Solved: Wendax 1136 - Autovia V-8 roadster

[Wendax]

My red car of the day.

For one point, please respond and identify this car.

[Wendax]

up

[richard cuyler]

A seriously handsome beast!

[AlexFrance]

British chassis?

[Wendax]

Yes

[D-type]

A Singer?

[Wendax]

No

[mekubb]

Riley or less known ?

[Wendax]

Not a Riley, but you are very close. And it is less known.

[mekubb]

Atalanta roadster ?

[Wendax]

Not that one

[mekubb]

Not sure what you mean by 'very close', is it Riley related ?

[Wendax]

Yes

[fyreline]

1939 Autovia 3-Litre - As I understand it, Autovia was sort of a subsidiary of the Riley firm (kind of like Mercedes-Benz & Maybach, maybe?). In any case, it appears that Autovia never made any money and didn't do Riley much good at all. I'm sure others know a lot more of the story. Not too many of these cars around.

[D-type]

When Lea-Francis was re-formed in 1937 the company employed several ex-Riley men.  So is this a Lea-Francis 12hp ?

[Wendax]

1939 Autovia 3-Litre - As I understand it, Autovia was sort of a subsidiary of the Riley firm (kind of like Mercedes-Benz & Maybach, maybe?). In any case, it appears that Autovia never made any money and didn't do Riley much good at all. I'm sure others know a lot more of the story. Not too many of these cars around.

That's the one.  Only 44 Autovia were built. It was an upmarket attempt by Riley which was stopped when Riley was taken over by Nuffield.

[fyreline]

In any case, it's a very pretty car. For some reason I thought Autovias were more luxury-oriented than sports-oriented.

[Wendax]

It's said to be the only Autovia roadster, no idea whether it has been one all of its life. Autovia only advertised saloons and limousines.