Riley 1.5 Spotted
Discussion
I spotted this little gem today, which was really quite bizzare.
My great aunt owned one, just like this. The same colour in fact. Her father bought it in 1963 from Monument Garage in Ayr, having traded in his Hillman, registered RAG468. The Riley was VSD852. Her father used the car only on dry days. He was fastidious, to the point that they would take a taxi to the shops if it was raining.
My great aunt was rather less fastidious. Having driven an ambulance during the second world war, she seemed to be quite gung-ho. After her father passed away she used it in all weathers, and at one stage crashed it into some park railings, damaging the front wing. This was repaired, and the car carried on service. As a child, in the 1980's I recall visiting her mother's house in Ayr and always wanting to see the Riley in the garage, which had by now, lay dormant for many years. Eventually my aunt's mother passed, and the car was moved up to Glasgow. She fought the DVLA in the ealry 80's to retain the the registration, and had a light restoration carried out on the car before laying it up once more.
When my great aunt herself passed away in the late 90's I inherited it. Sadly, as a student I had insufficent funds to restore it and sadly, nowhere to store it. I was at this time running a Morris 1000 and an Austin-Healey Sprite MkIV. Regretfully I let the car go, and annoyingly it was robbed of it's number plate. I suspect the car itself is long gone as is the Astra that the plate ended up on.
What makes today's sighting of this other 1.5 more remarkable is that it was the same street that my Great Aunt lived on. I've not been there in years.
Her house can just be seen on the left of the chopped connifer in the foreground.
Brian
My great aunt owned one, just like this. The same colour in fact. Her father bought it in 1963 from Monument Garage in Ayr, having traded in his Hillman, registered RAG468. The Riley was VSD852. Her father used the car only on dry days. He was fastidious, to the point that they would take a taxi to the shops if it was raining.
My great aunt was rather less fastidious. Having driven an ambulance during the second world war, she seemed to be quite gung-ho. After her father passed away she used it in all weathers, and at one stage crashed it into some park railings, damaging the front wing. This was repaired, and the car carried on service. As a child, in the 1980's I recall visiting her mother's house in Ayr and always wanting to see the Riley in the garage, which had by now, lay dormant for many years. Eventually my aunt's mother passed, and the car was moved up to Glasgow. She fought the DVLA in the ealry 80's to retain the the registration, and had a light restoration carried out on the car before laying it up once more.
When my great aunt herself passed away in the late 90's I inherited it. Sadly, as a student I had insufficent funds to restore it and sadly, nowhere to store it. I was at this time running a Morris 1000 and an Austin-Healey Sprite MkIV. Regretfully I let the car go, and annoyingly it was robbed of it's number plate. I suspect the car itself is long gone as is the Astra that the plate ended up on.
What makes today's sighting of this other 1.5 more remarkable is that it was the same street that my Great Aunt lived on. I've not been there in years.
Her house can just be seen on the left of the chopped connifer in the foreground.
Brian
Bogsye said:
I spotted this little gem today, which was really quite bizzare.
My great aunt owned one, just like this. The same colour in fact. Her father bought it in 1963 from Monument Garage in Ayr, having traded in his Hillman, registered RAG468. The Riley was VSD852. Her father used the car only on dry days. He was fastidious, to the point that they would take a taxi to the shops if it was raining.
My great aunt was rather less fastidious. Having driven an ambulance during the second world war, she seemed to be quite gung-ho. After her father passed away she used it in all weathers, and at one stage crashed it into some park railings, damaging the front wing. This was repaired, and the car carried on service. As a child, in the 1980's I recall visiting her mother's house in Ayr and always wanting to see the Riley in the garage, which had by now, lay dormant for many years. Eventually my aunt's mother passed, and the car was moved up to Glasgow. She fought the DVLA in the ealry 80's to retain the the registration, and had a light restoration carried out on the car before laying it up once more.
When my great aunt herself passed away in the late 90's I inherited it. Sadly, as a student I had insufficent funds to restore it and sadly, nowhere to store it. I was at this time running a Morris 1000 and an Austin-Healey Sprite MkIV. Regretfully I let the car go, and annoyingly it was robbed of it's number plate. I suspect the car itself is long gone as is the Astra that the plate ended up on.
What makes today's sighting of this other 1.5 more remarkable is that it was the same street that my Great Aunt lived on. I've not been there in years.
Her house can just be seen on the left of the chopped connifer in the foreground.
