Riley - Riley RM
The Riley RM was, unlike many of the other car brands, a newly designed car built for the post war era. The RM was available from 1946 with both 1.5 litre and 2.5 litre engines. These four cylinder engines had the typical Riley high camshaft overhead valve design allowing for a hemispherical combustion chamber. The 2 1/2 litre Riley RMB saloon was a genuine 100mph car, a fact that did not go unnoticed with Donald Healey would use this Riley engine in at least six of his Healey creations post war. There were various Riley RM prefixes which we can go through as follows:
The Riley RMA was the 1.5 litre saloon built in 1945 and available from 1946 until phased out in 1952 when it was changed to a 4 door saloon called the RME. The RME was built for a few more years to 1955, but due to its extra weight the Riley RME was fitted with a lowered rear axle ratio to improve the acceleration, with the RME having hydraulic actuation to all four wheels. The RME bodywork also had a much larger rear window.
The Riley RMB was the saloon with the 2443cc engine which was built on a longer wheelbase and used the engine from the pre-war "Big 4" that was now fitted with twin carburettors and other minor changes to increase the power output from 82bhp to 90bhp, and finally 100bhp. The Riley RMB was in production until 1952 when it became the RMF with various improvements. The 2.5 litre Roadster, the bulk of which were left hand drive for the UK's export drive, were called the RMC. This Roadster Riley RMC model was built between 1948 and 1950.
Tyre sizes for Riley RM Series: The 1.5 litre RM cars (RMA and RME) originally had 5.75x16 tyres. The RM 2.5 litre cars (RMB, RMC and RMF) had 6.00x16 tyres fitted. We would suggest using the radial equivalent tyre size 185R16, and Blockley produce an excellent 185VR16 tyre that will transform the handling, guaranteed. See full details of this 185VR16 tyre at the link below. We can also supply a superb cross ply tyre (550L16 made to L section dimensions) at an advantageous price for those that want to stay with a good quality cross ply tyre, but a period correct looking cross ply tyre made by us that handles superbly.
