1954 | Riley 1.5 Litre RME

We have always been fond of the Riley RM models, over the years we have sold many high quality examples. The majority of RM’s supplied by us have stayed in the UK, but we have over the years found interest in these cars strong across Europe having supplied RM’s to customers in Ireland, Switzerland, Germany and Holland. We find these cars brilliant to drive, they will feel very advanced in regards to ride quality, performance and handling, but have the look of a very much early post war British classic saloon. OLY 88 has arrived with us from a new customer based in Surrey and its clearly a very special car.

First registered on the 8th March 1954, the Riley was supplied new to a private owner in Holyhead, North Wales who kept the car for an impressive 40 years. The second owner of the car was based in Buckinghamshire and he purchased the RME in 1994 and by 2007 the car was in the hands of restorer and motor engineer Michael J Hibberd, a specialist in Rolls Royce, Bentley and Jaguar. Having being laid up for a number of years in a barn, its new owner embarked on an impressive restoration and a full body restoration was carried out. The car was then fully re-painted, various re-chroming was carried out and the upholstery sympathetically restored with original leather retained where possible. Carpets, furflexes and the headlining were replaced and the woodwork renewed. The wiring loom was replaced and the car mechanically overhauled and an impressive file of receipts document a huge amount of new parts.

Having being owned for almost 15 years by the renowned restorer who had covered just a couple of thousand miles in the car since its rebuild, the cars fourth owner purchased the Riley at auction in 2021 paying over £24,000. Then in 2022, a staggering £30,000 was spent on the Riley RME, most of which was a major high quality full engine rebuild. Due to a cracked block, a replacement block was sourced and was sent for a pressurised resin sealing process. The bare renewed block was then fully built up new/renewed major components included new camshafts, new pistons, new cylinder liners, polished and re-ground crankshaft, new timing chain, new big end and main bearing shells, and all new valves, guides and gaskets. The water pump was rebuilt, a new 123 distributor fitted, a new inlet manifold and a new Facet fuel pump also fitted. A very detailed report on the engine work confirms the engine block was honed and the lower casing slotted to accommodate forged conrods and the cylinder head was ported to improve air flow and the face head machined to achieve 9:1 compression ratio. The head was also machined to accept larger valves, a new stainless steel exhaust manifold fabricated and the twin carbs were ultrasonically cleaned and fully rebuilt. On re-fitting the engine a 123 distributor was programmed with base ignition curve and then the car rolling road tested with ignition and fuel systems adjusted to optimise performance,

The detailed work to the engine, and improvements and subtle upgrades carried out add great value to this car. The level of recent expenditure should give the cars next owner huge confidence that this work has been done to an incredibly high standard and very few have had this level of expenditure to the engine alone. With little mileage since the work, this car gives the opportunity to own an incredibly well prepared Riley that has clearly had no expense spared in its recent program of work. With the lovely original registration mark OLY 88, ultra low owners from new, the provenance of a high quality specialist restoration and of course recent £30,000 of engine expense, this Riley RME offers a fantastic opportunity. OLY 88 presents beautifully many years on since restoration with excellent paintwork, bodywork and chrome and the upholstery has a lovely feel with well kept, original leather seating and with new carpets, trims and headlining it looks incredibly smart. On the road the Riley is delightful, its advanced for its year, holds the road wonderfully and the expensive major engine work gives confidence that this is a Riley ready to use and enjoy and get out onto the open road.