Description
Author: John Price Williams, Hardcover, Pages: 208, ISBN: 9781861267610, - 2014 Reprint
Long awaited reprint of the definitive hsitory of the Riley RMs first published in 2005
THE RILEY MOTOR COMPANY, whose roots went back into the 19th century,was always noted for the excellence of itsdesigns and the performance of its models, though the RM series of cars, one of the great post-war successes of the British motor industry, was produced not by the family firm, which had slid into receivership just before the war, but by the Nuffield Corporation, which rescued it.
Lord Nuffield had promised to maintain Riley's integrity and the fascinating RM 1%-litre and TA-litre cars, up until the ill-fated Pathfinder, were designed and built in the old pre-war Riley tradition, with traditional coachwork of steel panelling over an ash frame.
They all used the legendary twin-camshaft Riley engine and introduced new mechanical innovations that gave the cars their superior handling abilities, like rack-and-pinion steering and independent front suspension — common now but almost unheard-of in British cars in 1946.
This book describes in considerable detail the progress of the RM cars, from their pre-war BMW influences, through the faltering steps into production and the huge post-war demand for the highly desirable sporting cars, to the cars' notable sporting successes and the famous owners who clamoured for them.
There is also analysis of the less-successful ventures: the failed attempt to sell a roadster version to America and the ignominious end of the RM line, the Pathfinder — a fine car whose reputation was destroyed by the incompetence of the BMC management.
There is a comprehensive chapter on buying and maintaining RMs — pointing out the pitfalls for the prospective buyer — and a considerable amount of data on specifications, build dates, colour schemes and mechanical changes.
The history of the RMs is also brought to graphic life in this book by more than 150 pictures, several in colour.
