Winning bid
£10,000

1948 Riley RMB 2.5 Litre Saloon

Vendor supplied images

Highlights

  • Older restoration in well preserved condition 
  • Beautiful silver metallic over two-tone leather interior and Bedford Cord
  • £9,000 engine rebuild with few miles since 
  • Recent service and brake overhaul 
  • The perfect friends and family transport for Goodwood 

The Appeal 

Riley saved the best ‘til last. The RM family was the firm’s last independently built car, a sleek and beautiful sporting saloon that spanned the immediate pre and post war years. 
The RM came out post war using new design body and chassis but utilising the excellent pre war ‘Big Four’ 2.5litre engine gave the long wheelbase RMB the performance to match the looks. With exquisite attention to detail across the interior and exterior surfaces, these cars are both a joy to drive and be driven in. Perfect for the Goodwood Revival in fact. 
This gorgeous ‘48 RMB was restored in the late 90s in fetching grey metallic with a two-tone leather interior. The engine was rebuilt in 2015 at a cost of £9,000 and it has covered few miles since. The result is a stand-out car that would grace any show or the Goodwood Members Parking area. 
A recent service and brake overhaul means the car arrives with the buyer ready to enjoy. And, looking at it, that seems guaranteed. 

The History and Paperwork

  • First registered 1948 
  • ‘58’ chassis prefix confirms this car was built in 1948 
  • DVLA records first UK registration as 1st December 1998 which is likely a typo or error 
  • Four registered keepers
  • Current keeper since July 2015 
  • Previously black which was changed and recorded with the DVLA in early 2000 
  • This restoration included chassis-off renovation covering body and mechanicals 
  • Engine rebuilt in 2015 by Formhalls Vintage & Racing at cost of £9,000
  • Photographic and invoice record of engine rebuild in history file 
  • Known to the RM Register 
  • Details of previous owners provided by Register and in history file 
  • Recently removed from storage and recommissioned 
  • This work included oil and filter change and brake overhaul 
  • DVLA records show previous MOT expired July 2016 with no advisories 
  • 11,827 miles showing on this test 

The Condition

  • Repainted in grey metallic in late 1990s as part of body-off restoration 
  • Paintwork is described by vendor as ‘Ferrari silver’ and is very fetching 
  • Paint remains in good order with light marks to note in photographs 
  • Vinyl ‘Everflex’-style roof in good condition 
  • Bodywork presents well with some minor deterioration visible in photographs 
  • This includes light bubbling to some panels and door shuts 
  • Chassis is described as solid following previous restoration 
  • Chromework presents very well with good finish and complemented by badge bar 
  • Avon tyres present well fitted to steel wheels with chrome hub caps 
  • Two-tone, part leather and Bedford Cord interior retrimmed during restoration and remains well kept 
  • Some light signs of wear inside typical of an older restoration 
  • Veneers present well throughout cabin with only light patina visible 
  • Highly original cabin including factory dials and sprung three spoke Bakelite wheel 

The Mechanics 

  • Rebuilt 2,443cc ‘Big Four’ RMB engine
  • Engine professionally rebuilt in 2015 at cost of £9,000 
  • Twin SU carburettors 
  • 4spd manual gearbox with synchromeshg on 2nd, 3rd and 4th 
  • Recent oil service and brake overhaul 
  • No reported running or driving issues 


BEFORE YOU BUY 
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following: 
The seller of this vehicle is registered as a business seller. And you are covered by Car & Classic’s Terms and Conditions
We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted. Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates. 
This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind. 
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing. 
We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence. 
✓ We also  check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and  it's always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer. 
✓Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection 
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it's worth checking beforehand. If requested we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected] 
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Auction Details

  • Year1948
  • MakeRiley
  • ModelRMB
  • ColourGrey
  • Odometer13,627 Miles
  • Engine size2443cc
  • Seller TypePrivate
  • TownNew Forest
  • CountyHampshire
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • Auction ends

Bidding history

14 Bids from 8 bidders

Skandi••••
Bid
£10,000
18/06/24
Bernie••••
Bid
£9,200
18/06/24
michael••••
Bid
£9,100
18/06/24
ally-my••••
Bid
£9,000
18/06/24
michael••••
Bid
£8,850
18/06/24
ally-my••••
Bid
£8,750
18/06/24
paul-co••••
Bid
£8,650
18/06/24
ally-my••••
Bid
£8,450
18/06/24
johnlun••••
Bid
£8,350
18/06/24
paul-co••••
Bid
£8,250
18/06/24

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