Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics present a very rare "barn find" example of this
1951 Riley RMD 2 1/2 Litre Drophead Coupe with it's original 2443cc
2.5L DOHC Inline-4 engine although please note that this is a
non-running car will need a total restoration. The car is
incredibly rare and very desirable amongst collectors and
enthusiasts as it is reportedly 1 of only 503 built in total with
only about 50 left that are known to exist. This was also the final
year of production for the RMD and it has simply spectacular
original factory color Blue paint.Finished in it's original factory
'Blue' color paint with a 'Tan color interior, which is actually in
quite good condition all things considered, and which would be
indicative of the car's reported low original 17K miles. The car
also has its original wheels. The convertible roof has rotted away
and there is some minor rust.By the time the RM series appeared in
1945, the great days of Riley had sadly passed. Founded in 1898,
the company had made it's reputation in the 1920's and 1930's with
a series of very well built and regarded saloons and thoroughbred
sports cars. It had forged a very fine racing record too, but by
the late 1930's finances were looking shaky and the Nuffield
organization took the helm in 1938 and Riley became part of the
Morris-MG-Wolseley Nuffield Organization. Even so the immediate
post war cars managed to retain their individuality and the RMA
amp; RMB models had a classic high cam 4 cylinder engine, torsion
bar independent front suspension amp; elegant fabric topped, timber
framed steel bodywork bodies. The 1 1/2 litre RMB could manage 75
mph whilst the most desirable RMB produced a highly respectable 95
mph with long geared cruising at about 85mph. With the longest
stroke of any post war British production car, the RMB's were
extremely torquey too. They handled well, despite heavy steering at
low speeds.For enthusiasts the two RM variants were the RMC with
cut-away doors and which was a three seater roadster and the RMD
drop head coupe, both of which were built in very limited numbers
(507 RMC's amp; 502 RMD's) to capture the American sales, with the
RMC sporting an Amercian style column gearchanger, a fold-flat
screen and lowered bonnet line amp; with the RMD Drophead Coupe
boasting a standard sports 4 speed manual transmission matched to
it's sport 2 1/2 liter engine! Built solely for the American
market, 507 RMC's were sold along with a further 502 four seater
drophead RMD's and these two variants have proved to be the most
sought after and desirable by collectors. Last of the RM line would
be the 1952 RME (1496cc) and RMF (2443cc) with full hydraulic
brakes, a hypoid back axle and bigger rear windows with the final
run being built in 1955.All in all, the RM, announced in 1945, had
preserved the Riley character with a technically advanced chassis
and with coach-built body choices of definite sporting flair.
Riley's own engine was continued, featuring hemispherical
combustion chambers and twin camshafts operating inclined valves
through short pushrods. Riley RM-series cars, often called the last
of the real Riley's, were among the first new British designs after
WWII. The successful pre-war engine design was carried over a
featured hemispherical combustion chambers, dual overhead camshafts
and dual SU carburetors. Mated to a 4-speed manual transmission the
Riley was reportedly capable of over 100 mph and examples are
highly sought after today by both collectors and enthusiasts.The
extraordinarily rare 1951 Riley RMD 2 Liter Drophead Coupe offered
here is therefore a wonderfully well preserved example for
restoration by the right enthusiast and hails from the final year
of the Riley Convertible production. As one of few as 50 known
examples today, this Rileys sure to prove a wonderful addition to
any British classic sports car enthusiasts collection.