That car is gorgeous. Love the maroon colour and biscuit trim combination. The radiator and air filter box shine as much as the rest of the car.😍 Woodwork beautiful. Full credit to the owner who has invested a lot of money on this. I love it.
What a wonderful car, restored or not. Beautiful restoration, though. It is what I consider the image of British motors of that era: small but with excellent design, with thoughtful, luxurious additions, and excellent mechanicals (for that period). North American manufacturers always thought small meant cheap, and they built accordingly. As a result, there was never a small, stylish car with luxury appointments. Excellent video (as always!). Thank you, Steph.
That's a coincidence so did i, got it out of barn in North Yorkshire (there were also a couple of heralds and an austin atlantic.) Did some basic body work restoration but it really needed more. Cumberland green with two tone green and cream leather upholstery, slightly earlier model than this with the 'bullet' type wrap around indicators. Was capable of racing MGB's once i got the engine tuned up by a local firm. Handling needed brave hands on the wheel because of the way it wallowed at the front end, too stiff at the back (7 leaf cart springs and that soft front suspension with lever arm dampers) but once it had wallowed it would actually corner quite predictably. i ran it up until the early 2000's. Now it is sitting in my garage and has been for 20 years and really does need restoring but haven't the time or money... i went all over the country in it, never let me down, because i maintained it. though i did snap a half shaft! which i changed at the roadside, i carried a spare because it had a reputation for doing that. cheap and easy to maintain and as you say, fast. a bit too fast for the suspension set up. My mum told me that it was regarded as 'over engined' when it came out and knew several people who had gone into hedges or walls trying to corner one! Loved the tappety sound of the engine on start up - like a Sopwith camel is how one of my friends described it. (tappets to be adjusted HOT to get the valve timing correct) I would love to get it going again.
I had the slightly more sedate Wolseley 1500 as my first car in 1971. Cost me £29 from a friend of my brother - including a full tank of petrol. Never missed a beat.
@@gw8486 My brother had the Wolsley 1500, he got it for next to nothing from his girlfriends father, in the 1970's he drove me around in it, that's when i decided to find the Riley version as my first car (cost £50), they were both very reliable. The snapped half shaft was a result of 'axle tramp' due to my enthusiastic driving style. I used to call my Riley 'Mr reliability'. if only cars were made like this now!
@@fuccasound3897what a fascinating story. You certainly know your cars and engines. And sounds like you have a real passion for them too. Cumberland green and two tone leather interior sounds beautiful! They just don't make 'em like they used to. 😢
That is a beautiful and timeless piece of design. The interior is a delight to be in and the car complements the English countryside perfectly. It is THE car to take for a picnic on a summer's day with a wicker basket hamper, proper crockery and cutlery and tea in a cup and saucer. The car is England in automotive design. Perfect.
Hi from Sydney, Australia. Back when I was a kid in the mid 1950's we had 5 versions of this body, The Riley, 1.5litre same as this car you are driving, the Wolseley version, Austin Lancer, Morris Elite, then later The Morris Major Elite which had an Aussie exclusive bigger engine and added on "fin" caps attached to the tops of the rear mudguards, this latter type were made in bigger numbers , and that local engine had long use lifetimes , many on the roads for 3 plus decades, owned by elderly people who had to make a car last being pensioners, additionally the Aussie engine was known to last so the vehicles became a favorite of the elderly whom could not afford costly repairs. Built back in the day when the British people could be proud of what they designed, built/manufactured & exported valued products by those who bought them, as you knew you were really getting what you had just paid for, plus when you had finished with it, the said item could be again resold and your purchasing funds recouped.
I had one of these, one of the last they made which was registered in April 1965, EAY 582C. It was Bermuda blue with blue leather seats. A very lively car for the time. I had it for a while and then part exchanged it for a Rover P6 2000. The Riley was a lovely car.
We had a few of these in Canada in the late 50s/early 60s. In the mid 60s I was driving VW Beetles and came across one of these in a wrecker's yard. It appeared to be in very nice condition so I asked if I could buy it. I was told "No" because once consigned to the wreckers the papers had to be handed in to the DOT. Imagine my surprise and annoyance when I saw the owner of the wrecking yard driving it later on. We also had the Riley version of the Mini which was pretty but very rare. A friend had a 1958 MG Magnette ZB with the same1500 B series engine as this Riley 1.5. I got to drive it several times and it was a real delight. Have you done (or will do) a review of a Magnette ZA or ZB? I've come across TH-cam videos of people in the UK dropping in V8 engines. That would be a nice package.
Thank you Steph, you have made my day. I had one of these in the same colour (Damask Red - and yes, grey leather interior) which I restored in the 1980s. I absolutely loved driving it. Unfortunately a redundancy in the early 90s forced me to sell. I have always regretted that and miss this wonderful car. Perhaps, now I am retired, I should find another good example to enjoy?
Excellent review, thanks Steph. Got to say it makes a change for the speedo in a classic car to not be bouncing around like a mad thing! The speedo in this Rily looks to be operating perfectly 👌
Steph's in her autumn plumage I see. Halloween must be on the horizon lol. I do love these old motors. We all rave about the Astons and Ferraris and Rollses etc, but it's always nice to see more "bread and butter" cars of any age.
