Rare Riley 4/72 donated to Great British Car Journey In Ambergate
A rare 1962 Riley 4/72 has been donated to Great British Car Journey.
Only 25,000 of the rarest variant of the Pininfarina-bodied cars were produced by BMC for over a decade from 1959. Today, only 100 Riley 4/72s survive.
The classic two-tone car was acquired in 2002 by former mechanic and British Made Car Club member John Jones MBE from Erith.
Prior to John’s ownership, the Riley 4/72 had had four owners and more than 70,000 miles on the clock and continued to be regularly driven by John until 2020.
Richard Usher founder of Great British Car Journey described the car which is in excellent condition as ‘a huge credit to John’. It is now on display at the Derbyshire classic car visitor attraction alongside more than 130 classic British cars dating from 1902 to present day.
John sadly died in 2020 however it was his wish that the Riley, and also a 1964 Austin A60 Cambridge Saloon, should be appreciated in a museum and were donated to the Derbyshire-based classic car visitor attraction by his daughters.
Both cars were used regularly as family transport whilst in John’s ownership and each has well over 100,000 miles on the clock and are in full working order.
Describing the Cambridge Saloon back in 2019, John said: “The car is quite heavy, so performance is not that great by modern standards. However, the ‘old girl’ has lapped the Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit on two separate occasions subsequent to completion of the Norwich Union Classic Car Run. She has also negotiated the test hill at Brooklands on many occasions with the full load of school children and ‘Miss’ on board!”
Richard added: “We are immensely grateful to John’s daughters Christine and Mary-Anne for choosing us to be the custodian of two such fine cars. They have both been excellently maintained by John and we are very proud to have them as part of the Great British Car Journey collection where they will be enjoyed for many more years to come.”
Book tickets to see the Riley 4/72 and more than 130 classic British cars that chart 100 years of motoring history in the UK at www.greatbritishcarjourney.com.
More News From Amber Valley Info
| Appeal for information launched after man is assaulted with hammer in Heanor Police are appealing for information after a man was assaulted with a hammer in Heanor. read more | |
| Appointment of new Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive for Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service Councillor Mark Cliff, the Chair of Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Authority, has confirmed that read more | |
| The dazzling Darley Park Concert returns this summer The Darley Park Concert will return in 2026, marking the grand finale of The Darley Park Weekender. This summer tradition invite read more | |
| DLRAA Receives Donation From Ripley Tuesday Club 2026 On Tuesday 20th January 2026 Ripley Tuesday Club donated £292.72 for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulan read more | |
| Holocaust Memorial Avenue extended with new tree planting at Alfreton Park The Holocaust Memorial Avenue at Alfreton Welfare Recreation Ground has been extended with new tree planti read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Stallholder Bookings Now Open For The Tansley Big Day Out We're excited to announce that Tansley's Big Day Out 2026 will take place on 6th & 7th June 2026! read more | |
| Christmas and New Year bin collection dates Over the festive season, bin collections will operate on revised schedules. Some collections may take place up to two days earlier than u read more | |
| Launch Of WOMBLE MANIA! At the Heights of Abraham, Opened by Marcus Robertson, Son of Wombles author, Elisabeth Beresford, officially launched WOMBLE MANIA! at the Heights of Abraha read more | |
| Belper School and Sixth Form Centre Closed Today Due to a significant water leak, resulting in the water being turned off at school, we unfortunately have to close the school today. read more | |
| When you need to call 999 but can't talk When you need to call 999 but can't talk - the ‘silent solution’ can help. Press 55 on your mobile when prompted, to confirm you are in read more | |
