Riley Model History

United Kingdom · founded 1913

Coventry sporting marque (1913–1969) — Percy Riley's advanced high-camshaft engines, the celebrated Riley Nine, then a badge absorbed by Nuffield, BMC and British Leyland.

Models

Nine

Riley's landmark small car (1926–1938) — Percy Riley's hemi-head high-camshaft engine in saloons, tourers and the racing Brooklands.

Saloon · 1926–1938
MPH

A rare, low two-seat sports car (1934–1935) with a six-cylinder engine and flowing pre-war competition styling.

Sports car · 1934–1935
Sprite

A 1½-litre four-cylinder sports two-seater (1935–1938) with a streamlined cowl and optional pre-selector gearbox — the successor to the MPH and Imp.

Sports car · 1935–1938
12/4

Riley's 1½-litre four-cylinder mid-1930s car — saloons and tourers whose engine and chassis underpinned the post-war 1½-litre RM cars.

Saloon · 1934–1938
RM Series

The last cars Riley developed independently (1945–1955) — handsome 1½- and 2½-litre saloons, roadsters and dropheads, built before BMC took over.

Saloon · 1945–1955
Pathfinder

A 2½-litre saloon (1953–1957) — the last Riley to use the company's own big four-cylinder engine, in a modern BMC-era body.

Saloon · 1953–1957
One-Point-Five

A compact 1½-litre saloon (1957–1965) — a genuinely sporting small Riley with twin SU carburettors, sharing its shell with the Wolseley 1500.

Saloon · 1957–1965
4/Sixty-Eight & 4/Seventy-Two

Pinin Farina-styled BMC 'Farina' saloons in Riley trim (1959–1969) — the 4/Sixty-Eight and its updated 4/Seventy-Two successor.

Saloon · 1959–1969
Elf

A luxury Mini (1961–1969) — a Riley-badged Mini with a traditional grille, longer booted tail and upgraded trim, twin to the Wolseley Hornet.

Economy car · 1961–1969
Kestrel

A Riley-trimmed BMC 1100/1300 (1965–1969) — twin-carb saloon with Riley grille and whiskers, renamed simply the Riley 1300 from 1968.

Saloon · 1965–1969

Other makes