Anybody know about Riley...

[Muddle238]

Evening,

Been looking at Riley RM's for a while now, from people I've spoken to in casual about them, they all say they're lovely cars. Has anybody got any experience of owning one? Any years to avoid, things to check in particular, for example the ash frame and such?

Also would people recommend looking for a 1500 or 2500? Having a classic that can cruise at 55/60mph would be desirable, my current classic can only manage 35mph!

Look forward to hearing people opinions/experiences with these cars.

Cheers

[Riley Blue]

I had a '54 RME for several years, the later 1½ litre model with rear wheel spats. Though not particularly nippy it handled very well and gave a comfortable ride. Once up to speed it would happily cruise at 50-55. The 2½ litre, especially the RMF, is faster (said to be capable of a 'ton') but handling isn't as good due to the extra weight up front. It's also longer so check your garage, even my RME was too long for my current one.

I can't really give you a 'buyer's guide' as mine had been well looked after and needed little doing when I bought it but there is a very good owner's club for advice and spares. Prices have firmed up in recent years, when I bought mine in 1999, £5K would get you an excellent example, you can pay up to twice that now, even for a RME (considered by many to be the least desirable version). Roadsters and Dropheads have shot up in price recently.

[dartissimus]

I bought a 1951 RMB 2.5 litre just over two years ago and this is what I know so far.

Don't buy a restoration case unless you want to do the work yourself, it's never going to be an economic proposition. Beware of the woodwork, especially the A pillar bottoms

They're a nice place to be, look great and have trafficators (big plus) and ride reasonably well. Neither engine is fast, the 2.5 is ok but the 1.5 is slow. The early cars (like mine) had rod brakes on the rear, which can be challenging.

The suspension is surprisingly modern, rack and pinion steering, torsion bar front suspension.
Rileys were noted for their engineering and that shows through everywhere

My car car had been stood for quite a time and needed new brakes, bushes and bearings underneath and general fettling, I'm gradually acquiring the confidence to go further afield. My ambition is the 220 miles from Yorkshire to see the in laws in Hampshire

The cars are best described as prewar looks and post war engineering, the design whilst being earlier than my Dart is a lot more sophisticated.

Parts are readily available from the RM owners club and not expensive.

And don't they look great

[Cylon2007]

I have never owned on myself but back in the day my Dad had a 1 1/2 litre Riley RMB that took us everwhere on hols, Lovely car, not fast but as said above holds cruising speed well once up there. Also easy to work on (no idea what parts availability is like today.

If I was looking for a classic one would definitely be in my search.

[Riley Blue]

I'm not sure I would call a RM's trafficators a 'plus'. They're on the C pillars and all but invisible from the front however it is possible to convert the side lights to flashers. The engine, incidentally, is of pre-war origin, either the 12/4 or Big Four.

[dartissimus]

Riley Blue said:

I'm not sure I would call a RM's trafficators a 'plus'. They're on the C pillars and all but invisible from the front however it is possible to convert the side lights to flashers. The engine, incidentally, is of pre-war origin, either the 12/4 or Big Four.

I've led bulbs in the trafficators which flash, and also horrible plastic led indicators front and rear, I'm thinking of replacing those with a pair of Lucas chrome motorcycle indicators that could stand up from behind the rear bumpers.

The other fun bit is starting, turn on the ignition, retard the timing, pull out the choke, turn up the tickover and then press the starter, it took me a week to remember which knob does what.

There's a great feeling of being hard at work at the controls.

[Dogwatch]

dartissimus said:

I've led bulbs in the trafficators which flash, and also horrible plastic led indicators front and rear, I'm thinking of replacing those with a pair of Lucas chrome motorcycle indicators that could stand up from behind the rear bumpers.
.

Back in the day when trafficators were becoming rare people got used to expecting a flashing signal at the front or rear of a vehicle and simply didn't look for a trafficator signal. They could be the cause of much grief in today's traffic (and standard of driving) unless supplemented by front and rear flashers.

[dartissimus]

This is not an Audi, indicators may be used

[Riley Blue]

An alternative solution at the front is to wire up the spot lights as indicators using a chromed bulb that flashes amber. I had a couple of Harley Davidson bullet indicators fitted to the bumper over riders at the rear.