Brian
Great story, and a spooky coincidence - thanks for sharing.My great aunt owned one, just like this. The same colour in fact. Her father bought it in 1963 from Monument Garage in Ayr, having traded in his Hillman, registered RAG468. The Riley was VSD852. Her father used the car only on dry days. He was fastidious, to the point that they would take a taxi to the shops if it was raining.
My great aunt was rather less fastidious. Having driven an ambulance during the second world war, she seemed to be quite gung-ho. After her father passed away she used it in all weathers, and at one stage crashed it into some park railings, damaging the front wing. This was repaired, and the car carried on service. As a child, in the 1980's I recall visiting her mother's house in Ayr and always wanting to see the Riley in the garage, which had by now, lay dormant for many years. Eventually my aunt's mother passed, and the car was moved up to Glasgow. She fought the DVLA in the ealry 80's to retain the the registration, and had a light restoration carried out on the car before laying it up once more.
When my great aunt herself passed away in the late 90's I inherited it. Sadly, as a student I had insufficent funds to restore it and sadly, nowhere to store it. I was at this time running a Morris 1000 and an Austin-Healey Sprite MkIV. Regretfully I let the car go, and annoyingly it was robbed of it's number plate. I suspect the car itself is long gone as is the Astra that the plate ended up on.
What makes today's sighting of this other 1.5 more remarkable is that it was the same street that my Great Aunt lived on. I've not been there in years.
Her house can just be seen on the left of the chopped connifer in the foreground.
Brian
Thanks folks.
Bermuda Blue - thanks Riley Blue. I had it in my head that it was Island Green, but when googling it wasn't that, but I couldn't figure out what it was.
I'm pretty sure my aunt's car had the later combined indicator/sidelight arrangement.
I last saw my Aunt's car in a garage in Motherwell. I'm not sure if it was ever restored, but it certainly lost it's original plate, so it would be pretty much impossible to figure out if it still exisits. I tried last year to see if the DVLA would list the plate for auction, but it seems to be tied ot the Astra which hasn't been on the road for decades either. They did however list up 852VSD (rather than VSD852).
I shoudl maybe look to see if there's a register and see if it's traceable that way.
I still have the insuranc documents and handbook for it stored away.
Bermuda Blue - thanks Riley Blue. I had it in my head that it was Island Green, but when googling it wasn't that, but I couldn't figure out what it was.
I'm pretty sure my aunt's car had the later combined indicator/sidelight arrangement.
I last saw my Aunt's car in a garage in Motherwell. I'm not sure if it was ever restored, but it certainly lost it's original plate, so it would be pretty much impossible to figure out if it still exisits. I tried last year to see if the DVLA would list the plate for auction, but it seems to be tied ot the Astra which hasn't been on the road for decades either. They did however list up 852VSD (rather than VSD852).
I shoudl maybe look to see if there's a register and see if it's traceable that way.
I still have the insuranc documents and handbook for it stored away.
Hi Brian,
Great story! and weird coincedence!
Unfortunately the old Riley is not in the Riley One-Point-Five Register (which I look after) - however the change of registration number might mean it has sneaked in on a different number.
Do you have any further information in the documents that you still have ( a chassis number or engine number might help me trace it!)
From what you have said it sounds like a Mk3 version - just like Riley Blues!
Roger
My 1.5 is currently upside down!
Great story! and weird coincedence!
Unfortunately the old Riley is not in the Riley One-Point-Five Register (which I look after) - however the change of registration number might mean it has sneaked in on a different number.
Do you have any further information in the documents that you still have ( a chassis number or engine number might help me trace it!)
From what you have said it sounds like a Mk3 version - just like Riley Blues!
Roger
My 1.5 is currently upside down!
I remember years go probably mid 60s a neighbour and friend of my father had a Riley 1 point 5, green and cream that he would have used for sprints and hillclimbs at the time my father was competing.
He had the registration number R15 on the Riley, I think when he changed cars to an MGA he kept the number.
He had the registration number R15 on the Riley, I think when he changed cars to an MGA he kept the number.
One of my earliest memories is being allowed to play in the 1.5 that was stuffed into my parents garage. I saw one at a show recently, stuck my head in the window and had a good sniff,. the smell took me right back 35 years,... 
Up until the age of around 12 I had only ever seen part of the offside,. there was all matter of stuff piled on it. Until one weekend my Dad pulled it out the garage and got it running.
Sold in the Notts evening post for around £50 IIRC,. 1988 ish,.. guy turned up with a Ford Mustang and a trailer,. it was going to end its days on the track,.... he sent us this pic a few weeks later,.
