Beschrijving
Een klassieker met potentie: Over een andere Nederlandse Riley RMA;
De Tulpenrallye wordt voor het eerst verreden in 1949 en een soortgelijke Riley RMA is dan een van de deelnemers. De eigenaar heeft de auto twee jaar daarvoor gekocht met de bedoeling hem intensief te gebruiken. Ook in andere autosportevenementen wordt de Riley ingezet, onder meer op het circuit van Zandvoort. De eerste eigenaar rijdt er circa 300.000 kilometer mee. De motor houdt het niet zo lang vol, maar bij de fabriek wordt er een nieuwe in gezet.
De auto blijft twintig jaar in het bezit van de eerste eigenaar. Midden jaren zestig verkoopt hij de Riley, maar in de jaren negentig krijgt hij de auto weer in zijn bezit. Rond 2008 is de Riley volledig gerestaureerd.
Het Engelse Riley is voor de oorlog een bekend merk van sport- en racewagens. Eind jaren dertig komt het in financiële problemen en wordt het overgenomen door de Nuffield Organisation. In 1952 gaat het merk op in de British Motor Corporation en later in British Leyland. Deze liquideert het merk in 1969.
QUOTES…
The RMA is the early incarnationof the RM series and has running boards and open rear wheel arches rather than spats to distinguish it from the later RME. It has a 1.5 litre, four cylinder petrol engine with a four speed manual gearbox and a luxurious interior.
Buying one of these saloons cheaply is an expensive mistake as the cost of restoration outweighs the value of even the best cars. The RM series was the last independently developed Riley before the company was combined into BMC in 1952. It is a charming, unhurried saloon that was rapidly falling out of favour with buyers. In spite of the distinctive fabric roof, the 1.5-litre RMA weighed 2,688lb and could barely pull a sailor off your sister. Roadholding was good, though, and so was the ride.
Why you want one: Lots of space; charming interior; great for motoring picnics.
You might not know: Unlike the other Nuffield-owned company, Morris, Riley designers had been busy in the war years and while the RMA’s engine was a pre-war design, its chassis and body were all new.
Owners’ Club:
Riley RM Club 01352 700427 www.rileyrmclub.org.uk
There were three types of RM vehicles produced. The RMA was a large saloon, and was replaced by the RME. The RMB was a longer car to carry the larger engine and was replaced by the RMF. The RMC and RMD were limited-production cars, an open 2 or 3-seater and a 4-seater cabriolet. All of the RM vehicles featured the pre-war Riley race developed 1.5 L (1496 cc) 12 hp (RAC Rating) or the successful 1937 new 16 hp (RAC Rating) 2.5 L “Big Four” straight-4 engines with hemispherical combustion chambers and twin camshafts mounted high at the sides of the cylinder block.
The RMA was the first post-war Riley. It was announced in August 1945 with the news it would become available in the autumn.[3] It used the 1.5 L engine and was equipped with hydro-mechanical brakes and an independent suspension using torsion bars in front. The body frame (not to be confused with the chassis) was made of wood in the English tradition, and the car featured traditional styling. The car was capable of reaching 75 mph (121 km/h). The RMA was produced from 1945 until 1952 when it was replaced by the RME.
