North West Casual Classics

This month we have chosen Denis S’s 1962 Riley, whilst commonly mistaken for a Wolseley, this is the only known surviving One-Point-Five Riley with a factory fitted sunroof and comes in an elegant Island Green and Old English White livery.  It was fully restored in Southampton in 2005 and came into its recent owner’s hands in 2019.

Against the backdrop of the mid-fifties, the new Wolseley and Riley models were welcomed as a new type of car from a domestic manufacturer.  Previously, 1.5 litre saloons had tended to be 6-seater barges with no pretensions to performance.  By contrast the new BMC twins were compact, powerful and agile, quick, but economical thanks to high gearing. They also represented extremely good value for money. The origin of both models lay in the long-running saga of devising a replacement for the Morris Minor.  The two models were differentiated by nearly 20 hp (15 kW), the Riley having twin SU carburettors giving it the greater power at 68 hp (50 kW).

The Series II was released in May 1960. The most notable external difference was the hidden boot and bonnet hinges. Interior storage was improved with the fitting of a full width parcel shelf directly beneath the fascia.

A Riley One-Point-Five was tested by the British magazine ‘The Motor’ in 1961. It was found to have a top speed of 82.4 mph (132.6 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 18.9 seconds. A fuel consumption of 29.8 miles per imperial gallon (9.5 L/100 km; 24.8 mpg‑US) was recorded. The test car cost £815 including taxes of £240.

In its day, the Riley was successfully raced and rallied and can still be seen today in historical sporting events.

Upcoming events