Love your channel. My Mom replaced her Morris Minor in 1960 with a Riley 1.5. I rode on the backseat in my crib, even at a year old, when she went on home visits to her patients , which GPs did routinely in those days. Her car was two tone blue and grey and she kept it for ten years, replacing it with an Austin Maxi. The Riley remained her favourite.
When I was attending junior secondary school in Canada in the early 1960s there was a Riley 1.5 parked in the teachers' parking lot. I could see it from some of my classrooms. It was a favourite. Maroon in colour, as well.
The Riley 1.5 pre-dated the Austin/Morris Mini Cooper as BMC'S first 'factory hot rod' which featured what was essentially a Morris Minor with an MGA engine and transmission. Great little cars but as with many cars of the era the dreaded 'tin worm' took it's toll. I could be wrong but I think the Riley and MG 'B' series engines were finished in red rather than green. Good choice of vehicle Steph.
Had a 1960 Mk1 with the better (IMO) grille, two tone reg/grey leather and custom grey/metallic maroon (Jaguar) lower sides. Mk1's had coarser grille ribs and it wrapped round to the wheel arch flare not chopped off short. It had an original GREEN engine, twin 1.5" whereas Wolseley was single 1.25" I think. 706 PPD
In Australia they became the Austin Lancer and Morris Major. They ended up with the biggest B Series engines and ‘57 Chevy fins. Great cars. I restored one. And put twin SUs on it. It was brilliantly fast. Capable handling and I did the brakes to match.
One of my earliest childhood memories (1964/5) was of my father's Riley 1.5, reg no. KOJ226. It had a blue over cream two-tone paint job. He was a Sales Manager and spent a lot of time on the road, then at weekends we'd drive down from the Midlands to the south coast for a day out. It was a comfortable car and cruised happily at 70 on the M5.
I drive a Morris Major series 1 here in Australia ( same body as the Riley, Wolsey, Austin) as a daily driver for over 15 years, great little car .. I regret selling it now although it did break axles at times...
My third car was a Riley 1.5. You're right about the half shafts tending to break - I'm informed they were standard Morris Minor items and weren't up to the torque of the B-series.
I learnt to drive in this car WCY376 in 1967. I drove our family from Swansea to St Austell , Cornwall in 1969 to stay with our grandparents it was tiring, but I felt triumphant at the end of the trip. Being able to use it for local trips was freedom in my late teens.
In the mid 60s I learnt to drive in one well the guy teaching me had a Wolseley to start with then he swapped it for the Riley version for a learner the Riley had the advantage of having a rev counter so doing hill starts he told me to get the engine speed to the correct level and slowly let the clutch out and it worked no slipping back once you know what you are doing it is not a problem but I always remember that they really was lovely little cars I passed my test after ten lessons at the age of 18.
I had hoped Riley 1.5 or Wolseley 1500 would be my first car , but couldn’t afford one . Got a Triumph TR3A as a student and now in my seventies drive an ND MX5 , but would still love that Riley , for my old age .
1955 was totally not in the peripheral vision of Americans with regards to British cars. Gratefully we are revisiting the automobile thinking of that era in GB. This Riley shows amazing planning and foresight. So many details were so innovative and intended for the drivers' needs in the British Isles. Today we all must admire the beautiful results of their planning. I would proudly drive one now were I be allowed to have one.
My first car was a Riley 1.5 purchased for £35 from a neighbour in 1973 and ran it for 2 years. Silver with red leather upholstery and a walnut finish ..... beautiful!
What an absolutely beautiful little car. I can remember them from being a kid in the 1960's and there were still quite a few around when I first past my test in 1972. I always thought they were a wonderfully designed and pretty little car that stood out from the crowd back in its day.
Very professional review of the stylish Riley 1.5. The number of hits and comments indicate a keen interest in the car and the professionalism of the presenter. It makes me so pleased that in August 2023, I purchased a restored 1960 Riley 1.5 mk1 in Leaf Green. It is a wonderful classic car to own and drive and I will make sure that it is used carefully and well maintained and preserved for whoever owns it after me. I greatly enjoyed the video.
I bought my first car in 1973, a 1964 Riley 1.5 for £95. The twin carbs of the Riley, compared to the sister Wolseley 1500 gave it a decent feel of briskness. Never noticed any engine or gearbox problems at 70'ish on the motorway. Rather susceptible to winds there though..., never worked out whether that was tired suspension, chassis or what. A few years prior.., the family car had been a 1961 Hillman Minx 1500. In retrospect, I'd say the Minx was a nicer driving experience. No complaints about the Riley though. Thank you for posting this video.., enjoyed.
As someone that restores cars for a living, this car is superb. It has all the sights and sound of British vehicles of the era. I can even imaging the smell. Thankyou.
Charming little car , string back gloves would be the order of the day for trips out. Loved the gear whine when you set off. Maybe overdrive would have been the solution for motorway cruising.
