conceptcarz.com

1948 Riley 2.5 Litre

1948 Riley 2.5 Litre 1948 Riley 2.5 Litre 1948 Riley 2.5 Litre Walter Kong was a Swiss coachbuilder based in Basel who created bodies on Bentleys, Mercedes, Cadillacs, and Delahayes. In 1948 he purchased a new Riley 2.5-liter chassis to serve as the foundation to create his dream car. The overall shape is Art Deco; the body is made of aluminum using aircraft technology and includes removable roof panels - hence its name, Transformable. Silk panels are also provided (they are stored in the trunk) to be installed in place of the clear panels when desired. Kong planned to build a series and exhibited it at the 1949 Geneva Auto Show. Although it attracted much interest the price was too high with all the handmade details. The car remained with Walter Kong and he drove and enjoyed it until 1976 when it passed to its second owner. Its current owner has kept it as it was built and it is currently exactly as it was in 1949.
1948 Riley 2.5 Litre 1948 Riley 2.5 Litre 1948 Riley 2.5 Litre As a result of the British Government's 'Export or die' policy, Riley Motors designed the 100 horsepower RMC 2.5 liter open Sports three-seater. It was later simply known as the Roadster and it had been designed with Americans in mind. Of the 474 Roadsters produced, only 50 crossed the Atlantic, with 11 of those bound for Canada. Modifications crafted with American needs in mind included a larger boot, a huge 20-gallon gas tank, wrap-around bumpers, and four over-riders. The Autocar original road test commented that the car 'Sits firm and square on the road, takes corners on an even keel even when high speeds are being held.' Road tests revealed a 0-60 acceleration time of 19 seconds and a top speed of 94 MPH, just a bit shy of the 100 MPH claimed in sales literature. The Roadster was considered a marketing failure, as the car had been made to fit what was thought to be the desires of the American middle class.
The Riley Company began its humble beginnings as a motorcar and bicycle manufacturer in the late 1800s. In 1938 the Riley Company became part of the Nuffield Organization and was eventually merged into British Leyland. By 1969 British Leyland announced the end of Riley production and today the prestigious company BMW owns the Riley trademark.

The Riley RM Series was the final automobile series developed independently by the Riley Company, introduced in 1945. The RM cars were produced after WWII, and during the merger of the Riley's Nuffield Organization with Austin to form BMC. At first, the RM series were produced in Coventry, but by 1989 the production was relocated to the MG works at Abingdon. The Riley RM models were advertised as the Riley 1½ Litre and the Riley 2½ Litre.

The RM stood for R for Riley, and M for Motors, and was a truly beautiful series with graceful English design and character. The interior of the RM was similar to an elegant British gentleman's club with copious amounts of timber and leather used. The front doors of the RM were hinged off the B-pillar, which made them suicide doors. The RM front featured a bold design with a long vertical grille and a strong hood line. The headlights were large and prominently displayed from the inside of the mudguards and the front and rear mudguards that stretched over the wheels. Some models featured contrasting paintwork, with the hood, mudguards, trunk, and running board all the same color, while the hood sides and doors featured another color, all topped with a black roof.

Three types of RM vehicles were produced, the RMA which was replaced by the RME, the RMB replaced by the RMF, and the RMC and RMD which were limited-production models. The RMA was a large saloon and the RMB was even larger. The RM models were powered by the pre-war Riley-designed 1.5 L 12 hp or 16 hp 2.5 L 'Big Four' straight-4 engines with twin camshafts that were placed high at the sides of the cylinder block and hemispherical combustion chambers.

The Riley RMA was the first post-war model and a total of 10,504 models were produced from 1945 through 1952 before it was replaced by the RME. The 4-door saloon was powered via the 1.5 L engine and featured an independent suspension that used torsion bars in front. In the English tradition, the body frame was composed of wood and featured traditional styling, and had a maximum speed of 75 mph.

