The Type 51 Barnfind Mystery (Upd. More History!)

Can any one help me regarding mr Riley's estate I have the original mk2 Sprite that was at Earl's Court show in 1962
Alan so I have been told worked at longbridge at the time he worked in the development department and helped develop the new disc brake for the Sprite.
After the show Alan had taken possession of the Sprite where it sat in a shed on his estate.
The shed fell down around the car and was sold of via auction along with the rest of his collection.
So if any one knows that this is true I would be happy to hear from them.
If any documents or photos are available that would be even better many thanks
Stephen ward

Hi I would like to know especially from some ones hat knew Alan well enough of his other collections.
I have the original mk2 Sprite that was at Earl's Court show in 1962 and so I am told Alan worked at longbridge at the time and developed the disc brake system that was fitted to the mk2 Sprite and after the show Alan had the Sprite on his estate the shed it was in fell down and the Sprite sat there till his estate was auctioned.
I would love to find any documents of information to prove such a story

When this Bugatti turned up recently,featured in the daily papers,l was surprised and intrigued to see it had been owned by Alan Riley. l was fortunate to liberate the three Astons plus a Lorraine Dietrich (not a Chenard DH )from the orchard that Alan Riley had occupied for many years. He fended off the attempts of many potential rescuers over the years and the Astons got buried in the undergrowth. They were purchased from the new owners of the orchard after Alan abandoned the site and moved on. A good friend of mine tells me there was another Bugatti on the site many years previously,l don't know the model,also 3 litre Bentley, MG special, Morris 10/6 Sports (l have some bodywork that remained) Talbot (back axle casing for a 65 found) All these cars can be seen decaying in photographs taken by enthusiasts over a forty year period.

it`s the same old story about rules from british car clubs. I dont know the number
of bugattis, authenizesed by hugh conway, later to be turned down by othe british "spezialists"
then photo of the garage lookes to me as a remake of the one, raffaeli shot when he unearthed the ex tritignand T51

mike

A few names quoted from the past that brings a smile. I am sure the story will change as it does the rounds prior to the auction and who knows what it will become by then.

Lol.

Life is not easy with all the fake cars around, but at least the russian Lada parked next to it is the real deal :-)

I used to speak ocassionaly to Alan over the years and he had taken the Bug in some sort of exchange for a Masser he had. He fell out with certain people in the vscc and Bugatti fraternity when someone claimed their car was the original car and Alans wasnt, Alan hadnt mutch time for ceratin experts. I always believed that Alans car was the most original out of the two. Its not what you know its who you know a lot of the time so draw your own conclusions. He wouldnt have wanted any "Bug expert" anywhere near his car. I for one would love to own this most original car and will be a bidder. R.I.P Alan

I may be able to add a little to the "history"of this car. In the early eighties I bought from the G A Griffin collection, a single seater Alta engined racing car (page 96, Private Motor Car Collections of Great Britain by Peter Hugo)with the intention of restoring it (the engine was siezed) and racing it. The arival of another car changed my mind and I advertised the car for sale. I learned at this time that the car should properly be known as the Chorlton Special.A car believed to have been built up from a type 51 Bugatti, I recall thinking that there appeared to be little or no Bugatti parts visible in the car.I sold the car but do not recall the name of the buyer.Several years later,I called in to see Dan Margulies in his London garage and saw a type 51 Bugatti with one or two other cars. Dan, dug me in the ribs and said, how do you like your Bugatti ! ? Somewhat mystified ( I have never owned a Bugatti) I asked him what he meant, He said the car was the Type 51 chassis no ....? from my old Chorlton Special.Subsequently, I heard that many years before, the late Hugh Conway on behalf of the BOC had given the chassis no to another car. These thing weren't so important then. Mr Riley could therefore not claim his car to have the chassis no that became the Chorlton Special. He was both duped and thwarted.
As a side issue to all this, Mr Riley was known to be something of an eccentric,witness his garage above !, and well known as the chap who abandoned three Aston Martin Internationals and a Chenard - Walcker to rot to scrap in an orchard.

The car was reasonably well known as a Bitza when a deal was done with Alan Riley to swap this Bugatti for an 8c Alfa. I seem to remember a lot of dealing by by a group including Peter Gregory (manufacturer of replica K3 MG's), he certainly ended up with the Alfa.

I hope you don't mind me pointing out that the plural of Bugatti is Bugattis. There is no apostrophe in a plural.