Description
1954 Riley RME purchased in Dec 2021 as a non running car (project).
The Riley is a solid car which appears to have gone through restoration sometime in its past, no welding or wood work required in my opinion and it looks a good solid base. Please come and inspect yourself but I cannot see any need for welding on this car. I bought it nearly 2 years ago to add to my other 3 classics (2X Austin Sheerline and a Rover P6) with the intention of restoring the car but the Sheerlines are taking a lot of my time and they have taken priority.
The wood frame what I can see looks ok and the roof is very good, needs paint in places and there is a small amount of filler around the sidelights and one semaphore or can be used as is, its fitted with a stainless exhaust system.
I have completed a fair amount to it but it requires further work and I am hoping it goes to someone who loves Rileys and will do it justice, it deserves to be improved and used.
Work completed
New wheel cylinders x 3 the other fitted new seals, rear axle seal and bearing NSR, oil filter screw on conversion, two new tyres fitted, new plugs, fan belt, replaced starter motor with good used, cleaned and rebuilt the carb fitted new jet seals. Starts and idles nice but knocks badly under load, bottom end needs replacing or modify and fit shell bearings (that was my intention, removed and repaired heater blower, and fuel sender now working fine, all lights work, fitted with indicators, horn and semaphores not working at the moment, good battery.
Chrome got corrosion the rear bumper is the worst.
It does drive but not advised due to knocking engine (trailer advised), I have driven the car the clutch is good, gearbox and axle sound fine. Stops fine but brakes need a bleed to firm the pedal up, parking brake does not seem to work and will require looking at.
Nice project particularly if you got a spare engine or donor car, or willing to do the crank bearings.
Inside is tidy except some headlining around the rear roof pillars, interior wood is excellent (see pics).
Priced cond 4 by hagerty at £6, 400, good cond 3 is 9800
#4 cars are daily drivers, with flaws visible to the naked eye. The chrome might have pitting or scratches, the windshield might be chipped.
Selling at £3300 due to engine issue, so a great project for someone, a very pretty car that deserves to be helped. A very pretty car that is solid, not a rot box and ideal for a running restoration once the engine knocking is sorted. I have some spares to go with it which I will gather up, there is also an engine block that i bought, conrods and pistons are removed again the bearings were shot on that too, I was going to get the crank and rods modified to shell bearings and fit new rings, then put it in the car if you buy the car you are welcome to take the spare block.
Like I said earlier the engine in the car starts and sounds fine at idle but a disaster when under load, loud knocking, its also got the new oil filter conversion.