Steph.....you got it!...great presentation skills that really hold interest. This car in the 1950's was not possible for most of us young men. At the time, £1000 a year salary was confined to solicitors, bank officials, managers etc. The Morris Minor sold for £300-350...I know 'cus a guy in our Squadron won £350 on the Treble Chance pools and bought a 1000cc Minor for £335.10s!....he immediately became the best pal of 20 airmen! Nope.....the glittering Riley One Point Five was out of reach.....bearing in mind, the cheaper houses then weren't far off £1,500. We used to drool over the Riley's three gauges; the Minor has one... Well done again on bringing the Riley to modern eyes...a tantalizing dream of a young man in the 1950's!
These are beautiful cars Steph and I would have one tomorrow, loved them since I was a kid (Yes I was once a kid 🤣🤣🤣). They are just so stylish and classy.
Nice rorty exhaust note on startup, bit of a contrast to that innocuous Morris Minor putt-putt... Surprised to see the steering wheel just the standard BMC fits-all with a Riley horn button.
Hard to believe these things were considered "sporty" back in the day, but they were, I remember them. A woman used to park one across the road from my childhood home (talking 1968 - 72ish). My dad had an Austin Cambridge A55 at the time, which started out with the same engine as the one in your Riley. He later replaced it with the 1622cc unit from a rolled A60.
Hello Steph. Not sure if you already knew and just didn't mention it, but the lesser equipped Morris version did actually exist, in Australia. BMC Australia built the Morris Major and Austin Lancer versions, which did actually sell quite well, comparative to the Minor, possibly because we always enjoyed our cars a little larger down here. Series 1, 1958/59, and an updated series 2, 1959-62, after which the Austin badged car was dropped, and the Morris gaining another facelift, and named the Major Elite. That was then replaced in 64 by the front drive Morris 1100. Quite basic, as you would expect from the lower range brands, but the Wolseley was also produced here in much smaller numbers. We didn't get the Riley locally, but I do believe some were privately imported. Good video on this one, as per your usual standard. Enjoying your content.
You picked a goodun there, Steph. Thanks largely to the owner's fine restoration. It was a great review of a wonderful car. I've been hoping you'd test a Riley for quite a while now.
When my brother learned to drive in 1969 he desperately wanted a Wolseley 1500 but somehow ended up with one of these, which in Australia, they were literally unheard of and highly prized by enthusiasts. I remember the factory colour was the most ghastly shade of pale green.
I went on holiday in 1964 to Spain with three other mates in one of these all the way from Yorkshire to Sitges and back.There wasn't any drive on ferries at that time it was craned on and lowered into the hold.Amazing memories of a different time.Very sporty car,it had twin WEbber carburetors if my memory serves me right.
Thanks for that Steph a "beautiful classic" this car was part of my childhood. It's such a shame that you were not BORN in the 60's it's obvious how much you LOVE the 60's. I consider myself "privileged" to have grown up in the late 50's and through the 60's.
Mine was in black, with red upholstery. I recall the registration number as 7662 VT. I bought it in 1971, I think, from a work colleague for £200 and I enjoyed it for several years, from my late teens to early twenties.
As always Steph an excellent review of a car familiar to me in my younger days. I was surprised to hear it was designed to replace the humble Morris Minor as I had always understood it to be a replacement for the Palmer designed MG Magnette and Wolseley 15/50 which although successful were expensive to produce hence using the Minors underpinnings as the basis for their replacement.
Mine was a blur 1965 one, bought 2 years old in 67. I loved it, such a big step up from a mini van and previous Austin A35! with 68 hp after 35hp it felt like a rocket. However, I do remember driving the A35 at 80mph on stretches of the old A1, before speed limits of course. So fast cruising in the 1.5 was no problem.
I did a mechanical engineering apprenticeship in 1963 and loved the cars we got to work on. I have little or no interest in the modern cars, they are so boring and bland you just can’t really tell one from the other. Thank you for your channel, it’s so nice to be reminded of how lucky I was working on these vehicles.
I owned Riley 1.5 in the early 60's. It was a 1957 model same colour as yours, Damask Red I think it was. I still have the Owner's Handbook, I think. This followed a 1958 MG Magnette ZB. Considering the MG was supposed to be the sporty range it didn't have a rev counter so the Riley was a step up. Thanks for bringing some happy memories back for me.
Thanks for the memories Steph! My very first memory I have was in one of these - going with my dad and gran to visit my mum in hospital after the birth of my wee sister.
As a youngster in the 60s, these and likley the Wolseley, often seemed to really bombing along, Clearly remember them always overtaking dad's car. Used to admire them.
A very nice Riley One-Five. It has been restored to a high standard and I do like the choice of interior colour on the seats and door cards. I am being very picky here but it is not a stereo Steph as it has only one speaker thus a mono. Thanks for another great review Steph. 👍👍
My wife’s uncle had one of these, which he sold around 10 years ago. I remember going for a Sunday drive in it…..lovely classic and nice car to drive. The ‘Ave Maria brakes’ did nearly catch me out though!!!! 🤣
That’s a lovely car👍 My first car was a Wolsey 1500 after passing my test as a learner in a bus. Just as well I had learnt to double declutch as synchro had gone in second gear. Picked the car up and within 15 min accidentally pulled out in front of a police car ( I hadn’t driven at night before) first car and first endorsement! I loved it and would love to drive one again.