With a total of 6,900 models produced, the Riley RMB was the first 4-door saloon powered by the 2.5 L Straight-4 engine. Riding a 119-inch wheelbase, the RMB measured 186 inches in length, was 63.5 inches wide and had a height of 59 inches. Introduced from 1946 through 1952, the Riley RMB was an enlarged RMA model that featured twin SU carburetors that at first produced 90 hp before increasing to 100 hp in 1948. The RMB had a top speed of 95 mph and was eventually replaced by the RMF in 1952.

The Motor magazine in 1949 clocked a Riley 2.5 liter and noted a top speed of 90 mph and could achieve 0-60 mph in just 16.8 seconds. The magazine estimated a 16.3 mpg-US fuel consumption for the Riley RMB and the test car cost £1224 including taxes.

Launched in 1948 the Riley RMC roadster was introduced. A total of only 507 models were produced during its three-year production span. Only 507 of the 2-door, 3-seat convertibles were produced and powered by the 2.5 L 100 hp engine that could reach speeds up to 100 mph. The RMC was the convertible version of the RMC with a fold-flat windscreen and a large rear deck area. The RMC was intended for the U.S. export market and as such the gear change lever was relocated to the steering column on left-hand-drive models.

The Riley RMD was the final convertible to carry the Riley name. A traditional two-door drophead coupé, the RMD continued to be powered by the same 2.5 L 100 hp engine as the RMB on which it was based. Only 502 models were produced during its short production span from 1949 through 1951.

With a total of 1,050 models produced, the Riley RMF 4-door saloon was introduced in 1952. Replacing the large RMB limousine in 1952, the Riley RMF was once again powered by the 2.5 L 'Big Four' engine and also shared the mechanical updates from the RME model. After 1953 the Riley Pathfinder replaced the RMF and continued in production until 1957, and was considered to be the 'last real Riley' by diehard fans.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riley_RM
http://www.mister-cars.com/Article/RMB-And-RMC-Rileys/706/
http://www.thoroughbred-cars.com/cars/UK/Riley/RM%20Riley%20specifications.htm

By Jessica Donaldson

1948 Riley 2.5 Litre Vehicle Profiles

1948 Riley 2.5 Litre vehicle information
Transformable Saloon

Coachwork: Walter Kong

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Related Automotive News

Gooding & Company Announces Selections from the Mullin Collection for Amelia Island, Standalone Auction to Follow at the Mullin Automotive Museum in April

Gooding & Company Announces Selections from the Mullin Collection for Amelia Island, Standalone Auction to Follow at the Mullin Automotive Museum in April

Selections from the estate of late collector Peter Mullin, offered entirely without reserve, join Gooding %26 Companys Amelia Island Auctions a dedicated estate auction to take place later this year at the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California. Gooding...
Past Best of Show Winners at The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Past Best of Show Winners at The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

overview1 The 70th anniversary of the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance was celebrated with a spectacular display of previous Best of Show winners. Thirty-seven examples graced the showfield and many were still with the same owners who raised the trophy...
SEAT Set To Unveil Ateca FR And 600 Concept Car At Automobile Barcelona 2017

SEAT Set To Unveil Ateca FR And 600 Concept Car At Automobile Barcelona 2017

The new SEAT Ateca FR will make its international debut at Automobile Barcelona 2017 Home city event will also be venue of choice for a new experiment in design by SEAT, the Concept Car SEAT 600 Technology, connectivity, digitalisation and smart m...
Scion to Show Evolution of Youth-Oriented Brand in Display at 2015 New York Auto Show

Scion to Show Evolution of Youth-Oriented Brand in Display at 2015 New York Auto Show

New iM and iA Models Start New Wave of Momentum NEW YORK (March 27, 2015) – Bright lights, big city, tremendous new products. At this years New York International Auto Show, visitors will see the evolution of Scion through two new models...
Scion Scores with SEMA Entries

Scion Scores with SEMA Entries

Early Look at Targa Top FR-S, Slayer tC, Riley Hawk xB and Tuner Challenge Cars TORRANCE, Calif. (Oct. 30, 2014) – Demonstrating a range from retro to ruthless, Scion unveiled its lineup for the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)...