Back on the road after 44 Years.
Discussion
Please be gentle with me, this is my first venture into the classics segment of PH. Being a TVR Cerbera owner I'm not used to this kind of anarchy! 
So, those who did well in maths and/or history at school will probably have deduced already that it's not possible for my particular model of TVR to have been off the road for 44 years. No, instead I'm referring to a little project that's been quietly ticking along in the background for the last 18 months. It started when a previous work colleague of mine decided that he wanted to find a project 60's Jag S-Type to play with, and that was all good fun. Then another colleague got in on the act and fancied a Rover P6. Internal pressure was mounting on me to 'fess up and admit that my Dad had a 1951 Riley RMA 1 & 1/2 litre that had been stashed away since 1969. Their little eyes lit up and much 'googling' was done during lunch breaks in a bid to learn more about the marque. The trouble was I couldn't answer many of their questions directly - I'd never seen the car, and more to the point my dad hadn't seen it himself for the previous 20 odd`years, in fact, we didn't even know if it still existed!
A call was made to the farmer who's hay barn the car had been deposited into many years prior, and he confirmed that he was sure it was still there. So, on a balmy August evening Dad and I made the trip the 12 or so miles cross country to the farm to verify this. Sure enough, there, languishing under a blue tarpaulin was the 'old gal'. The sun was streaming through the gaps in the rickety lapboard barn doors, and as the cover was drawn back a more stereotypical barn find situation could not have been bettered by Disney themselves. In amongst bits of irrigation hose, old ploughs and a butlers sink, tyres flattened, a fury layer of farm dust it sat, strands of hay dangling from cobwebs, sleeping.
I reported back to the team in the office. Photo's were studied, questions answered and plans firmed up for a second, more thorough visit. This time, with us all in attendance we committed to the project and the car was readied for relocation. The inner tubes were inflated - and remained so - and the car was re-positioned nearer to a less structurally questionable exit to the barn. Transport was arranged and a few days later, on a damp Saturday morning the RM was hoisted onto a flatbed and set off the 50ish miles north to become the S-Type's temporary stalemate. Later that same day - after a few hours of rebuilding the mice-adjusted ignition wiring - the little long stroked 4 pot spluttered into life, we didn't even put any fuel in! And for about 20 minutes the nostalgic smell of burnt genuine 4 Star wafted around.
Since then on spare weekends, work on the car has sporadically seen the various systems re-commissioned, until finally, over the Spring Bank Holiday it made it back out onto the open road. By chance we had learned of a little 'free to enter' village autoshow happening locally. The car was well received and we all had a great time telling the story of how it came to be. The unanimous message from visitors and other owners was to leave it as it is, and they are probably right. To fully restore it would remove so much of it's character and besides, it was 16 years old when my Dad bought it so it's never been concours to him. Maybe just a bit of Autosol here and there, and some rust converter in the scuttle.
Thoughts & suggestions welcome.
Our 1951 Riley RMA 1 & 1/2 Litre.
50's, 60's, 70's. The Riley, plus it's S-Type friend and an e-Type that has supplemented the Rover P6.
The Team, L-R: Oliver W (S-Type), Tom (E-Type & P6), Oliver B (Riley)
So, those who did well in maths and/or history at school will probably have deduced already that it's not possible for my particular model of TVR to have been off the road for 44 years. No, instead I'm referring to a little project that's been quietly ticking along in the background for the last 18 months. It started when a previous work colleague of mine decided that he wanted to find a project 60's Jag S-Type to play with, and that was all good fun. Then another colleague got in on the act and fancied a Rover P6. Internal pressure was mounting on me to 'fess up and admit that my Dad had a 1951 Riley RMA 1 & 1/2 litre that had been stashed away since 1969. Their little eyes lit up and much 'googling' was done during lunch breaks in a bid to learn more about the marque. The trouble was I couldn't answer many of their questions directly - I'd never seen the car, and more to the point my dad hadn't seen it himself for the previous 20 odd`years, in fact, we didn't even know if it still existed!
A call was made to the farmer who's hay barn the car had been deposited into many years prior, and he confirmed that he was sure it was still there. So, on a balmy August evening Dad and I made the trip the 12 or so miles cross country to the farm to verify this. Sure enough, there, languishing under a blue tarpaulin was the 'old gal'. The sun was streaming through the gaps in the rickety lapboard barn doors, and as the cover was drawn back a more stereotypical barn find situation could not have been bettered by Disney themselves. In amongst bits of irrigation hose, old ploughs and a butlers sink, tyres flattened, a fury layer of farm dust it sat, strands of hay dangling from cobwebs, sleeping.
I reported back to the team in the office. Photo's were studied, questions answered and plans firmed up for a second, more thorough visit. This time, with us all in attendance we committed to the project and the car was readied for relocation. The inner tubes were inflated - and remained so - and the car was re-positioned nearer to a less structurally questionable exit to the barn. Transport was arranged and a few days later, on a damp Saturday morning the RM was hoisted onto a flatbed and set off the 50ish miles north to become the S-Type's temporary stalemate. Later that same day - after a few hours of rebuilding the mice-adjusted ignition wiring - the little long stroked 4 pot spluttered into life, we didn't even put any fuel in! And for about 20 minutes the nostalgic smell of burnt genuine 4 Star wafted around.