About this presentation. Thank you for your thoughtful perspectives which enlightens our understanding of how and why this wonderful auto came into being.
Just to let you know that I am 6.3. and have a wolseley 1500 and I have no problems with my line of vision 're the top of the windscreen. There were 103,000 1500s made. Nice video thanks.
I had a yukon grey one, my first car and loved it. I paid £150 for it in 1967 and learned to maintain it. It also had a starting handle great if the battery was low, you don't get that today. A great little car that was nippy with a 1590 with twin SU's.
What a lovely car Steph and an excellent review. When I was in Australia a few years ago, I saw what I thought was one of these, but in fact it was a Morris Major that was produced by BMC Australia. It was basically the same car with a few changes and Morris badging. I believe they did an Austin version down under as well.
In 1962 all these versions were simplified by just making the revised Morris Major Elite upgraded to the 1622 B series engine. Lowest warranty claims of BMC Australia was a good point for BMC. Lasted until replaced by the Morris 1100 production in 1964.
This was the Golf GTi of its day, deceptively quick and much favoured for rallying and circuit racing. It was reckoned that if you replaced the hooded headlamp rims with flush ones you could squeeze another 5 mph out of it.
Beautiful car and a great review Steph😊 just one niggle, being only medium wave ( MW ) and long wave ( LW ) and only having the one center speaker this would be referred to as a radio rather than a stereo 👍🏼👍🏼 ie FM and two speakers👍🏼
WOW Steph - that is one beautiful car. In the early 60s, our neighbours sister had one of these in an almost salmon pink colour, while her brother in law had a Riley 2.6 - can you get one of those to review ?????? Thanks Steph for another superb video - take special care 🙂 X X
My first car was a Wolseley 1500 in light grey .I loved that car and remember doing a trip on it from London to Lands end .Payed £100 for it around 1975 .It was already 10 years old .One of the main differences the Riley had was that it had 2 carbs versus the one mine had . If i ever come into some money i would love to get a restored one .
We had a Wolseley 1500 in the late 50s. It was a great car. We loved the wood finish and the overall style. However the Riley was really the one to have because of its slightly sportier image and its beautiful grill. While we loved the Wolseley there was an unspoken wish that we had the Riley - Never mentioned it to our father though ! Really enjoyed your review - Thanks.
Lovely. I prefer these to the Morris Minor but not because it's a more upmarket car, I just prefer the pontoon styling. The dashboard is like a work of art.
That car is gorgeous. Love the maroon colour and biscuit trim combination. The radiator and air filter box shine as much as the rest of the car.😍 Woodwork beautiful. Full credit to the owner who has invested a lot of money on this. I love it.
"That car is gorgeous."
I agree, the bodywork is immaculate.
What a wonderful car, restored or not. Beautiful restoration, though. It is what I consider the image of British motors of that era: small but with excellent design, with thoughtful, luxurious additions, and excellent mechanicals (for that period). North American manufacturers always thought small meant cheap, and they built accordingly. As a result, there was never a small, stylish car with luxury appointments. Excellent video (as always!). Thank you, Steph.
Well said!
I had use of one of these back in the 1980s,I was always surprised how quick it was,the riley was perfectly capable of keeping up with modern traffic
That's a coincidence so did i, got it out of barn in North Yorkshire (there were also a couple of heralds and an austin atlantic.) Did some basic body work restoration but it really needed more. Cumberland green with two tone green and cream leather upholstery, slightly earlier model than this with the 'bullet' type wrap around indicators. Was capable of racing MGB's once i got the engine tuned up by a local firm. Handling needed brave hands on the wheel because of the way it wallowed at the front end, too stiff at the back (7 leaf cart springs and that soft front suspension with lever arm dampers) but once it had wallowed it would actually corner quite predictably. i ran it up until the early 2000's. Now it is sitting in my garage and has been for 20 years and really does need restoring but haven't the time or money... i went all over the country in it, never let me down, because i maintained it. though i did snap a half shaft! which i changed at the roadside, i carried a spare because it had a reputation for doing that. cheap and easy to maintain and as you say, fast. a bit too fast for the suspension set up. My mum told me that it was regarded as 'over engined' when it came out and knew several people who had gone into hedges or walls trying to corner one! Loved the tappety sound of the engine on start up - like a Sopwith camel is how one of my friends described it. (tappets to be adjusted HOT to get the valve timing correct) I would love to get it going again.
I had the slightly more sedate Wolseley 1500 as my first car in 1971. Cost me £29 from a friend of my brother - including a full tank of petrol. Never missed a beat.
@@gw8486 My brother had the Wolsley 1500, he got it for next to nothing from his girlfriends father, in the 1970's he drove me around in it, that's when i decided to find the Riley version as my first car (cost £50), they were both very reliable. The snapped half shaft was a result of 'axle tramp' due to my enthusiastic driving style. I used to call my Riley 'Mr reliability'. if only cars were made like this now!
