1953 50s fifties British Riley Litre Maroon Car Petrol 1496 cc saloon; at the Lytham St Annes Classic & Performance Motor vehicle show displays of classic cars, UK
1952-55 1½ Litre RME Saloon Chassis numbers: RME 42S 20505 – RME 21854 The main result of the Nuffield/BMC plan was the proposed upgrading of both the 1½ & 2½ Litre Saloons. The designation “RME” was given to the 1½ Litre Saloon that was now to undergo a complete change to the braking and final drive system. The original :1 ratio Riley type torque-tube/spiral-bevel axle was replaced with a :1 Nuffield hypoid-bevel axle, together with an open prop-shaft. This necessitated a revision to the rear spring location and to the mounting of the intermediate prop-shaft. The braking system was changed to a Girling fully hydraulic set-up with twin leading-shoes at the front. As a result of the axle ratio difference, the top and cruising speeds were reduced by about 7%, but acceleration in lower gears improved, the overall effect being a slight increase in fuel consumption. Introduced in late July 1952, the body specification initially remained the same as the last of the RMA’s, still with the Black leather-cloth roof covering, running boards, and headlights in separate nacelle pods, but soon a larger rear window with chromed trim surround was to be fitted and the pleated leather seats were revised, to have a broader back with flat tops. The rear window blind that had been fitted to all previous Saloon models was now gone and substituted by a dipping rear-view mirror. All other trim, external and internal, remained the same. The last of this running-board style of RME left the Works in September 1953. The available paintwork colours were limited to Black, Autumn Red, Woodland Green and Silver Streak Grey, and in line with most other manufacturers the price had risen slightly to £860 (+ purchase tax = £1339). This was partly due to a hike in the purchase tax rate and whilst overall production figures over this period were down, (to around 1320 cars), compared to the previous couple of years, there were more cars in the showrooms due to a decrease in export figu
Size: 5184px × 3456px
Location: Lytham, UK
Photo credit: © ZarkePix / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: , 1496cc, 1½-litre, aged, automobiles, automotive, bygone, car, cars, classic, classics, collectable, collectible, collector, collectors, design, drive, driven, england, english, era, executive, fashioned, hall, heritage, historic, historical, history, ksr286, lytham, machines, mode, motion, motor, motorcars, motoring, motors, moving, nostalgia, rear, restored, retro, riley, rm, series, show., transport, travel, travelling, uk, vehicle, vehicles, veteran, veterans, vintage, wheel, yesteryear