Up until the age of around 12 I had only ever seen part of the offside,. there was all matter of stuff piled on it. Until one weekend my Dad pulled it out the garage and got it running.
Sold in the Notts evening post for around £50 IIRC,. 1988 ish,.. guy turned up with a Ford Mustang and a trailer,. it was going to end its days on the track,.... he sent us this pic a few weeks later,.
http://www.oumf.org/our-cars.html
Their Riley I've seen numerous times at Ypres Rally including this year, always seems to finish.
Their Riley I've seen numerous times at Ypres Rally including this year, always seems to finish.
old'uns said:
http://www.oumf.org/our-cars.html
Their Riley I've seen numerous times at Ypres Rally including this year, always seems to finish.
They have two One-Point-Fives, one for rallying and one for racing, both of them grey. They're well worth a close look if you come across them in the paddock.Their Riley I've seen numerous times at Ypres Rally including this year, always seems to finish.
old'uns said:
http://www.oumf.org/our-cars.html
Their Riley I've seen numerous times at Ypres Rally including this year, always seems to finish.
Indeed, the guy's done very well out of getting the 'future masters of the universe' to maintain/run his cars for him free of charge.Their Riley I've seen numerous times at Ypres Rally including this year, always seems to finish.
Attended for a while in my first year of university 10+ years ago, however grew weary of 'spannering' for someone who at the time was just bumbling around to make the numbers up.
Thanks for all the replies!
Apologies too for typing 1.5 and not One-Point-Five!
Thanks Roger for checking if it was on the register - You're right, if it has survived it will be on a different plate. I checked my files and sadly I don't have anything with chassis or engine numbers. I'd probably have to go back through the DVLA.
My garage looks not unlike yours, but I currently have a 205 Gti in a simillar position.
I took a wander the other evening and walked up the street that the One-Point-Five was on, which started this thread. On closer inspection it has the combined front indicator/side lights which matches my Great Aunt's car. Sadly no one was around, and I wasn't about the knock the door.
From a bit of Googling I susepct this particular car is from down south, and unlikley to be my Great Aunt's old car.
The local classic car show was on today and I'd hoped it might have been there, but sadly not. One of my friends was there with his 'Big' Seven, complete with antlers mounted above the windscreen - corks fitted on the pointy bits for safety!
Anyway I dug out some photos of 'my' One-Point-Five for posterity and to add some more colour to the thread. I must have thrown on the old wheels from my Sprite hence the red paint that was on them. The Riley definitely had a set of cross plys that were fairly ruined.
And a photo of the Sprite (I converted this to round wheel arch when I restored it, to specifically get the 6 x 14" Minilite Sport wheels on).
Sadly also, long since sold..
Apologies too for typing 1.5 and not One-Point-Five!
Thanks Roger for checking if it was on the register - You're right, if it has survived it will be on a different plate. I checked my files and sadly I don't have anything with chassis or engine numbers. I'd probably have to go back through the DVLA.
My garage looks not unlike yours, but I currently have a 205 Gti in a simillar position.
I took a wander the other evening and walked up the street that the One-Point-Five was on, which started this thread. On closer inspection it has the combined front indicator/side lights which matches my Great Aunt's car. Sadly no one was around, and I wasn't about the knock the door.
From a bit of Googling I susepct this particular car is from down south, and unlikley to be my Great Aunt's old car.
The local classic car show was on today and I'd hoped it might have been there, but sadly not. One of my friends was there with his 'Big' Seven, complete with antlers mounted above the windscreen - corks fitted on the pointy bits for safety!
Anyway I dug out some photos of 'my' One-Point-Five for posterity and to add some more colour to the thread. I must have thrown on the old wheels from my Sprite hence the red paint that was on them. The Riley definitely had a set of cross plys that were fairly ruined.
And a photo of the Sprite (I converted this to round wheel arch when I restored it, to specifically get the 6 x 14" Minilite Sport wheels on).
Sadly also, long since sold..
Bogsye said:
Thanks for all the replies!
Apologies too for typing 1.5 and not One-Point-Five!
Thanks Roger for checking if it was on the register - You're right, if it has survived it will be on a different plate. I checked my files and sadly I don't have anything with chassis or engine numbers. I'd probably have to go back through the DVLA.
My garage looks not unlike yours, but I currently have a 205 Gti in a simillar position.
I took a wander the other evening and walked up the street that the One-Point-Five was on, which started this thread. On closer inspection it has the combined front indicator/side lights which matches my Great Aunt's car. Sadly no one was around, and I wasn't about the knock the door.
