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Originally from England, John inherited the car after his father died in 1968.
It needed a bit of work to get it on the road, but the work never happened, Anne says.
“Cars of that age in the 1960s were seen as a load of old junk. It’d be like a 1980s Japanese import today. You could buy them for $10.
“It was held together with bits of wire and had been painted with a yard-brush, but my husband had always been keen on Rileys. It was a family thing and I married into it.
“He was always going to get it back on the road, but it became his retirement project.”
The Riley was always close to John’s heart, if not absent from his mind, and remained in storage for the next 43 years. But the couple brought the car with them when they immigrated to NZ in 2008 to live closer to their daughter in Auckland.
They finally started the restoration four years ago, drawing on the expertise of Snells Beach mechanic Steve Simpson, who now works on the North Shore.
The engine was still in good condition and started first time, but borer had eaten through the cars wooden frame.
“My husband was a very good mechanic but he didn’t want to do the body work. We couldn’t find anyone in the UK who could do the work, but with Steve’s connections we’ve been able to get the job done.”
But not long after starting the project John died.
“At first I wasn’t sure if I would continue with the car’s restoration. But I thought I should complete his ambition as a memorial to him.
“I’ve had to do a lot of research as they are very rare in New Zealand. As far as we know, it is the only six cylinder Lynx in the country.”
The car’s wooden frame has been remade, it has been repainted and is currently being reupholstered. After a few last checks and tweaks, it should be ready for its first ride in time for spring.
Anne is already planning the first journey. John’s brother is going to come over from England for the annual vintage car rally in Napier in February.
