Editing Riley Motor

{{Short description|British motorcar and bicycle manufacturer}}
{{About|the British car manufacturer|the American racing-car manufacturer|Riley Technologies}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name          = The Riley Cycle Company Limited (1896–1912)<br>Riley (Coventry) Limited (1912–1950)<br>Riley Motors Limited (1950–1960)
| logo          = Riley motors logo.png
| type          = 
| fate          = Acquired by [[William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield|William Morris]] in 1938<ref name="king_1989">{{cite book |title=The Motor Men: Pioneers of the British Car Industry |first=Peter |last=King |year=1989 |publisher=Quiller |isbn=1-870948-23-8}}</ref> thereafter with [[Morris Motors|Morris Motors Limited]]
| Predecessor   = 
| successor     = [[Nuffield Organization]]<ref name="king_1989"/>
| foundation    = 1896 as The Riley Cycle Company<ref name="king_1989"/>
| defunct       = 
| location      = [[Coventry]], England, UK
| industry      = [[Automobile|Automotive]]
| products      = 
| key_people    = William Riley (1851–1944)<br>William Victor Riley (1876–1958)<br>Allan Riley (c.1880– )<br>Percy Riley (1882–1941)<br>Stanley Riley (c.1889–1952)<br>Cecil Riley (c. 1895– )
| num_employees = 
| parent        = 
| subsid        = 
}}
[[File:Riley car with chauffeur, c1910.jpg|thumb|12/18 c. 1910<br>and chauffeur for [[William Beveridge]]]]
'''Riley'''<ref name=SEN group=note>Information extracted from ''Notice issued in compliance with the Regulations of the Committee of The Stock Exchange, London'' (with regard to the issue of 150,000 Preference Shares of £1 each on 17 January 1934).

:The Company was incorporated in England on 25 June 1896 under the name '''The Riley Cycle Company Limited''', changed to '''Riley (Coventry) Limited''' on 30 March 1912.

:In and around the year 1927 closer working arrangements were made between the Company and the Riley Engine Company and the Midland Motor Body Company whereby the designing and manufacturing resources of the three businesses were pooled.

:(During 1932) these two associated concerns were absorbed by the Company which became a completely self-contained manufacturing unit on modern lines.

:The Company's works at Coventry and Hendon cover a combined area of 16½ acres, in addition to which the Company owns adjoining land at Coventry of approximately 6 acres.

:About 2,200 workpeople are regularly employed.<br>Riley (Coventry) Limited. ''The Times'', Thursday, 18 January 1934; pg. 18; Issue 46655</ref>
was a British [[automobile|motorcar]] and [[bicycle]] manufacturer from 1890. Riley became part of the [[Nuffield Organization]] in 1938 and was merged into the [[British Leyland]] Motor Corporation in 1968. In July 1969 British Leyland announced the immediate end of Riley production, although 1969 was a difficult year for the [[Automotive industry in the United Kingdom|UK automotive industry]] and many cars from Riley's inventory may have been first registered in 1970.<ref name=Motor196911>{{cite magazine| first = Harold | last = Hastings| title =''Renowned since '98''|magazine=Motor| number = 3515| pages =19–22 |date = 1 November 1969}}</ref>

Today, the Riley trademark is owned by [[BMW]].

==Riley Cycle Company==
[[File:Riley1907.jpg|thumb|The 4-wheel Riley exhibited at the 1907 Birmingham Show by Riley Cycles Ltd]]
The business began as the Bonnick Cycle Company of [[Coventry]], England. In 1890 during the pedal cycle craze that swept Britain at the end of the 19th century William Riley Jr. who had interests in the textile industry purchased the business and in 1896 incorporated a company to own it named The Riley Cycle Company Limited.<ref>Riley (Coventry) Limited. ''The Times'', Thursday, 18 January 1934; pg. 18; Issue 46655</ref> Later, cycle gear maker [[Sturmey Archer]] was added to the portfolio. Riley's middle son, Percy, left school in the same year and soon began to dabble in [[automobile]]s. He built his first car at 16, in 1898, secretly, because his father did not approve. It featured the first mechanically operated inlet valve. By 1899, Percy Riley had moved from producing [[motorcycle]]s to his first prototype four-wheeled quadricycle. Little is known about Percy Riley's first motor car. It is, however, well attested that the engine featured mechanically operated cylinder valves at a time when other engines depended on the vacuum effect of the descending piston to suck the inlet valve(s) open. That was demonstrated some years later when [[Karl Benz#Toward Daimler-Benz and the first Mercedes-Benz in 1926|Benz]] developed and patented a mechanically operated inlet valve process of their own but were unable to collect royalties on their system from British companies; the courts were persuaded that the system used by British auto-makers was based on the one pioneered by Percy, which had comfortably anticipated equivalent developments in Germany.<ref name=Motor196911/> In 1900, Riley sold a single three-wheeled automobile. Meanwhile, the elder of the Riley brothers, Victor Riley, although supportive of his brother's embryonic motor-car enterprise, devoted his energies to the core bicycle business.<ref name=Motor196911/>

