Description

1953 Riley RMF

Always in light but regular use; nicely original interior; solid bodywork; eye-catching transferable number plate

Last and best of the RM Series, the RMF was only in production from 1952 – 53 and featured a number of improvements over its predecessors, most obviously a larger rear window for better visibility. The RMF also had fully hydraulic drum brakes rather than the hydromechanical system of the earlier cars and featured independent torsion bar front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering which gave excellent ride and handling for the era.
Under the bonnet was Riley’s wonderful 2.5-litre 'Big-Four' with twin camshafts mounted high at the sides of the cylinder block, hemispherical combustion chambers and twin SU carbs. Driving through a four-speed gearbox linked to a new hypoid bevel rear axle by an open propshaft, in RMF form the engine produced 100bhp giving the car lively acceleration and a top speed just a whisker shy of the magic ton. No wonder the Police loved it! Only 1,050 RMFs were made before it was replaced by the Pathfinder in 1954.
First registered in Devon in July 1953, this RMF comes with 21 old MOTs from 1986 – 2009 showing that the car has always been in light but regular use, clocking up some 8,000 miles in the last 25 years. The history file is fairly sparse with just a few invoices for upkeep over the years including a new radiator in 1990 and a reconditioned steering rack in 1996.
Our vendor acquired the car in 2008 and has done about 1,000 miles in it since, reporting that it runs and drives well. It has certainly been starting promptly and running nicely as we have moved it around on site with good 50psi oil pressure.
The doors open and close well with no discernible signs of play in the frame/hinges. The interior is pleasingly original with attractively patinated brown leather seats and decent woodwork. The bodywork and the underside look to be very sound and the black vinyl roof covering is in good shape. The tyres all look to be relatively new with plenty of tread and there is a spare steering wheel in the boot. All that lets the side down is the paintwork which would appear to have been refreshed at some point in the distant past but is now showing signs of age.
Documentation includes a V5C, older V5 and a green logbook from 1965 at which point the car was resident in London, later moving to Saffron Walden, Dyfed, Solihull and then Nottingham. The icing on the cake is the eye-catching Devon-issue number plate, OOD 121, which is transferable.
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com