Riley Alpine, Mentone, Monaco
Chassis: | 
| Originally marketed as the Light Six Saloon, the Alpine name raised the models profile, and sales from 1931. This elegant and fast small saloon model was popular enough to be scaled down for the later Monaco models, and also transferred to the new 12/6 chassis as the Mentone. |
Riley Archives Project: Riley Alpine
Riley Archives Project: Riley Mentone
Riley Archives Project: Riley Monaco
The Alpine started life in 1930 as the basic 14/6 Light-6 Saloon. For 1931, it was renamed the Alpine, while the Tourer was renamed the Alpine Tourer. The Alpine was available as either a Steel half-panel or full Fabric body, and evolved quite a bit during it's four year lifespan. It transformed from a square boxy shape, not unlike the smaller Monaco, to a rounded body with a projecting luggage boot. Indeed, later Monacos were essentially scaled down Alpines.
It is unclear how late the Alpine body was fitted to the 14/6 chassis, although the last known 14/6's are Alpines. With the launch of the 12/6 chassis, Riley decided to fit the Alpine body as a quick and easy Saloon model, which they already knew had the potential to sell well. However, to give the impression of a new model it was named the Mentone.
The Mentone was effectively replaced by the Adelphi body when that was launched on the 12/4 in summer 1935.