Riley's founder William Riley remained resolutely opposed to diverting the resources of his bicycle business into motor cars, and in 1902 three of his sons, Victor, Percy and younger brother Allan Riley pooled resources, borrowed a necessary balancing amount from their mother and in 1903 established the separate Riley Engine Company, also in Coventry.<ref name=Motor196911/> A few years later the other two Riley brothers, Stanley and Cecil, having left school joined their elder brothers in the business.<ref name=Motor196911/> At first, the Riley Engine Company simply supplied engines for Riley motorcycles and also to [[Singer (car)|Singer]], a newly emerging motorcycle manufacturer in the area,<ref name=Motor196911/> but the Riley Engine Company soon began to focus on four-wheeled automobiles. Their Vee-Twin Tourer prototype, produced in 1905, can be considered the first proper Riley car. The Riley Engine Company expanded the next year. William Riley reversed his former opposition to his sons' preference for motorised vehicles and Riley Cycle halted motorcycle production in 1907 to focus on automobiles.<ref name=Motor196911/> Bicycle production also ceased in 1911.

In 1912, the Riley Cycle Company changed its name to Riley (Coventry) Limited as William Riley focused it on becoming a wire-spoked wheel supplier for the burgeoning motor industry, the detachable wheel having been invented (and patented) by Percy and distributed to over 180 motor manufacturers, and by 1912 the father's business had also dropped automobile manufacture in order to concentrate capacity and resources on the wheels. Exploitation of this new and rapidly expanding lucrative business sector made commercial sense for William Riley, but the abandonment of his motorcycle and then of his automobile business which had been the principal customer for his sons' Riley Engine Company enforced a rethink on the engine business.<ref name=Motor196911/>

==Riley (Coventry) Limited==
[[File:Riley (Coventry) Ltd 1924.jpg|thumb|Riley (Coventry) Limited share certificate issued 17 May 1937]]
In early 1913, Percy was joined by three of his brothers (Victor, Stanley, and Allan) to focus on manufacturing entire automobiles. The works was located near Percy's Riley Engine Company. The first new model, the 17/30, was introduced at the [[London Motor Show]] that year. Soon afterwards, Stanley Riley founded yet another business, the Nero Engine Company, to produce his own 4-cylinder 10&nbsp;hp (7.5&nbsp;kW) car. Riley also began manufacturing [[aeroplane]] engines and became a key supplier in Britain's buildup for World War I.

In 1918, after the war, the Riley companies were restructured. Nero joined Riley (Coventry) as the sole producer of automobiles. Riley Motor Manufacturing under the control of Allan Riley became Midland Motor Bodies, a [[coachbuilder]] for Riley. Riley Engine Company continued under Percy as the engine supplier. At this time, Riley's blue diamond badge, designed by Harry Rush, also appeared. The motto was "As old as the industry, as modern as the hour."

Riley grew rapidly through the 1920s and 1930s. The Riley Engine Company produced 4-, 6-, and 8-cylinder engines, while Midland built more than a dozen different bodies. Riley models at this time included:
*Saloons: Adelphi, 'Continental'(Close-coupled Touring Saloon), Deauville, Falcon, Kestrel, Mentone, Merlin, Monaco, Stelvio, Victor
*Coupes: Ascot, Lincock
*Tourers: Alpine, Lynx, Gamecock
*Sports: Brooklands, Imp, MPH, Sprite
*Limousines: Edinburgh, Winchester

