Riley RM Series History
The last cars Riley developed independently (1945–1955) — handsome 1½- and 2½-litre saloons, roadsters and dropheads, built before BMC took over.
Photo: “EWS211 1946 Riley RMA 1.5” by kitmasterbloke / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
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The RM series, introduced from 1945, comprised the last models developed independently by Riley before its absorption into BMC. All used four-cylinder twin-high-camshaft engines with hemispherical combustion chambers, torsion-bar independent front suspension and elegant flowing coachwork.
The 1½-litre RMA saloon (1945–1952) and the larger, faster 2½-litre RMB saloon (1946–1952) formed the core, joined by the export-focused RMC roadster (1948–1951) and the RMD drophead coupe (1949–1951). The RME (1952–1955) and RMF (1952–1953) were the final, updated 1½- and 2½-litre saloons. The 2½-litre cars could reach around 95 mph, fast for the period.
Generations
RMA · 1½-litre saloon
Photo: “EWS211 1946 Riley RMA 1.5” by kitmasterbloke / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The 1½-litre four-door saloon; about 10,504 built, with torsion-bar front suspension and roughly 75 mph performance.
1946 Photo: “EWS211 1946 Riley RMA 1.5” by kitmasterbloke / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1947 Photo: “Riley RMA (1947) (51187703890)” by Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1948 Photo: “1948 Riley RMA (34900934760)” by Hugh Llewelyn from Keynsham, UK / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1949 Photo: “1949 Riley RMA (13395822033)” by GPS 56 from New Zealand / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1951 Photo: “1951 Riley RMA URM051 @ Granville Park,Gingin” by ZidaneHartono / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1952 Photo: “1952 Riley RMA 1.5” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
RMB · 2½-litre saloon
Photo: “AEG532 1950 Riley RMB” by kitmasterbloke / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The larger, faster 2½-litre saloon — a lengthened RMA capable of about 95 mph; roughly 6,900 built.
1949 Photo: “1949 Riley RMB Saloon (23917904403)” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1950 Photo: “AEG532 1950 Riley RMB” by kitmasterbloke / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
RMC · 2½-litre roadster
Photo: “1949 Riley 2.5 RMC 3-Seater Roadster” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
An open three-seat roadster on the 2½-litre chassis aimed largely at North American export; about 507 built.
1948 Photo: “1948 Riley RMC Convertible (24746184039)” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1949 Photo: “1949 Riley 2.5 RMC 3-Seater Roadster” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1950 Photo: “Riley RMC registered March 1950 2443cc” by Charles01 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
RMD · 2½-litre drophead coupe
Photo: “Riley RMD (1950) (51135723868)” by Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
A 2½-litre four/five-seat drophead coupe; the first Riley drophead of the post-war range, about 502 built.
1950 Photo: “Riley RMD (1950) (51135723868)” by Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
RME · 1½-litre saloon (later)
Photo: “1954 Riley RME 1.5 Litre saloon at Capel Manor, Enfield, London, England” by Acabashi / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The updated 1½-litre saloon with fully hydraulic brakes and a larger rear window; about 3,446 built.
1952 Photo: “MOF859 1952 Riley 1.5 RME” by kitmasterbloke / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1953 Photo: “1953 Riley RME” by Graham Robertson / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1954 Photo: “1954 Riley RME 1.5 Litre saloon at Capel Manor, Enfield, London, England” by Acabashi / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1955 Photo: “1955 Riley RME 1.5” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
RMF · 2½-litre saloon (later)
Photo: “BFL 637 1953 Riley 2.5 -litre RMF” by kitmasterbloke / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The final 2½-litre saloon, sharing the RME's updates; about 1,050 built before the Pathfinder replaced it.
1953 Photo: “BFL 637 1953 Riley 2.5 -litre RMF” by kitmasterbloke / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Saloon
- Roadster
- Drophead coupe
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