Lot Ended
Description
1953 Riley RMF
Always in light but regular
use; nicely original interior; solid bodywork; eye-catching
transferable number plate
Last and best of the RM Series, the RMF was only in
production from 1952 – 53 and featured a number of improvements over its
predecessors, most obviously a larger rear window for better visibility. The RMF
also had fully hydraulic drum brakes rather than the hydromechanical system of
the earlier cars and featured independent torsion bar front suspension and
rack-and-pinion steering which gave excellent ride and handling for the era.
Under the bonnet was Riley’s wonderful 2.5-litre
'Big-Four' with twin camshafts mounted high at the sides of the cylinder block,
hemispherical combustion chambers and twin SU carbs. Driving through a
four-speed gearbox linked to a new hypoid bevel rear axle by an open propshaft,
in RMF form the engine produced 100bhp giving the car lively acceleration and a
top speed just a whisker shy of the magic ton. No wonder the Police loved it!
Only 1,050 RMFs were made before it was replaced by the Pathfinder in 1954.
First registered in Devon in July 1953, this RMF comes
with 21 old MOTs from 1986 – 2009 showing that the car has always been in light
but regular use, clocking up some 8,000 miles in the last 25 years. The history
file is fairly sparse with just a few invoices for upkeep over the years
including a new radiator in 1990 and a reconditioned steering rack in 1996.
Our vendor acquired the car in 2008 and has done about
1,000 miles in it since, reporting that it runs and drives well. It has
certainly been starting promptly and running nicely as we have moved it around
on site with good 50psi oil pressure.
The doors open and close well with no discernible signs of
play in the frame/hinges. The interior is pleasingly original with attractively
patinated brown leather seats and decent woodwork. The bodywork and the
underside look to be very sound and the black vinyl roof covering is in good
shape. The tyres all look to be relatively new with plenty of tread and there is
a spare steering wheel in the boot. All that lets the side down is the paintwork
which would appear to have been refreshed at some point in the distant past but
is now showing signs of age.
Documentation includes a V5C, older V5 and a green logbook
from 1965 at which point the car was resident in London, later moving to Saffron
Walden, Dyfed, Solihull and then Nottingham. The icing on the cake is the
eye-catching Devon-issue number plate, OOD 121, which is transferable.
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or
email james.dennison@brightwells.com
* All charges are subject to VAT