Introduced in 1926 in a modest but innovatively-designed [[Weymann Fabric Bodies|fabric]] bodied saloon, Percy Riley's small capacity Riley 9 engine was a high revving unit; ground-breaking and ahead of its time in many respects. It has been called the most significant engine development of the 1920s. It has hemispherical combustion chambers and inclined overhead valves, with twin camshafts set high in the cylinder block, and valves operated by short pushrods. This provided power and efficiency without the servicing complexity of an [[Overhead camshaft engine|overhead camshaft]] layout. It soon attracted the attention of tuners and builders of 'specials' for sporting purposes. One such was engineer and driver [[J.G. Parry-Thomas]], who conceived the Riley 'Brooklands' (at first called the '9' Speed Model) in his workshops at the [[Brooklands]] racing circuit in Surrey. After Parry-Thomas was killed during a land speed record attempt in 1927, his close collaborator [[Reid Railton]] stepped in to finish the job. Officially backed by Riley, the Brooklands, along with later developments and variations such as the 'Ulster' Imp, MPH, and Sprite, proved some of the most successful works and privateer racing cars of the late 1920s and early 1930s. At [[24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]] in 1934, Rileys finished 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 12th, winning the [[Rudge-Whitworth]] Cup, the Team Prize, two class awards, and the Ladies' Prize. Rileys also distinguished themselves at the Ulster TT, at Brooklands itself, and at smaller events like hill climbs, while providing a platform for the success of motorsports' first women racing drivers such as [[Kay Petre]], [[Dorothy Champney]]<ref>{{Cite ODNB |url= https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-107240 |title=Riley family (per. 1890–1969), bicycle and motor car manufacturers |year=2014 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/107240 |isbn=978-0-19-861412-8 |access-date=2020-03-11 |last=Freund |first=Paul}}</ref> and [[Joan Richmond]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nma.gov.au/collections-search/results?search=adv&ref=coll&collname=Joan+Richmond+collection |title=Collections |publisher=National Museum of Australia |access-date=30 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://collectionsearch.nma.gov.au/ce/Joan%20Richmond |work=Collection Explorer |publisher=National Museum of Australia |title=Joan Richmond |access-date=11 July 2019 |archive-date=11 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711173717/http://collectionsearch.nma.gov.au/ce/Joan%2520Richmond |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another engineer and driver, [[Freddie Dixon]], was responsible for extensive improvements to engine and chassis tuning, creating a number of 'specials' that exploited the basic Riley design still further, and contributed greatly to its success on the track.

For series production, the engine configuration was extended into a larger 12 horsepower '4', six-cylinder and even V8 versions, powering an increasingly confusing range of touring and sports cars. The soundness and longevity of the engine design is illustrated by [[Mike Hawthorn]]'s early racing success after WW2 in pre-war Rileys, in particular his father's Sprite. By about 1936, however, the business had overextended, with too many models and few common parts, and the emergence of [[SS Cars]] at Coventry was a direct challenge. Disagreements between the Riley brothers about the future direction of the enterprise grew. Victor Riley had set up a new ultra-luxury concern, [[Autovia]], to produce a V8 saloon and limousine to compete with [[Rolls-Royce Limited|Rolls-Royce]]. By contrast, Percy, however, did not favour an entry into the luxury market, and the Riley Engine Company had been renamed PR Motors to be a high-volume supplier of engines and components. The original intention of PR Motors was to produce a small car, but the outbreak of war, followed by Percy Riley's untimely death, put an end to this project. <ref>{{cite web |title=P. R. Motors - Graces Guide |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/P._R._Motors |website=www.gracesguide.co.uk}}</ref> The rest of the Riley companies later became part of [[Nuffield Organization|Nuffield]] and then [[British Motor Corporation|BMC]], but PR Motors remained independent. After the death of Percy Riley in 1941, his business began producing [[transmission (mechanics)|transmission]] components. It still exists today, producing marine and off-highway vehicle applications, as PRM Newage Limited based in Aldermans Green, Coventry. Percy's widow Norah ran his business for many years, and was Britain's businesswoman of the year in 1960.

{{Gallery
|title=Riley sports saloons and coupés
|width=120
|height=150
|align=center

|File:1931 Riley Nine Biarritz (cropped).jpg|Nine Biarritz<br>4-door saloon 1930
|File:Ol car02b.JPG|Nine Monaco<br>4-door saloon 1932
|File:Riley - GW 7008 (7995245140).jpg|Nine Gamecock<br>2/4-str sports 1932
|File:Riley 9 Lynx the view within.JPG|Nine Lynx<br>instrument panel
|File:Riley Nine Lynx 4 seat Tourer (1934).jpg|Nine Lynx<br>tourer 1934
|File:Riley Merlin 1935 (9057630159).jpg|Nine Merlin<br>4-light saloon 1935
|File:Riley Riley Nine Merlin reg jan 37 1056 cc.jpg|Nine Kestrel<br>4-light saloon 1934
|File:1934 Riley 124 Kestrel saloon.jpg|12/4 Kestrel<br>4-light saloon 1934
|File:Riley 1 1-2 (4138871610).jpg|1½-litre Kestrel<br>4-light saloon 1935
|File:Riley car, Teignmouth, 15 September 2011 (2).jpg|1½-litre Kestrel<br>6-light saloon 1938
|File:1938 Riley 164 Big Four Kestrel 6-Light saloon.jpg|16/4 2½-litre Kestrel<br>6-light saloon 1937
|File:Riley 16HP Kestrel (1938) (18562893249).jpg|16/4 2½-litre Kestrel<br>6-light saloon 1937
|File:Riley (1250380548).jpg|14/6 Lincock<br>fixed head coupé '34
|File:Riley - CPE 426 (19089840558).jpg|1½-litre Falcon<br>4-door saloon 1935