@@fuccasound3897what a fascinating story. You certainly know your cars and engines. And sounds like you have a real passion for them too. Cumberland green and two tone leather interior sounds beautiful! They just don't make 'em like they used to. 😢
Thanks Steph, another really nice informative review. Just one thing - it's a radio, not a stereo 🙂
What a lovely little car. Somebody obviously loves it.
When I was a teenager, one of my friends had a Wolseley 1500 in blue. It was a lovely car, always looked smart and lasted for ages. Nice review!
Looked like it had just came out of the showroom. What a beautiful car.
This Riley 1.5 litre is very nice so shiny under the bonnet and a very good restoration and who doesn't love a wood dash board so classy
That is a beautiful and timeless piece of design. The interior is a delight to be in and the car complements the English countryside perfectly. It is THE car to take for a picnic on a summer's day with a wicker basket hamper, proper crockery and cutlery and tea in a cup and saucer. The car is England in automotive design. Perfect.
Hi from Sydney, Australia. Back when I was a kid in the mid 1950's we had 5 versions of this body, The Riley, 1.5litre same as this car you are driving, the Wolseley version, Austin Lancer, Morris Elite, then later The Morris Major Elite which had an Aussie exclusive bigger engine and added on "fin" caps attached to the tops of the rear mudguards, this latter type were made in bigger numbers , and that local engine had long use lifetimes , many on the roads for 3 plus decades, owned by elderly people who had to make a car last being pensioners, additionally the Aussie engine was known to last so the vehicles became a favorite of the elderly whom could not afford costly repairs.
Built back in the day when the British people could be proud of what they designed, built/manufactured & exported valued products by those who bought them, as you knew you were really getting what you had just paid for, plus when you had finished with it, the said item could be again resold and your purchasing funds recouped.
Absolutely beautiful restoration. Love it!
Too nice for somebody like me, a credit to the owner.
I had one of these, one of the last they made which was registered in April 1965, EAY 582C. It was Bermuda blue with blue leather seats. A very lively car for the time. I had it for a while and then part exchanged it for a Rover P6 2000. The Riley was a lovely car.
Leicester Reg.
@@johnwarner6345Yes, I was actually a Leicester police officer at the time.
We had a few of these in Canada in the late 50s/early 60s. In the mid 60s I was driving VW Beetles and came across one of these in a wrecker's yard. It appeared to be in very nice condition so I asked if I could buy it. I was told "No" because once consigned to the wreckers the papers had to be handed in to the DOT. Imagine my surprise and annoyance when I saw the owner of the wrecking yard driving it later on. We also had the Riley version of the Mini which was pretty but very rare. A friend had a 1958 MG Magnette ZB with the same1500 B series engine as this Riley 1.5. I got to drive it several times and it was a real delight. Have you done (or will do) a review of a Magnette ZA or ZB? I've come across TH-cam videos of people in the UK dropping in V8 engines. That would be a nice package.
Thank you Steph, you have made my day. I had one of these in the same colour (Damask Red - and yes, grey leather interior) which I restored in the 1980s. I absolutely loved driving it. Unfortunately a redundancy in the early 90s forced me to sell. I have always regretted that and miss this wonderful car. Perhaps, now I am retired, I should find another good example to enjoy?
Excellent review, thanks Steph. Got to say it makes a change for the speedo in a classic car to not be bouncing around like a mad thing! The speedo in this Rily looks to be operating perfectly 👌
It clearly wears a T-shirt with a message that reads: "Keep Calm and Indicate Velocity". 😁
Sweet, genteel motorcar ❤❤ great video Steph!
Thank you! Got spoilt with this one
Steph's in her autumn plumage I see. Halloween must be on the horizon lol.
I do love these old motors. We all rave about the Astons and Ferraris and Rollses etc, but it's always nice to see more "bread and butter" cars of any age.
Rather have these "luxury" smaller cars, then the exotics.
I prefer all the normal people stuff x
Love your channel. My Mom replaced her Morris Minor in 1960 with a Riley 1.5. I rode on the backseat in my crib, even at a year old, when she went on home visits to her patients , which GPs did routinely in those days. Her car was two tone blue and grey and she kept it for ten years, replacing it with an Austin Maxi. The Riley remained her favourite.
When I was attending junior secondary school in Canada in the early 1960s there was a Riley 1.5 parked in the teachers' parking lot. I could see it from some of my classrooms. It was a favourite. Maroon in colour, as well.
Beautifully restored car. Thank you.
Isn’t it just!
The Riley 1.5 pre-dated the Austin/Morris Mini Cooper as BMC'S first 'factory hot rod' which featured what was essentially a Morris Minor with an MGA engine and transmission. Great little cars but as with many cars of the era the dreaded 'tin worm' took it's toll. I could be wrong but I think the Riley and MG 'B' series engines were finished in red rather than green. Good choice of vehicle Steph.
