Overview

Throughout the 1920's and 30's one Britains best loved sporting marques was Riley. Riley built a range of sportscars and sporting saloon models which were often lightweight and powerful. The company enjoyed success in motorsport and had excellent promotional coverage which built-up an image of refined motorcars aimed at professional types.

The company had originally started in 1898 and by 1938 had been acquired by the Nuffield organisation. Despite being part of Nuffield (Morris, MG and Wolseley) Riley managed to retain its identity and engineering "quirks" right-up until the BMC merger in 1952.

Very soon after the BMC merger Riley began to loose its way within the organisation and so began the "badge-engineering" process of new cars such as the Elf and Kestrel. By 1969 BMC had decided to drop the Riley name as its image had become old-fashioned and had become to close to the MG branded cars.

Models produced by Riley
PictureModelProduced
1.5
1.5 1957-1965
1.5 litre RMA
1.5 litre RMA 1945-1952
1.5 litre RME
1.5 litre RME 1952-1955
  1.5-Litre 1935-1938
12 HP
12 HP 1939-1940
12/6
12/6 1933-1935
14/6
14/6 1929-1934
15/6
15/6 1935-1938
16 HP
16 HP 1939-1940
2.5 litre RMB
2.5 litre RMB 1946-1952
2.5 litre RMB
2.5 litre RMB 1948-1951
2.5 litre RMC
2.5 litre RMC 1948-1951
2.5 Litre RMD
2.5 Litre RMD 1949-1951
2.5 litre RMF
2.5 litre RMF 1952-1953
2.6
2.6 1958-1959
4/68
4/68 1959-1961
4/72
4/72 1961-1969
8-90
8-90 1936-1938
Big Four
Big Four 1937-1938
Brooklands
Brooklands 1929-1932
Elf
Elf 1961-1969
Imp
Imp 1934-1935
Kestrel
Kestrel 1965-1969
MPH
MPH 1934-1935
Nine
Nine 1926-1938
  Nine/12-40 1927-1931
Pathfinder
Pathfinder 1953-1957
Sprite
Sprite 1936-1938
Victor
Victor 1938-1938
  ?-?
Related Contacts
Related Links

Suggest a link relating to Riley