[Escort3500]

They’re lovely old things. An old boy in our village has a black one. It’s a bit tired but has a marvellous patina and just oozes character. The only things that grate are the horrible Moggy 1000 back lights he’s fitted.

[Riley Blue]

Escort3500 said:

They’re lovely old things. An old boy in our village has a black one. It’s a bit tired but has a marvellous patina and just oozes character. The only things that grate are the horrible Moggy 1000 back lights he’s fitted.

Early in my ownership I attended a RM rally and when talking with a group of owners said, "I've just seen one with those nasty Morris 1000 rear lights on."

"Yes, that's mine." said the chap next to me.

It was the last such event I went to.

[Escort3500]

Riley Blue said:

Escort3500 said:

They’re lovely old things. An old boy in our village has a black one. It’s a bit tired but has a marvellous patina and just oozes character. The only things that grate are the horrible Moggy 1000 back lights he’s fitted.

Early in my ownership I attended a RM rally and when talking with a group of owners said, "I've just seen one with those nasty Morris 1000 rear lights on."

"Yes, that's mine." said the chap next to me.

It was the last such event I went to.

[dartissimus]

Those are the horrid rear lights, I m thinking of swapping them for these, sticking up above the bumper

[Riley Blue]

dartissimus said:

Those are the horrid rear lights, I m thinking of swapping them for these, sticking up above the bumper

Have a look here, plenty of choice: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_osacat=180034&a...

(Nice RM)

[Peter3442]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-bu...

This gent seems to like them better than his Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

[Muddle238]

Thanks for the responses. My other classic is woefully slow compared to modern traffic, it's only ever much use close to home. It sounds as if a 2500 would be better suited for longer distances which is what we'd like it for, so might be the one to look for.

How do people find servicing and tinkering? From what I can see, the bonnet opening appears to limit access somewhat. Also am I right in thinking only early cars had opening windscreens?

[Escort3500]

Peter3442 said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-bu...

This gent seems to like them better than his Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

Fabulous collection

[Riley Blue]

Muddle238 said:

Thanks for the responses. My other classic is woefully slow compared to modern traffic, it's only ever much use close to home. It sounds as if a 2500 would be better suited for longer distances which is what we'd like it for, so might be the one to look for.

How do people find servicing and tinkering? From what I can see, the bonnet opening appears to limit access somewhat. Also am I right in thinking only early cars had opening windscreens?

I never found my 1½ litre 'slow', certainly not to the point of woeful. You soon learn to carry speed through bends to make the most of what power it has. I took it to the Le Mans Classic and did a few laps of the circuit also went around the UK including to Scotland from Somerset; you get used to how it goes and drive accordingly - i loved it.

Servicing isn't a problem, all very straight forward (factory manuals are available) and accessibility isn't bad for regular maintenance. Later cars had vents instead of opening windscreens, also a squarer dashboard rather than the curved one of earlier cars.

Your best bet is to go to a RM Club meeting, get to know some owners and drive a few cars.

[TR4man]

Muddle238 said:

How do people find servicing and tinkering? From what I can see, the bonnet opening appears to limit access somewhat. Also am I right in thinking only early cars had opening windscreens?

My early 1947 RMA had an opening windscreen although I'm not sure if the later models did. It also had external locks on the bonnet which you had to use a T key to open.

Access to the engine was better than you might think with both sides being able to be opened at the same time.

Don't be dissuaded from the 1.5. I seem to remember it being a quite sprightly and good handling car which I used to frequently drive up to North Yorkshire from Cheshire when it had no difficulty in doing motorway speeds.

I can't tell you how many people used to complement me on the car. I was only in my early 30s in the early 1990s when I had it and most people seemed rather surprised that a comparatively young person owned it.

I have many fond memories of the lovely old thing.

Here is the window opened to it's extreme



Carrying out maintenance showing one half of the bonnet opened (forgive my fashion sense)

Edited by TR4man on Tuesday 30th April 08:17

[Riley Blue]

BTW - for those who don't know, the easiest way to tell a 1½ litre from a 2½ litre is by the grille badge. A 1½ has a dark blue badge, a 2½'s is pale blue.