Since then on spare weekends, work on the car has sporadically seen the various systems re-commissioned, until finally, over the Spring Bank Holiday it made it back out onto the open road. By chance we had learned of a little 'free to enter' village autoshow happening locally. The car was well received and we all had a great time telling the story of how it came to be. The unanimous message from visitors and other owners was to leave it as it is, and they are probably right. To fully restore it would remove so much of it's character and besides, it was 16 years old when my Dad bought it so it's never been concours to him. Maybe just a bit of Autosol here and there, and some rust converter in the scuttle.
Thoughts & suggestions welcome.
Our 1951 Riley RMA 1 & 1/2 Litre.
50's, 60's, 70's. The Riley, plus it's S-Type friend and an e-Type that has supplemented the Rover P6.
The Team, L-R: Oliver W (S-Type), Tom (E-Type & P6), Oliver B (Riley)
Edited by Boatbuoy on Tuesday 28th May 22:58
Well done! I agree, I think it looks great.
Do you still have the hub-caps? They were quite a distinctive feature of the RM and I think that, even on a somewhat less than concours example, they are an essential element of the car's style.
When I was a kid (in the sixties) family transport was provided by a succession of Rileys - an RME, a Kestrel-Sprite, and an RMA.
I've recently had the opportunity to drive a friend's restored '55 RME. Performance was leisurely, of course, but overall I was impressed; I found it easy to drive, with precise steering and good brakes.
Do you still have the hub-caps? They were quite a distinctive feature of the RM and I think that, even on a somewhat less than concours example, they are an essential element of the car's style.
When I was a kid (in the sixties) family transport was provided by a succession of Rileys - an RME, a Kestrel-Sprite, and an RMA.
I've recently had the opportunity to drive a friend's restored '55 RME. Performance was leisurely, of course, but overall I was impressed; I found it easy to drive, with precise steering and good brakes.
Forsure,
We have two of the original hubcaps, but they do come up fairly regularly on ebay and via the RM club classifieds. Up until now we've concentrated more on the mechanicals as opposed to the asthetics.
Other than allowing a bit more time to anticipate situations, there's nothing too complex about driving it. We've just put London Taxi radial tyres on and the steering was hugely, and pleasntly surprising. Although a lot of that was probably down to having decent pressure compared to the originals that we'd used for shunting around the yard. The brakes have been our single biggest challenge on this car. The entire system has been rebuilt, what we did find was that the cylinders (master especially) are somewhat binary in their ability to operate. Either they do, or they don't, and the condition of the seals was critical. Under close inspection, what seemed like servicable items simply didn't work no matter how clean and smooth the bores were. We also put new linings on the shoes and these are still bedding in, but some quite thorough testing has inspired confidence in them.
Bull1t,
That example looks great, I hope you enjoyed your big day. There seems to be quite an RM comunity on the other side of the world, my dad atteneded an RM meeting when he was in Aus last year.
We have two of the original hubcaps, but they do come up fairly regularly on ebay and via the RM club classifieds. Up until now we've concentrated more on the mechanicals as opposed to the asthetics.
Other than allowing a bit more time to anticipate situations, there's nothing too complex about driving it. We've just put London Taxi radial tyres on and the steering was hugely, and pleasntly surprising. Although a lot of that was probably down to having decent pressure compared to the originals that we'd used for shunting around the yard. The brakes have been our single biggest challenge on this car. The entire system has been rebuilt, what we did find was that the cylinders (master especially) are somewhat binary in their ability to operate. Either they do, or they don't, and the condition of the seals was critical. Under close inspection, what seemed like servicable items simply didn't work no matter how clean and smooth the bores were. We also put new linings on the shoes and these are still bedding in, but some quite thorough testing has inspired confidence in them.
Bull1t,
That example looks great, I hope you enjoyed your big day. There seems to be quite an RM comunity on the other side of the world, my dad atteneded an RM meeting when he was in Aus last year.
That looks great! Do check the integrity of that roof - the "mesh" can corrode something terrible...
With regard to your brakes, cylinders are best honed to make the seals work properly. PM if you need advice on that.
A mate of mine bought one of those in 1969 for £37/6s !! Taffy, where are you now?
With regard to your brakes, cylinders are best honed to make the seals work properly. PM if you need advice on that.
A mate of mine bought one of those in 1969 for £37/6s !! Taffy, where are you now?
I just went rushing to my photos from Gawsworth Hall show from earlier in May, just to see if that was the show you were talking about. For a while I was parked alongside a similarly patinated Riley and wondered if it was you. Once I found them I remembered that one was red, but otherwise similar. Coincidence though.
I wouldn't restore it beyond what's necessary to make it safe/legal.
At the NEC classic show, for instance, we had much more interest in the still covered in dust from being parked up for 20 years car than we did in the perfect shiny over restored cars.
There are loads of shiny restored cars about and comparatively few with patina, I'd leave it alone.
BTW you've got my initials on the reg!
At the NEC classic show, for instance, we had much more interest in the still covered in dust from being parked up for 20 years car than we did in the perfect shiny over restored cars.
There are loads of shiny restored cars about and comparatively few with patina, I'd leave it alone.
BTW you've got my initials on the reg!
Thanks all,
It's great to hear your comments and encouragement. The car is currently at a local garage (the owner of which is familiar with, and considerate to motoring heritage) for a health check. I'm confident that we've got a safe and legal car but decided on a second opinion from a professional.
It's great to hear your comments and encouragement. The car is currently at a local garage (the owner of which is familiar with, and considerate to motoring heritage) for a health check. I'm confident that we've got a safe and legal car but decided on a second opinion from a professional.
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff