Description
I JUST love this iconic English beast. Yes, it is the big brother of the Riley RMA/ ME. It is the RMB 2. 5 litre twin-cam. And what a car they are. Just look at the length and the sleek Riley lines for starters.
Anyway, there is a stack of information I could let you have in this advert but I will be writing all day! Suffice to say, I shall sub-edit it down to the major points in its 72-year-old history.
Before I do so, I will just mention first and foremost that this resplendent Riley is on the button, sounds superb, drives beautifully through the gears and stops on a sixpence. Well, there was one inside the car and so I presumed that's what it was for!!
So - and this is in brief:
3 previous owners.
Copious amounts of history and info from two of them.
Starting with a typewritten sheet probably from some time in the 1990s as best I can tell.
The owner at the time writes:
* This information is long overdue I feel.
* Purchased by me in 1977 for £500.
* 12-year rebuild then followed.
* It was total. It included 100 per cent ash frame replacement and 80 per cent body.
* Brand new bulkhead. Total replacement of rear body.
* Every single captive housing and nut on the car replaced.
* Policy was do NOT repair. Replace with better second hand or brand new.
* 100 per cent wiring replaced.
* All chrome re-chromed.
* Body sprayed green and black.
* Chassis shot blasted and hot zinc sprayed.
* Engine totally rebuilt. Pistons and liners are new. Conrods converted to shells. John Kirby carried out engine rebuild over nine months.
* Brakes converted from standard hydromechanical to fully hydraulic/ servo assisted. All technical info included in the file.
* Started using the car in 1990.
Now, prior to that but un-dated is much more info from the previous owner (probably).
In a nutshell, his four hand-written pages of S4 state that he too had done a great deal of work to it.
Today, it stands proudly. Ready for the next chapter in its life. I think it is reasonably safe to assume that, given the information above, it remains sound in wind and limb. Paintwork, after all this time, lets it down in some areas but I think that can be accepted. Bonnet catches need sorting too. Just today, and for the first time, the old style starter button died on me. It bump started in third gear straight away! Context is all and the price reflects everything here. A running (beautifully) winter project in my view.
There are dozens of photos depicting much of the work done over the years. Oh and by the way, I just love the working rev counter. I always thought that the RMB had a time clock on the dash the same as the 1. 5 litre. But no, there's a rev counter in place matching the other dials!
These big 2. 5 litre RMBs are mega rare birds indeed. What an opportunity. What a price!
This description is based on my opinion of the vehicle, the paperwork that comes with the car and anything I have been told about it. The vehicle is 72-years-old and this cannot be taken as a definitive statement for obvious reasons. As with most classic cars, there may be faults and quirks whilst, almost inevitably, some degree of tinkering and care will always be called for. Such are the joys of owning an antique vehicle and they must be taken within their own context and not compared to modern day cars. They are sold as old, mainly out-dated machines and come without any comeback whatsoever. They are my terms and conditions.
The phrase "classic car" is, in my opinion, quite often misunderstood. Several decades ago - let's say in the 70s - what we now refer to as classics were called "old bangers." There was vintage and veteran, but they were generally of the Edwardian era and reserved for events like the world famous London to Brighton run.
Now, some people make the mistake of thinking a classic car is a vehicle which has been restored to its former glory at great expense or is perhaps a rare survivor that has been locked away in a heated garage and never driven.
No. Call them whatever you wish, but they are old cars. Ancient cars. Relics, antique vehicles.
They come in all shapes and sizes and, more importantly, in all conditions. Warts and all. Some are in a state of poor repair needing time, love and money lavishing on them; others are projects. Quite a large percentage are in reasonable condition and can be driven. But, due to their age, they will need ongoing work and attention.
Panels and paint suffer along with engines, running gear and structure. Please do not compare them to your three-year-old BMW!
A 6k "classic" cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be as good as the same make and model offered at 12k. Think about it. They need to be taken on board much like family pets. Be prepared for the heartache, the problems that beat you and the cost of it all. But, most importantly, be prepared for the joy that driving a classic car brings you. If you can let that over-ride everything else, then you are the right person to buy what is now widely referred to as a classic car!
I have now been established as a one-man band classic car dealer for 26 years and pride myself on my buying prowess and - due to small margins - my prices which I firmly believe are up there among the very best in the UK classic car marketplace.
I also deliver and so please ask for a quote.
Thanks, Martin. the details below.
