1952 Riley RMF

Description

A super example of this sporting saloon; interesting history; restored in the early 1990s and lightly used since; runs like a Swiss watch; former show-winner and one of the nicest we have seen

The RM series was the last range of cars to be developed independently by Riley before the firm was swallowed up by BMC in 1952. Originally made in Coventry, by 1949 production had moved to the MG works at Abingdon.

While the RMA and RME made do with a 1.5-litre engine, the RMB and its successor, the RMF, had the 2.5-litre 'Big-Four' with twin camshafts mounted high at the sides of the cylinder block, hemispherical combustion chambers and twin SU carbs. In RMF form the engine produced 100bhp giving the car a top speed just a whisker shy of the magic ton, driving through a four-speed manual gearbox.

All the RM models were built on separate chassis assemblies with unstressed, ash-framed steel panelwork and a fabric-covered roof, although the RMF had a bigger rear window which improved 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. In production for less than two years, just 1,050 RMFs were made before it was replaced by the Pathfinder in 1954.

First registered in July 1952, this fine RMF was originally owned by John David Malet Vaughan, 8^th Earl of Lisburne, who was also High Sheriff of Cardiganshire and Chairman of Horlicks Ltd among other honorary roles. The buff logbook shows that he kept SPA 323 at his address in Virginia Water, Surrey until 1955, other logbooks showing that it remained in the Home Counties for the next 50 years.  

Between 1990 and 1992 the car was sympathetically restored including a full interior retrim with new carpets, doorcards, brown Connolly leather seat covers etc. Presumably it was also repainted, although there are no specific invoices for this, but it definitely had many new trim parts, door, window and boot rubbers etc. The engine was also fully rebuilt by Green & Weatherly of Watford with new pistons, bearings etc, and the brakes and suspension were also rebuilt.

From 1995 – 2006 it was owned by a Riley Club member, Mr J Gutteridge of Bucks, who took it to various shows and had it regularly maintained by RM specialist John Byron of Stoke Mandeville, as shown by many invoices on file. Clearly in excellent shape when he acquired it, the car took First Prize at the Riley Club 70^th Anniversary Rally at Woburn Abbey in July 1995.

In 2006 he sold it to another Riley Club member, Mr W Ferguson MBE of Co Down, Northern Ireland, correspondence on file stating that the indicated mileage of c.26,600 was believed to be genuine. Mr Ferguson also looked after the car well, as shown by more invoices on file.

Our vendor acquired the car in 2016 and bought it back to England to join his collection of interesting classics. Used sparingly in fine weather only, we are told that it runs and drives well, 13 old MOTs showing that it has only covered some 11,500 miles since 1994, the odometer currently showing just over 30k miles.

As you can see in the photos, the car looks most attractive indeed with a lovely interior (the front footwell carpets are en route to us) and gleaming black paintwork with just a few minor bodywork imperfections here and there. It also comes with a pair of wind deflectors (stored in the boot) and retains its original and eye-catching (non-transferable) Surrey-issue number plate, SPA 323.

Starting promptly and running like a Swiss watch as we have moved it around on site, this is one of the nicest RMs we have seen and could no doubt be returned to show-winning condition with relatively little effort.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com