|Image:Riley 15 6 Adelphi Six Light Saloon 1935.jpg|15/6 Adelphi<br>six-light Saloon 1935
|Image:Riley 12 4 Lynx Sports Tourer 1937.jpg|12/4 Lynx<br>sports tourer 1937
|Image:Riley Continental 1937.jpg|12/4 Continental<br>sports saloon 1937
|File:Riley of 1930s or 1940s.JPG|Twelve<br>six-light saloon 1939<br>First Nuffield Model

}}
{{Gallery
|title=Riley racing and sports cars
|width=120
|height=150
|align=center
|File:1931 Riley 9 Brooklands 2 Seater Sports - fvl.jpg|Nine Brooklands<br>open 2-seater 1931
|File:1935 Riley TT Sprite replica (20390074721).jpg|1½-litre Sprite<br>TT Replica 1935
|File:1936 Riley Sprite at Bangor.jpg|1½-litre Sprite<br>2-seater sports 1936
|File:Riley MPH., Bj. 1936 (2011-09-24).JPG|Nine MPH<br>2-seater sports 1936
|File:1934RileyMPH.jpg|Vincent MPH replica

}}

==Nuffield Organization==
[[File:1938 Riley 164 Big Four Kestrel 6-Light saloon.jpg|thumb|2½-litre Kestrel 1938<br>with the new Big Four engine]]
[[File:1950 Riley 2.5L RMD AL-58-52 p5.jpg|thumb|RMD 2½-litre drophead coupé 1950]]
[[Image:Riley 056.jpg|thumb|[[Riley RMA|RMA]] 1½-litre saloon as a [[wedding]] car 1951]]
[[File:Riley Pathfinder 2443cc 1956.JPG|thumb|RMH 2½-litre [[Riley Pathfinder|Pathfinder]] 1953<br>the last real Riley with the Big Four engine 1956 example]]
By 1937 Riley began to look to other manufacturers for partnerships. A contract with [[Briggs Manufacturing Company|Briggs Motor Bodies]] of Dagenham to provide all-steel bodies for a cheaper, more mass-market saloon had already turned sour, with dozens of unsold bodies littering the factory. It had withdrawn from works racing after its most successful year, 1934, although it continued to supply engines for the [[English Racing Automobiles|ERA]], a voiturette (Formula 2) racing car based on the supercharged 6-cylinder 'White Riley', developed by ERA founder Raymond Mays in the mid-thirties. [[BMW]] of [[Munich]], Germany was interested in expanding its range into England. The Riley brothers were more interested in a larger British concern, and looked to [[Triumph Motor Company]], also of Coventry, as a natural fit. However, in February 1938 negotiations were suspended. On 24 February the directors placed Riley (Coventry) Limited and Autovia in voluntary receivership.<ref>The Future of Riley (Coventry).''The Times'', Saturday, 26 February 1938; pg. 17; Issue 47929.</ref> On 10 March the Triumph board announced merger negotiations had been dropped.<ref>Merger Negotiations Dropped. ''The Times'', Friday, 11 March 1938; pg. 21; Issue 47940.</ref>

