Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

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In the 1960s and early 1970s a number of distinguished and monied people used to stay at the Gwydyr Hotel here in Betws y Coed, one of whom was a Mr Rossi (of Martini fame) who bought a season ticket to fish the best privately owned stretches of the southern River Conwy.
Another gentleman who fished for two weeks in the September of each year used to arrive in a two tone Riley RMA in green and cream and he did so for years.

The Riley fascinated me partly because of it's fine lines and the look of a distinguished, gentleman's motor car.
Even until 1990 there was a black monotone RMA in daily use in a nearby village called Penrhyndeudraeth.
When I sold my Stag in 1989 I went on a hunting trip to seek it out but the car, in good order, was a family heirloom and not for sale.

Some months later I was given the 'phone number of a gentleman in Shrewsbury who had a 1950 RMA for sale. When I saw the car I knew if I bought it, it would never be used. It was a two tone sapphire blue and black in beautiful order, needing nothing. I do have a photo of it but I don't think it would be appropriate to post it on here as I believe the car was passed onto a family member.

My next experience of RMs was when my neighbour bought a 1951 RMB 2.5 litre and restored it to the extent that it won the 2001 RM Club concours. I was to be a passenger in it on a number of occasions but one thing I do remember was the noisy interior.
For those who are interested the body was repainted under the direction of a Mr Dave Brown from Nottinghamshire who was then (2000) the RM expert in the North of England.
The car, then registered RHN 506 now resides in Hong Kong.

I know we have Uncle Alec on here who is a renowned expert on the Riley RM but what are your opinions as compared, say, against it's direct competitor, the Rover P3?



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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[Keith D]

My brother owns a 1950 2.5 litre RM, in monotone black and it would have to be one of the most incredibly reliable cars I've known. He tows with it frequently and drives it everywhere. In Australia that means a very large mileage!
He has many cars in his collection including a Pathfinder, but as a RM man for nearly fifty years, this is his keeper! I have always wondered why they are so much cheaper to buy than other similar styled cars of that era.

Unfortunately I know nothing of the Rover to compare it with.

Keith
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1926 Chrysler 60 tourer
1932 Austin Seven RN long wheelbase box sedan
1950 Austin A40 tourer
1999 BMW Z3
Its weird being the same age as old people.
You are either part of the problem or part of the solution

[peter scott]

The 1.5 litre RM is under powered. The 2.5 litre has a good performance and handles well but is terribly noisey. (I have experience of about half a dozen examples.)

The P3 Rover is quieter but doesn't have the performance.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Rick]

Dad had a 1.5 saloon and a 2.5 Roadster in the 1960s.



Two or three years ago I went to have a look at a "barn find" RM 1.5 saloon which lives only four miles away from us. The owner has a restored example, and a non-runner that has sat in an open-fronted shed for 20-30 years or so. The front end of the body (under the shelter), and the interior, were very well preserved. Unfortunately the back end - exposed to the elements - had survived less well, with advanced rot around the rear quarters. Because of that, I declined to make an offer and made a hasty retreat.

RJ
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[Uncle Alec]

If I were to limit myself to just one RM (and leave to one side the caravanning factor) I would have a 1½. They are often accused of being underpowered, and certainly are compared to modern standards, but they are imho much the nicer of the two to drive.
A much more balanced feel, lighter steering, and not enough engine power to embarrass the phenomenal roadholding. For my ideal motor usage, which is exploring our beautiful British Isles, I never seem to be in that much of a rush, and off the trunk routes there is no finer vehicle to be in.
To answer the OP's ponderings, the P2 12 that I had was sumptuously finished, mechanically competent, but totally lacked the sporting feel on the road that the RM has.
The difference made by the torsion bar ifs and also the rack & pinion steering is a big difference, and with the aforementioned weight for the suspension to act against, just about everyone is amazed by the fun factor of RM ownership.

[Riley Blue]

I agree with Alec, the 1½ is a much nicer driving experience. For a saloon of its size, it's surprisingly sprightly through bends - when lapping the circuit at Le Mans in mine I could keep up with pre-war Bentleys; though fast on the straghts, they took the bends like a double decker bus.
OK, so the RMA/E lacked 'pull' up hills but once up to speed, it coud keep up with traffic on A and B roads easily enough; I thought the 'two n'arf', by comparison, was a bit cumbersome. My ideal car would have been a blown '54 RME but alas, when I moved to a more modern house, its garage was too short for the RM and it had to find a new home.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[emmerson]

Didn't some famous motoring scribe say that a 2.5 Riley was one litre worse than a 1.5? LJK Setright comes to mind, but my memory is not good any more!
BTW, I've never owned one, but I do like them.

[Rusty]

I have driven and worked on a few RMs over the years and love them to bits, but the Rover is something I have no knowledge of at all. I do however have a friend who bought an RM 2.5 as his first actual classic about 30 years ago now I recon, and even though he has had several other cars over the years the only one he has kept is the Riley. It has been driven all over Australia and is still being used by him and his other half on a regular basis today and he says he will never get rid of it.

[Uncle Alec]

[Riley Blue]

[Keith D]

In my posts I say 1.5 or 2.5 simply because my computer doesn't have a half on the keyboard. Certainly the RM's were known as the one and a half or two and a half!

Keith
_________________
1926 Chrysler 60 tourer
1932 Austin Seven RN long wheelbase box sedan
1950 Austin A40 tourer
1999 BMW Z3
Its weird being the same age as old people.
You are either part of the problem or part of the solution

[Riley Blue]

To type a '½', with Number Lock 'on', hold down 'Alt' and type 0189, then release 'Alt'.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

[Keith D]

1½ 2½

Well, well! We live and learn!

Thanks very much, riley451!

Keith
_________________
1926 Chrysler 60 tourer
1932 Austin Seven RN long wheelbase box sedan
1950 Austin A40 tourer
1999 BMW Z3
Its weird being the same age as old people.
You are either part of the problem or part of the solution

[Penguin45]

Or, use "character map". Don't have to remember the numbers then.

P45.
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'67 Wolseley MkI 18/85, '70 Austin MkII 1800 The Landcrab Forum.

[Rick]