Although Riley of Coventry, whose proud advertising slogan was, ‘As Old as the Industry’, had hit financial problems in 1938, it was rescued by Lord Nuffield, added to the Nuffield Organisation’s quiver of marques, and encouraged to grow again after the Second World War. The new RM (Riley Motors) Series models of the post-war era were a remarkable tribute to that rebirth.
Riley retained the justly famous twin high-camshaft 1.5-litre and 2.5-litre four-cylinder engines as part of the new range, but used them to power a truly sleek, low and stylish family of four-seater saloons, which shared the same cabin, but different wheelbases. With torsion bar independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, the chassis was advanced and effective, and although the body style had only semi-recessed headlamps reminiscent of the 1930s, it was neverthe-less elegant and nicely proportioned, with a series of rakish lines.
The 1H-litre model, which had a top speed of 78 mph, was available first, but it was the 2H-litre model, which not only had a longer wheelbase, but 100 bhp instead of 55 bhp, which caused such a stir. Although the 1H-litre was an appealing sports saloon, it was quite expensive (£710 at first) and not outstandingly fast; the 2H-litre version, on the other hand, was a much more serious proposition. |
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Here was a car which not only had remarkably good handling, and steering so accurate that it made most other British cars of the day look sluggish, but it had a top speed of 95 mph, and was equipped in that typically British combination of wood, leather and carpet which made every owner feel special.
Although traditional Riley enthusiasts did not like to admit it, here was a car which was superior to any Riley model ever built by the original family concern. The car looked good, behaved impeccably, and it was an easy match for its competition. Later in the 1940s, final assembly was moved from Coventry to the MG factory at Abingdon, and a four-seater convertible version of the original style also appeared, along with a very limited number of three-seater Roadsters, but it was always the saloons which dominated the sales charts.
Finally, in 1953 the 2H-litre car was discontinued (it was replaced by the Nuffield-designed Pathfinder, which was not a good car), though a facelifted Riley 1H-litre continued until 1955. No fewer than 13,950 1Hs, and 8,959 2Hs, had been made.
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