It was announced on 9 September 1938 that [[William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield|Lord Nuffield]] had bought the assets and goodwill of Riley Motors (Coventry) Limited from the receiver, and that on completion he would transfer ownership to Morris Motors Limited "on terms which will show very considerable financial advantage to the company, resulting in further consolidation of its financial position". Mr Victor Riley then said this did not mean that the company would cease its activities.<ref>Riley Motors. Purchase by Lord Nuffield, ''The Times'', Saturday, 10 September 1938; pg. 17; Issue 48096</ref> On 30 September, Victor Riley announced that Riley (Coventry) Limited would be wound up but it would appear that the proceeds of liquidation would be insufficient to meet the amount due to debenture holders.<ref>Riley (Coventry) Winding Up. ''The Times'', Saturday, 1 October 1938; pg. 17; Issue 48114</ref><ref name=RM group=note>Riley Motors Limited, Company no. 00344156 was incorporated 8 September 1938—and changed its name in 1994 to BLMC Engineering Limited. Curiously the name Riley (Coventry) Limited continued to be used in all Nuffield group advertising until 1946 as if the original company had not been liquidated but continued to survive.<br>Riley Motors Limited was used in all advertising between 1950 and July 1960</ref> Nuffield paid [[pound sterling|£]]143,000<ref name=obt>Obituary, Mr. Victor Riley. ''The Times'', Tuesday, 11 February 1958; pg. 10; Issue 54072</ref> for the business, and formed a new company, Riley Motors Limited. However, in spite of the announced intention to be wound up, Riley (Coventry) Limited, perhaps for tax reasons, continued under the management of Victor Riley<ref>Report of the A.G.M. of Morris Motors Limited, ''The Manchester Guardian''; 9 May 1939;</ref> presumably with the necessary consents of debenture holders (part paid), creditors (nothing) and former shareholders (nothing). Nuffield passed ownership to his [[Morris Motors]] Limited for £100.<ref name=obt/> Along with other Morris Motors subsidiaries [[Wolseley Motors|Wolseley]] and [[MG cars|MG]], Riley was later promoted as a member of the [[Nuffield Organization]]. Riley Motors Limited seems to have begun trading at the end of the 1940s when Riley (Coventry) Limited disappeared.

Nuffield quickly took measures to firm up the Riley business. Autovia was discontinued, having built only 35 cars. Riley refocused on the 4-cylinder market with two engines: A 1.5-litre 12&nbsp;hp engine and the "Big Four", a 2.5-litre 16&nbsp;hp unit (The hp figures are RAC Rating, and bear no relationship to bhp or kW). Only a few bodies were made before the Second World War began in 1939, and some components were shared with Morris for economies of scale. They incorporated a number of mechanical improvements – notably a Nuffield [[Manual transmission#Synchromesh|synchromesh]] gearbox – but were essentially interim models, and had less of a Riley character. The new management responded to the concerns of the marque's loyal customers by re-introducing the Kestrel 2.5 litre Sports Saloon in updated form, but as the factory was turned over to wartime production, this was a short-lived development.

After the war, Riley installed the old engines in new models, based in concept on the 1936–38 'Continental', a fashionable 'notchback' design whose name had been changed prior to release to 'Close-Coupled Touring Saloon' owing to feared objections from Rolls-Royce. The 1.5-litre engine was installed in the [[Riley RM|RMA]], and the Big Four was installed in the [[Riley RM|RMB]]. Both engines, being derived from pre-war models, lent themselves as power units for specials and new specialist manufacturers,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://rileyrob.co.uk/specials/index.htm |title=Riley – Specials |website=rileyrob.co.uk |access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref> such as [[Donald Healey]]. The RM series, sold under the "Magnificent Motoring" slogan, became a re-affirmation of Riley values in both road behaviour and appearance. 'Torsionic' front [[independent suspension]] and steering design inspired by the [[Citroën]] ''[[Citroën Traction Avant|Traction Avant]]'' provided precise handling. Their flowing lines were particularly well-balanced, combining pre-war coachbuilt elegance with more modern features, such as headlamps faired into the front wings. The RMC, a 3-seater roadster, was an unsuccessful attempt to break into the US market. The RMD was an elegant 4/5-seater two-door drophead, of which few were made. The 1.5-litre RME and 2.5-litre RMF were later developments of the saloon versions, which continued in production into the mid-1950s.

Nuffield removed Victor Riley in 1947. In early 1949 the Coventry works were made an extension of Morris Motors' engine branch. Riley production was consolidated with [[MG (car)|MG]] at [[Abingdon-on-Thames|Abingdon]].<ref>M.G. and Riley to combine, ''The Manchester Guardian''; 22 January 1949; p.6</ref> Wolseley production was moved to Cowley. Nuffield's [[marque]]s were then organised in a similar way to those of [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]]: [[Morris Motors|Morris]] was the economy, mass-market brand, and [[Wolseley Motors|Wolseley]] the luxury marque. Aside from their small saloons, MG largely offered performance cars, especially with their open sportsters, while Riley sought to be both sporty and luxurious. With Wolseley also competing for the top position, however, the range was crowded and confused.

==British Motor Corporation==
[[File:Riley Two Point Six Saloon 1959.jpg|thumb|[[Riley Two-Point-Six|Two-Point-Six]] saloon 1959]]
[[Image:1965.riley.4slash72.arp.jpg|thumb|[[Riley 4/72|4/72]] saloon 1965]]
[[Image:riley.onepointfive.arp.750pix.jpg|thumb|[[Riley One-Point-Five|One-Point-Five]] saloon 1965]]
[[File:Riley Kestrel 1300 1275cc October 1968.JPG|thumb|[[Riley Kestrel|Kestrel]] saloon 1968]]
[[File:Riley Elf 1968 - Flickr - mick - Lumix.jpg|thumb|[[Riley Elf|Elf Mk III]] saloon 1968]]
The confusion became more acute in 1952 with the merger of Nuffield and [[Austin Motor Company|Austin]] as the [[British Motor Corporation]]. Now, Riley was positioned between MG and Wolseley and most Riley models became, like those, little more than [[badge engineering|badge-engineered]] versions of Austin / Morris designs.

