. Dug up the chassis & mechanicals (no body) whilst on a contract in Singapore during the late 80’s and later shipped the mostly-restored running chassis back to Perth when I was further deployed to Africa. Once back in Perth I designed the dual-cockpit roadster and in collaboration with WA’s genius bodybuilder Cliff Byfield, we (70% Cliff and 30% Bob) over 5 ½ months, built a traditional coachworks/alloy body in Cliff’s backyard in Bassendean. The finished car attracted a lot of attention and we took it to the Shannons Rally in Canberra but to be truthful, it was neither very purposeful nor comfortable. Eventually sold it into Victoria to fund the purchase of an antique aircraft.
1948 RILEY RMA 1 1/2 LITRE
A very original car bought from a Riley mate in Boya and decidedly the most desirable car of all I’ve ever owned. When LeeNaa & I repatriated to Canada for a proposed business venture the Kestrel was reluctantly sold to the editor of the WA Riley Club newsletter who still retains ownership.
1962 VOLVO PV 544 (LHD)
A ‘one-owner’ purchased unseen over the phone from Perth in California based on a verbal description from a wandering West Australian mate. Wife & I got off the plane in LA, picked up the car and spent the next five months doing a 27000km camping circumnavigation of North America (up the Pacific coast to Canada, across Canada, down the Atlantic coast to Gulf of Mexico, back to California then shipped the car home to Perth. Total trip maintenance expenses amounted to blowing a tyre in Canada, replacing a carb return spring in NY and a $6 carwash bill to clean off W Texas mud prior to shipping back to Oz. Probably the most useable and effective classic vehicle ever in my possession. However, with my ever-increasing aviation time demands it was ultimately sold due to lack of use and remains in Perth.
1962 AUSTIN 1800 UTE
Swapped a vintage McDonald single cyl stationary engine and a Cooper 2-stand portable shearing plant (both restored) for 2ea 1800 utes and a sedan, all gutted, knackered and incomplete. Eventually built one sound ute body from the collection and later bought a running 1800 sedan as a source of interior trim. Ute project got stalled after final painting and before any assembly and still remains as such. Like the little Volvo, aircraft work took priority and the ute remains a ‘gunna’ in my shed.