Riley One Point Five

[vping]

Does anyone know anything about these cars. What their rarity or worth is? I may have come across a 4 door RHD. Can they be converted into a left hand drive?
Supposedly the car has been in a warehouse for 20 plus years, has not run in awhile & has some rot in the floors.
Are there replacement parts available for the body? I know it has an MG engine in it.

 

[Eric]

They were part of the BMC badge engineering in the late 50s and 60s. The engine was a twin carb B series (similar to the MG, but 1500 cc). There was also a Wolseley version of the same body I think. No idea if there's any value to them - they weren't much loved in the day, at least not around here. I imagine you'd have to find parts in the UK, if there are any.

I'd check out magazines like Practical Classics for leads.

 

[Roger]

Double Post?

 

[vping]

I posted on Other cars, Spridgets & MG. I also posted on the MG Enthusiasts website.

 

[Steve]

This is a nice little car, peppy engine and decent handling. The Wolseley was similar, a little more luxurious, but with only one carb. Converting to left-hand drive is not impossible but would doubtless prove to be more trouble than it's worth. The car shared the same platform as the Austin A30 if I remember correctly, it's simple and straightforward. I don't think that they were officially imported to the USA, so any parts would have to come from the UK. Good news is that you should be able to source new floor pans, as they should be the same as those used on the A30.

 

[Andrew Mace]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone know anything about these cars.

[/ QUOTE ]If you contact me privately with your e-mail address, I can put you in touch with someone who knows a lot about these and keeps track of those in the US and Canada.

 

[JamesWilson]

Riley built "1.5"s from the late 40s through the mid-60s so you'd need the year too. See Practical Classics Magazine for a summary of the different models and brief information about their specifications, values, etc.

I'd recently thought about getting a Wolseley variant and they are nice little cars, but probably a little pokey for American highways. Converting it would probably be more trouble than its worth- if you can, see if the firewall has blanking plates for swapping the steering over, if not then the car wasn't designed with export in mind so the parts probably aren't readily available- unless an old MGA set up would readily fit, and that would need to be carefully checked out and will likely cost more than the car to do.

It uses the same "B" series engine as the MGA so getting engine and drivetrain parts shouldn't be too much trouble, or tweaking it for a little more power. And I believe that swapping to a larger 1.8 MGB engine is entirely feasible.

 

[Sherlock]

The Riley 1.5 was sold in North America, the Wolseley 1500 wasn't sold over here...

I'd say to go for it! Parts sourcing here in North America would be interesting but not impossible, and as Andy said there is some degree of interest in these forgotten cars here. And I wouldn't pay too much for it, they have little cash value over here, while still being collectible.

You will also find the British Saloon Car Club to be of help, a club active across North America - https://www.geocities.com/motorcity/7967

 

[vping]

Does anyone know if the differential gear can be put into a TD for better driveability?

 

[jsneddon]

Double Post on a Triple Post?

 

[Gentleman_Ed]

Spookily just working on the Riley 1.5 entry in a book I'm editing. Here's what it says:


RILEY 1.5 1957-1965

In 1957, first there was the Wolseley 1500 (described below) and then, from November, there was the Riley 1.5, both of them sharing the same body structure, basic body style, and running gear. As was the way of things at BMC, while the Wolseley was really an up-market Austin, the Riley was meant to have a more sporty character.
The development process had been tortured, but the parentage of this car was clear. Although the 1.5 (and the Wolseley 1500) had a stubby unit-construction four-door saloon body style, the platform was that of the Morris Minor 1000, as were modified versions of the front and rear suspensions, plus the rack-and-pinion steering gear.
The B-Series engine/transmission installation, however, was really de-tuned MG MGA, for the twin-SU engine produced 62bhp, and the gearbox featured a neat remote-control floor change. Trim and furnishing were rather bitty and multi-coloured, though separate front seats were standard.
Although the 1.5 did not handle with the same crispness of the Minor 1000, it was a brisk little machine, for which the top speed of 84mph was disappointing. Independent specialists soon proved that the 1.5 could be turned into an affective racing saloon car, though rallying success eluded it.
Although the 1.5 stayed in production for eight years, there was little evolution in that period. The Mk II of 1960 featured hidden bonnet and boot hinges, but few other changes, while the Mk III of 1961 had a slightly revised front-end style, but no other innovation. At no time did overdrive ever become available.
By the early 1960s the 1.5 (and the Wolseley 1500) were really forgotten cars, though down-market Austin Lancer and Morris Major versions had been introduced for domestic assembly in Australia. Many people respected the 1.5, but no-one really seemed to love it enough to preserve and improve later examples.

Body styles: saloon
Production: 39,568
Engine & transmission: 1489cc, 4cyl ohv, f/r
Power: 62bhp @ 4500rpm
Max speed (mph): 84
0-60mph (sec): 17.4
Suspension & brakes: tor ifs, leaf rear, drums f&r
Length (in)/weight (lb): 153/2060
Launch price: £864

They were sporting small saloons and raced and rallied. Most have rusted away over here. I've been to look at a few but they've been too far gone. Nice wood and leather interiors though.

 

[mikeyr]

one question I have not seen yet...Why convert to LHD ?

 

[kennypinkerton]

I was thinking the same thing... RHD just seems really cool to me. I hope to own a RHD car at least once!

 

[Nunyas]

I owned a RHD once... In Japan.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[curtis]

I would certainly go for it.They are a lot of fun.Attached is a pic of my Wolseley 1500. This has a Riley+ spec engine and I have used it a lot in historic rallyes ,here in France.
I have a great guy in England for info and parts.
Andy Bradley Tel. 00 44 208393 2194
Curtis

 

[kennypinkerton]

I watched an episode of Sportscar revolution (I think it was on that show), where a really old guy owned one, and this huge guy drove it around a track at it's limits - I figured they'd give that poor old guy a heart attack (he was riding shotgun)! He was lifting a wheel on every corner, but it seemed REALLY fast for a little car like that.

 

[vping]

The only reason I asked about conversion is my lack of knowledge of whether or not an RHD can be driven in the US. I guess it can. Here is what it looks like.

 

[kennypinkerton]

Yeah it can! I saw 4 RHD minis at the last carshow I went to. And they all had legitimate license plates on 'em... Followed one of them there!

Good lookin car. Get 'er on the road already - what ya waitin on?

 

[JamesWilson]

[ QUOTE ]
The only reason I asked about conversion is my lack of knowledge of whether or not an RHD can be driven in the US. I guess it can. Here is what it looks like.

[/ QUOTE ]

You'll find that it can- I remember seeing a small number of LBCs used back in my youth just like that.

And while its a little strange sitting on the wrong side of the car, and inconvenient at times (toll booths, drive throughs, etc.) I've never found it to be too much of a problem with a few thousand miles of driving through various parts of continental Europe- the biggest hiccup there is driving on the ferry on the left (or right) after having driven a few hundred miles to get there, and then off on the other side and immediately keep to the "wrong" side. But you won't have that problem.....

 

[vping]

Waiting on a grand is what I am waiting for. If I had the money it would be easier. I could take up a collection...