However, the first all-new Riley under BMC was designated the RMH, and because of its distinctive engine and suspension design, it has been called 'the last real Riley'. This was the [[Riley Pathfinder|Pathfinder]], with Riley's familiar 2.5-litre four developed to produce 110&nbsp;bhp. (The RMG 'Wayfarer', a projected 1.5-litre version, was rejected as underpowered). The Pathfinder body was later reworked and, with a different engine and rear suspension, sold as the [[Wolseley 6/90]]. The Riley lost its distinct (though externally subtle) differences in 1958, and the 6/90 of that year was available badge engineered as a [[Riley Two-Point-Six]]. Although this was the only postwar 6-cylinder Riley, its [[BMC C-Series engine|C-Series]] engine was actually less powerful than the Riley Big Four that it replaced. This was to be the last large Riley, with the model dropped in May 1959 and Riley refocusing on the under-2-litre market segment.

Riley and Wolseley were linked in small cars as well. Launched in 1957, the [[Riley One-Point-Five]] and [[Wolseley 1500]] were based on the unused but intended replacement for the [[Morris Minor]]. They shared their exteriors, but the Riley was marketed as the more performance-oriented option, having an uprated engine, twin [[SU carburettor]]s, and a close-ratio gearbox. With its good handling, compact, sports-saloon styling and well-appointed interior, the One-Point-Five quite successfully recaptured the character of the 1930s light saloons.

At the top of the Riley range for April 1959 was the new [[Riley 4|Riley 4/Sixty-Eight]] saloon. Again, it was a badge-engineered version of other BMC models. The steering was perhaps the worst feature of the car, being Austin-derived cam and peg rather than the rack and pinion of the One-Point-Five. Overall, it could not provide the sharp and positive drive associated with previous Rileys, being based on the modest [[Austin Cambridge]] and [[Morris Oxford Farina|Morris Oxford]]. Sharing many features with the similarly upmarket [[MG Magnette]] Mark III and [[Wolseley 15/60]], it was the most luxurious of the versions, which were all comfortable and spacious, and (nominally) styled by [[Pininfarina|Farina]]. In 1961 the car was refreshed, along with its siblings, and rebadged as the [[Riley 4|4/Seventy-Two]].

1961 saw the introduction of the [[Mini#Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf (1961–69)|Riley Elf]] based on the original Mini. Again, a Wolseley model, the Hornet, was introduced simultaneously. This time, the Riley and Wolseley versions differed visually by their grilles, but were mechanically identical.

The final Riley of the BMC era was the Kestrel 1100/1300, based on the Austin/Morris 1100/1300 saloon ([[BMC ADO16]]). This also had siblings in [[Wolseley Motors|Wolseley]] and [[MG Cars|MG]] versions. After objections from Riley enthusiasts, the Kestrel name was dropped for the last facelift in 1968, the Riley 1300.

Between 1966 and 1968, a series of mergers took place in the British motor industry, ultimately creating the British Leyland Motor Corporation, whose management embarked on a programme of rationalisation, in which the Riley marque was an early casualty. The badge began to be discontinued in many export markets almost immediately.<ref name="AR69">{{cite journal |ref = AR69 |journal = Automobil Revue |title = Katalognummer 1969/Revue Automobile – Numéro catalogue 1969 |editor-last = Braunschweig |editor-first = Robert |display-editors=etal |language = de, fr |publisher = Hallwag AG |page = 461 |place = Berne |volume = 64 |date = 13 March 1969 }}</ref> A BLMC press release was reported in ''The Times'' of 9 July 1969: "British Leyland will stop making Riley cars from today.{{clarify|date=January 2024|what is the quote?}} "With less than 1 per cent of the home market, they are not viable" the company said last night. The decision will end 60 years of motoring history.{{clarify|date=January 2024|what is the quote?}} No other marques in the British Leyland stable are likely to suffer the same fate{{clarify|date=January 2024|what is the quote?}} "in the foreseeable future".{{clarify|date=January 2024|what is the quote?}} <ref>News in Brief. End of the line for Riley. ''The Times'', Wednesday, 9 July 1969; pg. 2; Issue 57607</ref> The last Riley badged car was produced in 1969, and the marque became dormant.

For many enthusiasts, the name of Riley still resonates in the 21st century. In spite of the decline of the marque under BMC and British Leyland, surviving Rileys of the period are now popular, with the Riley 'face' and badge lending a distinctive character. Three owners' clubs cater for enthusiasts: the Riley Motor Club, which was founded in 1925 and caters for all Rileys; the Riley Register, which is exclusively for Rileys built up until 1940; and the Riley RM Club, which is exclusively for the RM series, built between 1946 and 1957. Many original racing Rileys compete regularly in VSCC ([[Vintage Sports Car Club]]) events, and pre-war racing 'specials' continue to be created from tired or derelict saloons.

==Current ownership and possible revival==
After buying [[Rover Group]] in 1994, BMW planned to revive Riley. At a dinner hosted by the Association of Riley Clubs celebrating the centenary of Riley, BMW Chairman [[Bernd Pischetsrieder]], who was an enthusiast for many historical British marques, announced that the Riley name was to return. He stated that development of a new model was to begin immediately, with Rover engineering director [[Phoenix Venture Holdings|Nick Stephenson]] in charge of the project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Riley cars, Riley car history |url= https://riley-cars.co.uk/History.php |access-date=29 January 2024 |website=riley-cars.co.uk}}</ref> It was later revealed that BMW had developed a three-door concept car based on the [[Rover 75]], named the Riley Coupe.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 February 1999 |title=Coupe fuels Riley name speculation |url=https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/1999/2/5/coupe-fuels-riley-name-speculation/4588/ |access-date=20 January 2024 |website=www.fleetnews.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> The project was later cancelled after Pischetsrieder's removal in 1999, and BMW's subsequent divestment of the [[MG Rover Group]] in 2000. The rights to the Triumph and Riley [[marque]]s, along with [[Mini (marque)|Mini]], were retained by BMW.

In 2007 William Riley, who claims to be a descendant of the Riley family (although this has been disputed), formed [[MG Sports and Racing Europe]] Ltd.<ref name="ft-letter">{{cite news |url= http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8be5512a-552a-11dd-ae9c-000077b07658.html |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8be5512a-552a-11dd-ae9c-000077b07658.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Riley dynastic claim is a non-starter |last=Riley |first=VW |date=19 July 2008 |work=Financial Times |place=London |access-date=4 January 2010}}</ref> This new business acquired assets relating to the [[MG XPower SV]] [[sports car]] from [[PwC|PricewaterhouseCoopers]], the administrators of the defunct MG Rover Group, and intended to continue production of the model as the MG XPower WR.<ref name="bm_20080408">{{cite news |title=MG is back on the road |date=8 April 2008 |publisher=Midland Newspapers Limited |work=Birmingham Mail |url=http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/04/08/mg-is-back-on-the-road-97319-20735653/ |access-date=15 September 2009 |archive-date=13 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513002623/http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/04/08/mg-is-back-on-the-road-97319-20735653/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Production never began.

In September 2010, ''[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]]'' magazine reported that BMW was considering reviving the Riley brand as a variant of the redesigned MINI.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/252508/|title=Mini Countryman Coupe revealed |work=Autocar |access-date=30 July 2017}}</ref> This would most likely be a luxury version, inspired by the Elf of 1961–9, with a 'notchback' (booted) body, and the interior trimmed in wood and leather in the manner of earlier Rileys. No sources were quoted, however, and in the absence of any statement from BMW reports of the possible resurrection of Riley must be regarded as highly speculative. ''Autocar'' reiterated this information in April 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/mini-saloon-be-fifth-model-new-look-range |title=Mini saloon to be fifth model in new-look range |work=Autocar |access-date=30 July 2017}}</ref>

==List of Riley vehicles==
===Pre-World War I===
*1907–1911 Riley 9
*1907–1907 Riley 12
*1909–1914 Riley 10
*1908–1914 Riley 12/18
*1915–1916 Riley 10

