Back to Back: Standard Avon vs Riley Merlin

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Now that daffodils and crocuses are coming up everywhere, the time has come for Brightwells Auctioneers to cheer up Leominster with its traditional Spring Sale. Among the lots on offer, we came across a duo of mid-1930s saloon cars, which could have come straight from the set of ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ and which seem to make a nice comparison. See for yourself.

There is a 1934 Standard Avon Special to start with. And it seems to be a lovely and original sports saloon to us, with its 2,133 cc six-in-line, patinated leather interior and quintessentially British body by stylist Charles Beauvais, former art editor of The Motor magazine. Quoting from the auctioneers: “This Standard has much in common with the ‘Jaguar’ SS1 of the same period. However, the SS1 could easily cost you three times the quoted estimate of this Standard and yet the Standard is the rarer car.” The current owner ads to this that ‘He readily admits the car could be improved cosmetically but much prefers the air of originality that the car currently exudes’. So do we, and we’re adamant a new owner will be found thinking the same. It is estimated at £19- to £21,000.

Least as good looking and expected to sell cheaper is a 1935 Riley Merlin 12/4 Saloon, valued at £11- to £15,000. This British saloon comes with perhaps a slightly more mundane 1,496 cc four-cylinder, but it uses twin camshaft technology, is mated to a pre-selector gearbox and uses Luvax-Bijur lubrication, which is working very well, if we must believe the seller. The car seems to have travelled much of Great Britain “last having been seen at an event in London in 1973. It then went to Ireland, returning to the UK in the early noughties from near Dublin. It was a bit of a project and went to live with the vendor in Scotland.” Some non-original modifications were carried out during this last ownership but the steel body remains pretty much as it must have left the factory when new. Not something that goes for all saloon Rileys these days, making this one a bit of scarcity now. One we really like as well.

Or do you prefer the Standard?

Words by Jeroen Booij. Pictures courtesy Brightwells.

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