1951 Riley RM Drophead (RMD) Registration Number: NKP 547 C...

Estimate

£18,000 - £22,000

1951 Riley RM Drophead (RMD)

Registration Number: NKP 547
Chassis Number: 61D 8369
Recorded Mileage: 100,250 miles

- Original historied factory car
- Matching numbers engine

Riley became part of the Morris-MG-Wolseley Nuffield Organization in 1938. The RM was announced in 1945 and would continue to preserve the Riley character with its technically-advanced chassis and with coach-built body choices of sporting designs. Riley's successful pre-war engine design was carried over and featured hemispherical combustion chambers and twin camshafts operating valves through short pushrods. The four cylinder engines had a cubic centimeter displacement of 2443cc and were fitted with twin SU carburetors. The result was an impressive 100 horsepower and a factory advertised top speed of 100 miles per hour. The engine was coupled to a four-speed manual gearbox and the chassis was fitted with an independent torsion bar front suspension and live rear axle with semi-elliptic springs. The Riley RM-series cars, often called 'the last of the real Rileys', were among the first redesigned British cars to be introduced after World War II, the swansong of the marque before it was subsumed into the mighty British Motor Corporation. The model range was manufactured in Coventry until 1949, when production moved to the MG factory at Abingdon. The RMA/RME were large Saloons powered by 1.5-litre four-cylinder engines, while the 7-inches longer RMB/RMF models featured twin-cam 2.5-litre units. The RMC and RMD were limited edition soft-tops. While the latter was a conventional two-door Drophead Coupe, the RMC was a two-door Roadster version of the RMB.

This genuine 2.5 litre Riley RMD, one of only 502 produced, was first delivered in May 1951. A well known car, the RMD has had just six owners in all (with just just three until 1978), including long term ownership in Riley circles. This RMD has been fitted with a completely new convertible roof in the last 10 years, at a cost of c.£2,000. The car’s interior has been refurbished, with original leather seats and finishing of the wood cappings. The wiring system has been overhauled and replaced/upgraded as required, such as with the fitting of indicators.

The interior is fitted with all original instruments, which are all working (with the exception of the chronometer), the original battery box is fitted (with a new battery), the car has a stainless exhaust system and good tread to the tyres all round (including the spare). The chromework is we understand in excellent order. Faults we are aware of are missing interior lamp covers, and the near side front wing has been filled in the usual place above strut mounting. Mechanically we the car is in good order and drives very nicely.

An original and well preserved example, the RMD shows now just over 100,000 miles recorded, and is complete with an extensive history file with many invoices over the last 25 years, older tax discs, a complete run of MoT certificates back to 1979, older green logbook, and original instruction books. Finished in two-tone black/ivory with tan leather trim, and offered with a valid MoT certificate until March 2025 (with no advisories), this is a very genuine example of a desirable post-war touring Riley.