lushd
Contributing Member
Posts: 31
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Riley
Jul 12, 2006 13:30:01 GMT -5
Post by lushd on Jul 12, 2006 13:30:01 GMT -5
A Riley seen at Bletchley Park Museum. Camera: Leica IIIa, Elmar 5 cm, Foma 100 souped in Rodinal
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Riley
Jul 12, 2006 13:59:01 GMT -5
Post by vintageslrs on Jul 12, 2006 13:59:01 GMT -5
Donald
very nice photo of the Riley!
thanks for sharing it with us!
Bob
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Riley
Jul 12, 2006 14:07:41 GMT -5
Post by kamera on Jul 12, 2006 14:07:41 GMT -5
Never heard of the car, but I like its looks. What is the vintage?? And, ah...it has those 'suicide' front doors.
Ron Head Kalamazoo, MI
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lushd
Contributing Member
Posts: 31
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Riley
Jul 12, 2006 15:15:08 GMT -5
Post by lushd on Jul 12, 2006 15:15:08 GMT -5
Thanks! I am not so good on car history so maybe another member can assist? I think this model was made in the 1950s and I know it was British.
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PeterW
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Posts: 3,804
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Riley
Jul 12, 2006 15:21:38 GMT -5
Post by PeterW on Jul 12, 2006 15:21:38 GMT -5
Hi Ron,
Unless my memory's going that's a two and a half litre Riley RMF from 1952-1953, as near as I can see, complete with the almost obligatory at the time badge bar and spotlights. Nice cars.
And ah yes, British European Airways - BEA, or Better Eat Afterwards.
Peter W
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Riley
Jul 12, 2006 16:43:03 GMT -5
Post by kiev4a on Jul 12, 2006 16:43:03 GMT -5
According to the info I'm found Riley started out as a motorcycle manufacturer (1913). They seemed to make mostly sedans except for a couple of roadsters at the end of the 1940s. At the end of the 1950s and early '60s Riley ended up as part of the group making Morris, Austin, (Roots) and most of its models were just rebadged models of those cars. Looks like the brand folded in the mid 1960s. That sedan looks like it might have been designed by the same designer as the Jaguar sedans of the period.
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Riley
Jul 12, 2006 17:50:57 GMT -5
Post by paulatukcamera on Jul 12, 2006 17:50:57 GMT -5
The Riley Saloon was made in two variants - the RMA 1.5 litre and the RMB 2.5 litre also two convertible versions. Nice pictures of the drophead here: www.barringtonslimousines.co.uk/riley-hire.htmThey also have the later saloon varient with more streamlined wings. Click on "more photos" for an excellent gallery. The car in the picture could be the smaller engined version, Peter in that the bonnet looks on the "short" side - the only visible difference - other than the radiator badge. They look beautiful, but two owners warned me off ever tackling a restoration. Evidently the fabric roof is stretched over a wire mesh frame which, in turn, rests on a wood framed coachbuilt body. The consequence of water ingress is a car that often looks OK, needs a very expensive rebuild because the roof hides a multitude of sins until it is too late. The Alvis Graber saloon and convertible are also a similar restoration nightmare, because all the wings are double skinned and corrode happily away with nothing showing on the outside! Restoration is very expensive because you have to cut away the outer shell to reveal the devastation within! Paul
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PeterW
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Riley
Jul 12, 2006 19:07:31 GMT -5
Post by PeterW on Jul 12, 2006 19:07:31 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply Paul. I was under the impression that the two and a half was called the RMF after 1951 or 1952 when the main outward difference was the full width bumper. I think it went out of production about a year or so later when the Pathfinder appeared. I also thought the bonnet looked long enough for a two and a half, but memory dims. I've also heard horror stories about rotted woodwork under the roof covering/perforated mesh and under the scuttle panel at the base of the windscreens. Peter W
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PeterW
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Riley
Jul 12, 2006 19:20:28 GMT -5
Post by PeterW on Jul 12, 2006 19:20:28 GMT -5
Hi Wayne,
Yes, sadly Riley did become part of the Austin/Morris group and lost its identity. The Rootes Group (Humber, Hillman, Sunbeam Talbot etc), though, was never part of Austin/Morris. It was bought by Chrysler and then by Peugeot. I have the reprint rights from Peugeot for all Rootes Group service manuals and technical literature.
Peter W.
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Riley
Jul 12, 2006 21:59:03 GMT -5
Post by kiev4a on Jul 12, 2006 21:59:03 GMT -5
Yep, Peter, you are right on Roots. I was very disgusted when Chrysler bought Roots because Roots made the Sunbeam Tiger -- an Alpine with a Ford 260 cubic-inch V-8 under the hood -- a "poor man's Cobra." It was a ROCKET! When Chrysler bought Roots it didn't like the idea of having a car with a Ford engine and the Tiger quickly disappeared. Today they fetch near six figues fully restored. You could buy one in 1966 for about $5,000 -- a lot of money then but not as much as an XKE. In another year I might have been able to afford one!
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Riley
Jul 13, 2006 0:49:48 GMT -5
Post by paulatukcamera on Jul 13, 2006 0:49:48 GMT -5
This is certainly the earlier RMA/RMB model, though which one is a moot point. I think the RME succeeded the RMA and the RMF, the RMB. The later car had those now very period rear wheel spats. There is a picture of a RME in the link I posted (just under the convertible photos)
They were very pretty cars and, rather like the Rover range of the period, have remained very undervalued. by collectors. They were, in my opinion, a "cut above" the rest of the BMC range of the period. I never liked the look of the later Pathfinder (known, I gather by owners as the ditchfinder!) as it was not only a rather uninspired design, but identical to the period Wolseleys.
I remain an unrequited Alvis man, bereft of my Speed 20 and lacking the funds to buy another, I find myself drifting towards the products of the Rootes Group. As an aside there is still a garage in Llandrindod Wells that bears that "Humber - Hillman - Sunbeam Talbot - Commer - Karrier" logo still proudly emblazoned on its front. Another garage (now business centre) says "Aircraft for sale" dating to the early years of the century.
Wouldn't happen now - "I think after that test drive in the Chrysler, I'd like a quick flight in the Boeing!"
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Riley
Jul 13, 2006 6:24:20 GMT -5
Post by John Parry on Jul 13, 2006 6:24:20 GMT -5
There was a sad degradation at that time Wayne - the build quality of the Hillman Minx was superb, that of the Hillman Avenger was abysmal. My neighbour tried to sell an Avenger - he paid more to advertise it than he eventually got for the car!
Regards - John
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Riley
Jul 21, 2006 16:59:50 GMT -5
Post by Rachel on Jul 21, 2006 16:59:50 GMT -5
John, I had a Hilman Avenger Estate built when the company was owned by Chrysler. Oddly it had French electrics made by Circe. Actually not a bad car with an enormous load space with the rear seats folded down but I got rid of it when signs of rust appeared in the front wings.
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