Had a 1960 Mk1 with the better (IMO) grille, two tone reg/grey leather and custom grey/metallic maroon (Jaguar) lower sides. Mk1's had coarser grille ribs and it wrapped round to the wheel arch flare not chopped off short. It had an original GREEN engine, twin 1.5" whereas Wolseley was single 1.25" I think. 706 PPD
In Australia they became the Austin Lancer and Morris Major. They ended up with the biggest B Series engines and ‘57 Chevy fins. Great cars. I restored one. And put twin SUs on it. It was brilliantly fast. Capable handling and I did the brakes to match.
One of my earliest childhood memories (1964/5) was of my father's Riley 1.5, reg no. KOJ226. It had a blue over cream two-tone paint job. He was a Sales Manager and spent a lot of time on the road, then at weekends we'd drive down from the Midlands to the south coast for a day out. It was a comfortable car and cruised happily at 70 on the M5.
I drive a Morris Major series 1 here in Australia ( same body as the Riley, Wolsey, Austin) as a daily driver for over 15 years, great little car .. I regret selling it now although it did break axles at times...
My third car was a Riley 1.5. You're right about the half shafts tending to break - I'm informed they were standard Morris Minor items and weren't up to the torque of the B-series.
I learnt to drive in this car WCY376 in 1967. I drove our family from Swansea to St Austell , Cornwall in 1969 to stay with our grandparents it was tiring, but I felt triumphant at the end of the trip. Being able to use it for local trips was freedom in my late teens.
Major props to the owner of this beautiful Riley 1.5. I love the way you presented it. It seems like a Morris Minor that went to finishing school. :-)
I live in the U.S. and I enjoy your videos. I'm able to see cars that are different and the British country side.
Do venture over and enjoy our countryside!
@@VickersDoorter maybe one day!!!
Quality'sympathetic restoration to a nice formal motor
In the mid 60s I learnt to drive in one well the guy teaching me had a Wolseley to start with then he swapped it for the Riley version for a learner the Riley had the advantage of having a rev counter so doing hill starts he told me to get the engine speed to the correct level and slowly let the clutch out and it worked no slipping back once you know what you are doing it is not a problem but I always remember that they really was lovely little cars I passed my test after ten lessons at the age of 18.
Always loved a Riley 1500 Who wouldn't! Great reviww Thanks
I had hoped Riley 1.5 or Wolseley 1500 would be my first car , but couldn’t afford one . Got a Triumph TR3A as a student and now in my seventies drive an ND MX5 , but would still love that Riley , for my old age .
This is the car I learned to drive in, using a book entitled Car Driving in Two weeks, and I did! Loved the acceleration with the twin carbs.
One of my all-time favourite Classic cars! I love it!
Thanks for sharing Steph, nice car and beautiful colour. Similar colour to my Morris Minor. Burgundy. 😊👍
Yours is lovely Maroon B isn’t it?
@@idriveaclassic it's actually Rolls Royce burgundy. It would have been originally Belmont Green.
The original Riley red colour was known as "Damask Red". I still have the spray cans to prove it! 😄
Great presentation, Steph, of a beautiful car. I love everything about its looks - inside and out.
1955 was totally not in the peripheral vision of Americans with regards to British cars. Gratefully we are revisiting the automobile thinking of that era in GB. This Riley shows amazing planning and foresight. So many details were so innovative and intended for the drivers' needs in the British Isles. Today we all must admire the beautiful results of their planning. I would proudly drive one now were I be allowed to have one.
My first car was a Riley 1.5 purchased for £35 from a neighbour in 1973 and ran it for 2 years. Silver with red leather upholstery and a walnut finish ..... beautiful!
What an absolutely beautiful little car. I can remember them from being a kid in the 1960's and there were still quite a few around when I first past my test in 1972. I always thought they were a wonderfully designed and pretty little car that stood out from the crowd back in its day.
This is a beautifully restored car. Small but very upmarket looking in this color scheme.
Very professional review of the stylish Riley 1.5. The number of hits and comments indicate a keen interest in the car and the professionalism of the presenter.
It makes me so pleased that in August 2023, I purchased a restored 1960 Riley 1.5 mk1 in Leaf Green. It is a wonderful classic car to own and drive and I will make sure that it is used carefully and well maintained and preserved for whoever owns it after me.
I greatly enjoyed the video.
What a beautiful little car,love the way the spare is stored😊
Wow, I'm in the U.S. but I'm surprised I've never heard of the Riley. Beautiful car!
a little gem Steph
I bought my first car in 1973, a 1964 Riley 1.5 for £95. The twin carbs of the Riley, compared to the sister Wolseley 1500 gave it a decent feel of briskness. Never noticed any engine or gearbox problems at 70'ish on the motorway. Rather susceptible to winds there though..., never worked out whether that was tired suspension, chassis or what. A few years prior.., the family car had been a 1961 Hillman Minx 1500. In retrospect, I'd say the Minx was a nicer driving experience. No complaints about the Riley though.
Thank you for posting this video.., enjoyed.
Nice car and colour . I love the spare tyre, boot space. Greetings from Canada.❤
This was my first car after passing my driving test at 17 way back in 1969. I did love it and wish I could get another. Lovely review.
