1954 Riley RME 1.5 from Australia and New Zealand
Summary:
Love it. Want a pre-war Riley now
Faults:
Overheating.
General Comments:
I have always loved the styling of this car and dreamed of owning one. For many years I enjoyed restoring and driving classic Jaguar cars, including a 1947 3.5, a 152 XK120, E types, and saloons. Finally I sold those off and spent 10 years working on old boats and going fishing a lot.
One day I walked past a car sitting with a For Sale notice on it and it was this Riley 1.5. At first I thought I could not fit in it and that it would be too slow on modern roads. Finally I got to know the owner and the car, came to appreciate its quality and potential, and now own it. On the first long run it overheated, and so I tried flushing the cooling system, then learned about the cross-tubes in the engine and the risk they are corroded. Now I am removing the engine in order to strip it and carefully overhaul it. The bodywork and interior of this car are excellent, so I feel it is worth rebuilding the engine properly. The we can do some travelling together and spend time on car club runs. Now I am looking for a pre-war Kestrel to work with.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 25th December, 2015
3rd Nov 2019, 00:21
It's a not-a gonna happen. The 2.5 has the clunky front guards and running boards.
The RME has the trim style I like so will persist until the links are ironed out.
Nearly 30C here today so the cooling system is not coping. Came out in a 1 hour run early this morning and no problem. Just after noon now and the temp is rising - about 190C now so time to park up, listen to the radio & read a book till the gauge drops again. Owning and running an old car teaches patience.
5th Jan 2021, 06:22
Hello. A bit late for me to read, but have you still got the Riley and have you fixed the overheating problem? I have got the RME 1954 model and just starting to strip it down to clean it up and get it on the road. I am not all that fussed about keeping it original and will be fitting an alternator, a PBR vacuum assist booster, possibly alloy wheels if I can get some with the same stud spacing (maybe the Range Rover wheels may fit). I would like to hear from you if you still have the Riley bug. I am located in Ararat Victoria. Regards Peter.
15th Mar 2024, 04:21
I can't think of any alloy wheels that would look good on a Riley RM, to say nothing of the fact that the tyres will be too wide and therefore impose stresses on the suspension it was never designed for. Don't do it.
24th Sep 2017, 14:08
The "hot spot" system on these cars is, with modern petrol, totally redundant and can (should!) be removed. The kerb-appeal is tremendous, the performance lamentable. (They are too slow to get out of their own way!) Overall though a very desirable car. My advice, enjoy for a year, get shot of it and buy a 2.5 litre.