Autovia

Autovia Cars Ltd was a British car manufacturer based in Coventry, established as a subsidiary of Riley in the 1930s. The company was created with the ambition of producing a luxury automobile positioned in a higher price bracket than any existing Riley model, aiming to compete with the era's most prestigious marques.

The Autovia was built around a development of Riley's V8 engine, enlarged to 2,849cc and producing 90 brake horsepower, mounted in a long chassis with underslung worm drive. Most cars were fitted with Armstrong-Siddeley four-speed pre-selector gearboxes, though later examples received all-synchromesh four-speed units instead. A dedicated factory was acquired for production, and the company's directors included Victor Riley and designer Charles Van Eugen, who had previously worked at Lea-Francis.

In an apparent effort to emulate Rolls-Royce, Autovia even operated a school for chauffeurs. Two body styles were offered: a four-light sports saloon and a six-light limousine, both largely built by coachbuilder Arthur Mulliner, although at least one example was bodied by Windover. Priced at £975 for the saloon and £995 for the limousine, the Autovia was considered overpriced for its market segment, which likely limited its commercial prospects regardless of external circumstances.

Production came to an end when Riley entered receivership in February 1938, prior to its takeover by Nuffield. Only about 35 examples of the Autovia were ever built. Despite its small production numbers, the marque has retained enough interest among enthusiasts to support its own dedicated owners' club, separate from those dedicated to Riley.