As someone that restores cars for a living, this car is superb. It has all the sights and sound of British vehicles of the era. I can even imaging the smell.
Thankyou.
I love the sound from the exhaust when you change gear on the old cars
I like Rileys style. I appreciate your presentation. Thank you from TN, USA
That was a very enjoyable review. It is a most attractive car: it exudes quality. The restoration was very well done.
Charming little car , string back gloves would be the order of the day for trips out. Loved the gear whine when you set off. Maybe overdrive would have been the solution for motorway cruising.
Love. The. Look. The stance. The grill. Tail lights. Eye. Catching. Thanks ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Steph.....you got it!...great presentation skills that really hold interest. This car in the 1950's was not possible for most of us young men. At the time, £1000 a year salary was confined to solicitors, bank officials, managers etc. The Morris Minor sold for £300-350...I know 'cus a guy in our Squadron won £350 on the Treble Chance pools and bought a 1000cc Minor for £335.10s!....he immediately became the best pal of 20 airmen!
Nope.....the glittering Riley One Point Five was out of reach.....bearing in mind, the cheaper houses then weren't far off £1,500.
We used to drool over the Riley's three gauges; the Minor has one...
Well done again on bringing the Riley to modern eyes...a tantalizing dream of a young man in the 1950's!
These are beautiful cars Steph and I would have one tomorrow, loved them since I was a kid (Yes I was once a kid 🤣🤣🤣). They are just so stylish and classy.
Classy is the perfect word!
Living in Glasgow I love when you say your from "way up north" 😂
That’s a fine looking car Steph!
Nice rorty exhaust note on startup, bit of a contrast to that innocuous Morris Minor putt-putt... Surprised to see the steering wheel just the standard BMC fits-all with a Riley horn button.
Hard to believe these things were considered "sporty" back in the day, but they were, I remember them. A woman used to park one across the road from my childhood home (talking 1968 - 72ish). My dad had an Austin Cambridge A55 at the time, which started out with the same engine as the one in your Riley. He later replaced it with the 1622cc unit from a rolled A60.
Hello Steph. Not sure if you already knew and just didn't mention it, but the lesser equipped Morris version did actually exist, in Australia. BMC Australia built the Morris Major and Austin Lancer versions, which did actually sell quite well, comparative to the Minor, possibly because we always enjoyed our cars a little larger down here. Series 1, 1958/59, and an updated series 2, 1959-62, after which the Austin badged car was dropped, and the Morris gaining another facelift, and named the Major Elite. That was then replaced in 64 by the front drive Morris 1100. Quite basic, as you would expect from the lower range brands, but the Wolseley was also produced here in much smaller numbers. We didn't get the Riley locally, but I do believe some were privately imported. Good video on this one, as per your usual standard. Enjoying your content.
I was 4 years old, when my Father had a Riley, back in 1963 - it was and still is, my favourite car he ever owned.
You picked a goodun there, Steph. Thanks largely to the owner's fine restoration.
It was a great review of a wonderful car.
I've been hoping you'd test a Riley for quite a while now.
When my brother learned to drive in 1969 he desperately wanted a Wolseley 1500 but somehow ended up with one of these, which in Australia, they were literally unheard of and highly prized by enthusiasts. I remember the factory colour was the most ghastly shade of pale green.
I went on holiday in 1964 to Spain with three other mates in one of these all the way from Yorkshire to Sitges and back.There wasn't any drive on ferries at that time it was craned on and lowered into the hold.Amazing memories of a different time.Very sporty car,it had twin WEbber carburetors if my memory serves me right.
It even had a rev counter. I knew that would surprise you. A rev counter was just pure luxury! 🍭👍👑
What a lovely little car the interior so beautiful and tasteful unlike modern cars with all hard black plastics
Thanks for that Steph a "beautiful classic" this car was part of my childhood. It's such a shame that you were not BORN in the 60's it's obvious how much you LOVE the 60's. I consider myself "privileged" to have grown up in the late 50's and through the 60's.
Mine was in black, with red upholstery. I recall the registration number as 7662 VT. I bought it in 1971, I think, from a work colleague for £200 and I enjoyed it for several years, from my late teens to early twenties.
A lovely car, one of my favourites when I was young. I would love to own one.
As always Steph an excellent review of a car familiar to me in my younger days. I was surprised to hear it was designed to replace the humble Morris Minor as I had always understood it to be a replacement for the Palmer designed MG Magnette and Wolseley 15/50 which although successful were expensive to produce hence using the Minors underpinnings as the basis for their replacement.
love the way the pattern of your frock reflected in the speedo bezel.
My very first car! Bought it in about 1972. Lovely car, even an old one like had felt like quality. 😊
Mine was a blur 1965 one, bought 2 years old in 67. I loved it, such a big step up from a mini van and previous Austin A35! with 68 hp after 35hp it felt like a rocket. However, I do remember driving the A35 at 80mph on stretches of the old A1, before speed limits of course. So fast cruising in the 1.5 was no problem.
