Riley built two models with V8 engines. The 8/90 (named after 8 cylinders, 90 degrees) launched at the 1935 motor show was powered by a V8 that was essentially two Riley Nine engines at 90 degrees on a common crankshaft, with a capacity of 2178cc. The 8/90 failed to excite the public.
The second V8 model, the Autavia, was an altogether more ambitious project. Victor Riley wanted to build a car to rival Rolls-Royce and sent S. Gordon Marshall to ask the engineer C. M. Van Eugen to design it. The Dutchman Van Eugen worked in the Daimler Company in 1913 and went to Lea-Francis in 1923 where he was responsible for the ” Hyper” Lea-Francis with which Kaye Don won the 1928 TT. In 1930 he designed the single ohc “Ace of Spades” Lea-Francis. Van Eugen agreed to work on the Autovia, although with no contract. For this car two Riley 1½-litre engines were mounted at 90 degrees on a common crankshaft. Like the 8/90, the engine was coupled to a pre-selector gearbox bought from Armstrong Siddeley.
Aimed at the luxury market, the Autavia was introduced as a marque on its own. A new factory was set up around 1935 and production started in 1937. Riley’s upmarket ambition for Autavia included the setting up of a school for chauffeurs. Autavias were mainly sold in chassis form for outside coachbuilders to build bodies. Most of these were built by Arthur Mulliner of Northampton in three types: Sports saloon, Special saloon with extra leg room at the expense of boot space, and limousine.
The Autavia was no more successful than the 8/90. Only 44 were built before Autavia was wound up in an attempt to keep Riley afloat. The company started to look for partners and had talks with both BMW and Triumph, but nothing materialised and in February 1938 the directors placed Riley (Coventry) Limited and Autovia in voluntary receivership. It was announced on 9 September 1938 that Lord Nuffield had bought the assets and goodwill of Riley Motors (Coventry) Limited from the receiver. The Autavia marque was not resurrected.
Survivors are thought to be six roadworthy cars, three complete and restorable examples, two 2-seater specials, one rolling chassis and one possible survivor in Australia.
Image displayed with the kind permission of the Haynes Motor Museum.
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