From a bit of Googling I susepct this particular car is from down south, and unlikley to be my Great Aunt's old car.
The local classic car show was on today and I'd hoped it might have been there, but sadly not. One of my friends was there with his 'Big' Seven, complete with antlers mounted above the windscreen - corks fitted on the pointy bits for safety!
Anyway I dug out some photos of 'my' One-Point-Five for posterity and to add some more colour to the thread. I must have thrown on the old wheels from my Sprite hence the red paint that was on them. The Riley definitely had a set of cross plys that were fairly ruined.
And a photo of the Sprite (I converted this to round wheel arch when I restored it, to specifically get the 6 x 14" Minilite Sport wheels on).
Sadly also, long since sold..
Lovely looking Sprite that, and the reg' number caught my eye as I used to own a '67 Mk1 Mini 850 reg'd 'MAC 825E' Apologies too for typing 1.5 and not One-Point-Five!
Thanks Roger for checking if it was on the register - You're right, if it has survived it will be on a different plate. I checked my files and sadly I don't have anything with chassis or engine numbers. I'd probably have to go back through the DVLA.
My garage looks not unlike yours, but I currently have a 205 Gti in a simillar position.
I took a wander the other evening and walked up the street that the One-Point-Five was on, which started this thread. On closer inspection it has the combined front indicator/side lights which matches my Great Aunt's car. Sadly no one was around, and I wasn't about the knock the door.
From a bit of Googling I susepct this particular car is from down south, and unlikley to be my Great Aunt's old car.
The local classic car show was on today and I'd hoped it might have been there, but sadly not. One of my friends was there with his 'Big' Seven, complete with antlers mounted above the windscreen - corks fitted on the pointy bits for safety!
Anyway I dug out some photos of 'my' One-Point-Five for posterity and to add some more colour to the thread. I must have thrown on the old wheels from my Sprite hence the red paint that was on them. The Riley definitely had a set of cross plys that were fairly ruined.
And a photo of the Sprite (I converted this to round wheel arch when I restored it, to specifically get the 6 x 14" Minilite Sport wheels on).
Sadly also, long since sold..
Such lovely small cars. Yes, they have been described as posh Morris Minors with a B Series twin carb engine but what is the modern equivalent? With their two tone leather seats, walnut fascia and door sills, they can't really be compared to a warmed over Fiesta. Also, it wasn't silly money like the Aston Martin Cygnet, and it had its own body along the lines of a small Austin Cambridge pre 1959.
Edited by Lester H on Monday 10th October 22:31
I loved them too - they were compact , reserved but classy and had a hint of sporting sass too. A sort of Home Counties Lancia . I'm biased -my first car was a Riley 1300 which had a surprising turn of speed , thanks to its slightly detuned Cooper S engine. Its wood dash now seems quaint, but my 22 year old self deluded himself into thinking he cut quite a dash in it. What hot girl could resist a maroon Riley with a Hesketh racing sticker and an Astrali wheel ? Quite a few, as it turned out ...
Lester H said:
Such lovely small cars. Yes, they have been described as posh Morris Minors with a B Series twin carb engine but what is the modern equivalent? With their two tone leather seats, walnut fascia and door sills, they can't really be compared to a warmed over Fiesta. Also, it wasn't silly money like the Aston Martin Cygnet, and it had its own body along the lines of a small Austin Cambridge pre 1959.
Funny you should mention a warmed over Fiesta; to add to my two One-Point-Fives I've just added... a warmed over Fiesta!Edited by Lester H on Monday 10th October 22:31
Today, the Riley doesn't seem luxurious and it requires far more concentration and input to drive 'briskly' but it is hugely enjoyable when doing so. After our previous Fiesta was written off at the end of July we wanted to replace it with something of similar size but with a few of the 'toys' in our A8 and I wanted a car with conventional controls; no touch screen, electronic hand brake etc.
Also, it would need to petrol (previous was diesel) and, like the Riley, it would have to be sprightly but modest in appearance. The previous Fiesta had stood up well to a frontal assault by a Defender, we had emerged relatively unscathed, so that was our preferred choice; we went for a Fiesta Titanium X (123bhp, 0-60 in 9.1).
It doesn't have a walnut fascia but it does have leather seats (heated too which O/H loves) and something that I rather like, it's one of thousands of white Fiestas around so blends in perfectly with the herd, rather like the Riley did in its day.
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