===Inter-war years===
*1913–1922 [[Riley 17/30]] -Introduced at 1913 London Motor Show<ref name="TEM"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Riley Guide, History and Timeline from ClassicCars.co.uk |url=http://www.classiccars.co.uk/cars/riley/ |website=www.classiccars.co.uk |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
*1919–1924 [[Riley Eleven]] -'the first Riley'<ref name="TEM">{{cite web |title=Rob's Riley Pages |url=http://rileyrob.co.uk/history/1914-25.htm |website=rileyrob.co.uk |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
*1925–1928 [[Riley Twelve]] -Sidevalve engine<ref>{{cite web |title=Rob's Riley Pages |url=http://rileyrob.co.uk/history/1925-31.htm |website=rileyrob.co.uk |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
*1926–1937 [[Riley Nine]]
*1929–1934 [[Riley 14/6]] -Multiple body choices<ref>{{cite web |title=RILEY 14/6 |url=https://www.classicandsportscar.com/guides/classic-cars-a-to-z/riley-146 |website=www.classicandsportscar.com |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
*1933–1935 [[Riley 12/6]]
*1935–1935 [[Riley 12/4]]
*1935–1938 [[Riley 15/6]] -Available in four saloon body varieties and one tourer<ref>{{cite web |title=RILEY 15/6 |url=https://www.classicandsportscar.com/guides/classic-cars-a-to-z/riley-156 |website=www.classicandsportscar.com |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
*1935–1938 [[Riley 1½ Litre|Riley 1½-litre]]
*1936–1938 [[Riley 8/90]] V8 -Probably none built<ref>{{cite web |title=RILEY 8-90 |url=https://www.classicandsportscar.com/guides/classic-cars-a-to-z/riley-8-90 |website=www.classicandsportscar.com |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
*1937–1940 [[Riley 16]]
*1938–1938 [[Riley Victor]] -Very few made<ref>{{cite web |title=RILEY VICTOR |url=https://www.classicandsportscar.com/guides/classic-cars-a-to-z/riley-victor |website=www.classicandsportscar.com |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
*1939–1940 [[Riley 12]] Nuffield body

Notable bodies
*1927–1931 [[Riley Brooklands]] Based on the Riley Nine
*1934–1935 [[Riley Imp]] Based on the Riley Nine
*1934–1935 [[Riley MPH]] 12/6 14/6 or 15/6
*1936–1938 [[Riley Sprite]] 12/4 1½ litre

===Post-war===
*Roadster
** 1948–1951 [[Riley RMC|RMC]]
** 1949–1951 [[Riley RMD|RMD]]
*Mid-sized
** 1945–1952 [[Riley RM#Riley RMA|RMA]]
** 1952–1955 [[Riley RME|RME]]
** 1957–1965 [[Riley One-Point-Five|One-Point-Five]] ([[Wolseley 1500]])
** 1959–1961 [[Riley 4|4/Sixty-Eight]] ([[Wolseley 15/60]])
** 1961–1969 [[Riley 4|4/Seventy-Two]] ([[Wolseley 16/60]])
*Large
** 1946–1952 [[Riley RMB|RMB]]
** 1952–1953 [[Riley RMF|RMF]]
** 1953–1957 [[Riley Pathfinder|Pathfinder]]
** 1958–1959 [[Riley Two-Point-Six|Two-Point-Six]] ([[Wolseley 6/90]])
*Mini
** 1961–1969 [[Mini#Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf (1961–69)|Riley Elf]] (Mini variant)
*Compact
** 1965–1969 Riley Kestrel (variant of the [[BMC ADO16|Austin/Morris 1100/1300]])

==See also==
* [[List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]
*[[1936 Benalla Centenary Race]]

==Notes==
<references group="note"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Riley Motors}}
* Brochures (incomplete)
::[https://web.archive.org/web/20220606043103/http://www.ebay.ie/itm/RILEY-9-Car-Range-Sales-Brochure-For-1930-MONACO-Biarritz-SUNSHINE-Brooklands-/361426199590?hash=item5426ae2426:g:h8oAAOSwwbdWM8MD 1930 Riley Nine]
::
::[https://www.webcitation.org/6hsjqnE60?url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RILEY-Cars-Sales-Brochure-1937-137-GC-MERLIN-Monaco-ADELPHI-Falcon-KESTREL-Lynx-/361426199597 1937 Riley Motors]
::
::
* [http://www.svvs.org/genpics12/cca1909_Riley_12'18_%20Tourer.jpg Riley 12-18 tourer 1909]
* [http://www.rileymotorclub.org/ The Riley Motor Club]
* [https://www.rileyregister.co.uk/ The Riley Register]
* [http://www.rileyrmclub.org.uk/ The Riley RM Club]
* [http://www.the1100club.com/ The 1100 Club]
* [http://www.austinmemories.com Austin and Longbridge] All about the history of Longbridge and models produced

{{British Leyland}}
{{British Car Industry}}
{{Automotive industry in the United Kingdom}}
{{BMW}}

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[[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Coventry]]
[[Category:Defunct cycle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of England]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1890]]
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[[Category:1890 establishments in England]]
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[[Category:British Leyland]]
[[Category:BMW]]
[[Category:Luxury motor vehicle manufacturers]]
[[Category:1938 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:British companies disestablished in 1938]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1890]]
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