I did a mechanical engineering apprenticeship in 1963 and loved the cars we got to work on. I have little or no interest in the modern cars, they are so boring and bland you just can’t really tell one from the other. Thank you for your channel, it’s so nice to be reminded of how lucky I was working on these vehicles.
I owned Riley 1.5 in the early 60's. It was a 1957 model same colour as yours, Damask Red I think it was. I still have the Owner's Handbook, I think. This followed a 1958 MG Magnette ZB. Considering the MG was supposed to be the sporty range it didn't have a rev counter so the Riley was a step up. Thanks for bringing some happy memories back for me.
Thanks for the memories Steph! My very first memory I have was in one of these - going with my dad and gran to visit my mum in hospital after the birth of my wee sister.
As a youngster in the 60s, these and likley the Wolseley, often seemed to really bombing along, Clearly remember them always overtaking dad's car. Used to admire them.
A very nice Riley One-Five. It has been restored to a high standard and I do like the choice of interior colour on the seats and door cards. I am being very picky here but it is not a stereo Steph as it has only one speaker thus a mono. Thanks for another great review Steph. 👍👍
My wife’s uncle had one of these, which he sold around 10 years ago. I remember going for a Sunday drive in it…..lovely classic and nice car to drive. The ‘Ave Maria brakes’ did nearly catch me out though!!!! 🤣
That’s a lovely car👍 My first car was a Wolsey 1500 after passing my test as a learner in a bus. Just as well I had learnt to double declutch as synchro had gone in second gear. Picked the car up and within 15 min accidentally pulled out in front of a police car ( I hadn’t driven at night before) first car and first endorsement! I loved it and would love to drive one again.
Gorgeous car, great colour! Thank you for sharing and your very interesting background to it.
I would absolutely recommend a Woolsley/Riley 1500 or a MM as a cheap, usable classic, both good fun to drive, very reliable too
Beautiful car & colour! 😍😍
About this presentation. Thank you for your thoughtful perspectives which enlightens our understanding of how and why this wonderful auto came into being.
Steph's explanation is as beautiful as the dashboard.
Just to let you know that I am 6.3. and have a wolseley 1500 and I have no problems with my line of vision 're the top of the windscreen. There were 103,000 1500s made. Nice video thanks.
Got one of these in the garage. Must get round to finishing it off at some point!! Great video.
Wonderful review of a beautifully styled and restored car ❤
I have a Riley1.5 on my ever increasing car wish list. Great video of a wonderfully restored car. Thank you Steph. 😀👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I had a yukon grey one, my first car and loved it. I paid £150 for it in 1967 and learned to maintain it. It also had a starting handle great if the battery was low, you don't get that today. A great little car that was nippy with a 1590 with twin SU's.
What a lovely car Steph and an excellent review. When I was in Australia a few years ago, I saw what I thought was one of these, but in fact it was a Morris Major that was produced by BMC Australia. It was basically the same car with a few changes and Morris badging. I believe they did an Austin version down under as well.
Morris Major and Austin Lancer. BMC Australia was also responsible for the Morris Marshall, a badge-engineered A95 Westminster.
In 1962 all these versions were simplified by just making the revised Morris Major Elite upgraded to the 1622 B series engine. Lowest warranty claims of BMC Australia was a good point for BMC.
Lasted until replaced by the Morris 1100 production in 1964.
This was the Golf GTi of its day, deceptively quick and much favoured for rallying and circuit racing. It was reckoned that if you replaced the hooded headlamp rims with flush ones you could squeeze another 5 mph out of it.
Beautiful car and a great review Steph😊 just one niggle, being only medium wave ( MW ) and long wave ( LW ) and only having the one center speaker this would be referred to as a radio rather than a stereo 👍🏼👍🏼 ie FM and two speakers👍🏼
Lovely car. Thanks for the video Steph.
What a lovely little car, very quick for it's time, a very underrated classic.
WOW Steph - that is one beautiful car. In the early 60s, our neighbours sister had one of these in an almost salmon pink colour, while her brother in law had a Riley 2.6 - can you get one of those to review ?????? Thanks Steph for another superb video - take special care 🙂 X X
I remember them still being about in the 1970's. I did not know they were based on the Minor or a posh version of it though. Interesting video.
I think the 1.5 is one of the most beautiful cars ever. They really do look classic!
My first car was a Wolseley 1500 in light grey .I loved that car and remember doing a trip on it from London to Lands end .Payed £100 for it around 1975 .It was already 10 years old .One of the main differences the Riley had was that it had 2 carbs versus the one mine had . If i ever come into some money i would love to get a restored one .
We had a Wolseley 1500 in the late 50s. It was a great car. We loved the wood finish and the overall style. However the Riley was really the one to have because of its slightly sportier image and its beautiful grill. While we loved the Wolseley there was an unspoken wish that we had the Riley - Never mentioned it to our father though ! Really enjoyed your review - Thanks.
Lovely. I prefer these to the Morris Minor but not because it's a more upmarket car, I just prefer the pontoon styling. The dashboard is like a work of art.
I passed my driving test 1st time in a Riley 1.5 in early 1960, beautiful car to drive and very comfortable.