HMC architecte britannique

[lesapandre]

Or modded it with minor work to create the Wolseley or Morris or MG - just like BMC or even a Di Tella - the exotic cousin. No estate or Di Tella pick-up - the latter the Cybertruck of the 60's 😂

Of course their factory may have been at full capacity so there was not the opportunity?

But I think there was not the same collectable market in those days - these were 'just' kids toys?

[lesapandre]

Family had two of these new in the 60's - a maroon and a grey I recall. These were company cars bought new each year - after that it was only Cortinas.

[Yoss]

This belonged to a friend (the Riley I mean, the Triumph was mine) 

This was circa 1990 and neither of us had long passed our tests. Perfect transport for 20 year olds. 

It was the earlier 4/68 not the 4/72 so it was only a 1500. I don't know how much difference the twin carbs made but it didn't go too badly and did a good job of keeping up with the Triumph, which admittedly was an auto. It had what BMC described as bucket seats in place of the front bench because it was a sporty Riley but they were nothing of the sort. They were just individual front seats, there was nothing bucket about them at all.

My friend drove it very enthusiastically indeed, we were only 20 after all, it's what you did. I mean it sort of went round corners quite well in its own sort of way but it certainly wasn't relaxing for the passenger. My mate was OK, he had a steering wheel to hang on to. But there were no armrests or anything to hang on to so I had to put my hands down either side, grab the sides of the seat frame and pull myself down in to it. If you had the bench you wouldn't be able to even do that so I assume you just slid from side to side. 

Also of note in this picture was my neighbours Granny Ghia Coupe. He was about our age too, I didn't realise it then but what a great time to start driving. It was originally that metallic blue they came in but he had it resprayed bright red. You'd never do that now of course but different times. I still see him very occasionally when he's visiting his mum at the same time I'm visiting mine and he always has some sort of E34 or E39 5 series these days (and for about the last 20 years) 

And then there's the Volvo which was just everyday car back then. 

 

[danthecapriman]

1 hour ago, Yoss said:

This belonged to a friend (the Riley I mean, the Triumph was mine) 

This was circa 1990 and neither of us had long passed our tests. Perfect transport for 20 year olds. 

It was the earlier 4/68 not the 4/72 so it was only a 1500. I don't know how much difference the twin carbs made but it didn't go too badly and did a good job of keeping up with the Triumph, which admittedly was an auto. It had what BMC described as bucket seats in place of the front bench because it was a sporty Riley but they were nothing of the sort. They were just individual front seats, there was nothing bucket about them at all.

My friend drove it very enthusiastically indeed, we were only 20 after all, it's what you did. I mean it sort of went round corners quite well in its own sort of way but it certainly wasn't relaxing for the passenger. My mate was OK, he had a steering wheel to hang on to. But there were no armrests or anything to hang on to so I had to put my hands down either side, grab the sides of the seat frame and pull myself down in to it. If you had the bench you wouldn't be able to even do that so I assume you just slid from side to side. 

Also of note in this picture was my neighbours Granny Ghia Coupe. He was about our age too, I didn't realise it then but what a great time to start driving. It was originally that metallic blue they came in but he had it resprayed bright red. You'd never do that now of course but different times. I still see him very occasionally when he's visiting his mum at the same time I'm visiting mine and he always has some sort of E34 or E39 5 series these days (and for about the last 20 years) 

And then there's the Volvo which was just everyday car back then. 

 

Compare that to the utter shit people usually have now as first cars. 
You’re right though, you guys of that age definitely did have it good in that respect. I think I just about caught the tail end of that sort of thing about a decade later, but it wasn’t much longer after that all the interesting stuff dried up and first cars started to become new crap on leases or new crap on daddy’s credit card!

[danthecapriman]

Also, another model/toy I forgot about until this morning. Another one you old biddy’s guys might remember from your childhood.

Triang Spot-On.

[lesapandre]

1 hour ago, Yoss said:

This belonged to a friend (the Riley I mean, the Triumph was mine) 

This was circa 1990 and neither of us had long passed our tests. Perfect transport for 20 year olds. 

It was the earlier 4/68 not the 4/72- so it was only a 1500. I don't know how much difference the twin carbs made but it didn't go too badly and did a good job of keeping up with the Triumph, which admittedly was an auto. It had what BMC described as bucket seats in place of the front bench because it was a sporty Riley but they were nothing of the sort. They were just individual front seats, there was nothing bucket about them at all.

My friend drove it very enthusiastically indeed, we were only 20 after all, it's what you did. I mean it sort of went round corners quite well in its own sort of way but it certainly wasn't relaxing for the passenger. My mate was OK, he had a steering wheel to hang on to. But there were no armrests or anything to hang on to so I had to put my hands down either side, grab the sides of the seat frame and pull myself down in to it. If you had the bench you wouldn't be able to even do that so I assume you just slid from side to side. 

Also of note in this picture was my neighbours Granny Ghia Coupe. He was about our age too, I didn't realise it then but what a great time to start driving. It was originally that metallic blue they came in but he had it resprayed bright red. You'd never do that now of course but different times. I still see him very occasionally when he's visiting his mum at the same time I'm visiting mine and he always has some sort of E34 or E39 5 series these days (and for about the last 20 years) 

And then there's the Volvo which was just everyday car back then. 

 

The 4/68-72 was in production from 1959 - the 2000 from 1963. Shows the difference between Standard Triumph and BMC design philosophy and products. Interestingly of course both with Italian designed bodies.

Price-wise the Triumph was £1094 in 1963 and the Riley  £1,028 in 1959.

The Farina Rileys sold about 25,000 units - not stellar sales over 10 years - high price may be being one of the inhibitors.  They really were mopping up the ageing 'we always have Riley' clientele perhaps - and satisfying the dealerships. 

Though being dear old BMC Riley were set up in competition with themselves with the slightly smaller Riley One-Point-Five and similar Wolseley 1500 up to 1965.

4/68 was the most expensive Farina on offer.

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

The steering wheel thingy off the roof?

Yep, that's the one. Also had a German police beetle where the blue light was used to steer.

[Yoss]

27 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

The 4/68-72 was in production from 1959 - the 2000 from 1963. Shows the difference between Standard Triumph and BMC design philosophy and products. Interestingly of course both with Italian designed bodies.

Price-wise the Triumph was £1094 in 1963 and the Riley  £1,028 in 1959.

The Farina Rileys sold about 25,000 units - not stellar sales over 10 years - high price may be being one of the inhibitors.  They really were mopping up the ageing 'we always have Riley' clientele perhaps - and satisfying the dealerships. 

Though being dear old BMC Riley were set up in competition with themselves with the slightly smaller Riley One-Point-Five and similar Wolseley 1500 up to 1965.

4/68 was the most expensive Farina on offer.

The Riley interior was certainly a cut above  the rest of the Farinas with very comprehensive set of gauges. 

And these are the 'bucket' seats in the 4/68. They improved them for the 4/72.

As you say they were the most expensive small Farina which makes me wonder how close in price they were to the Westminster. That must have had an effect on sales if you could have big Farina for a few quid more. 

[lesapandre]

AI says £1148 including tax in 1959 for the Yesminister. The Wolseley would be more. They never made a big Riley version which is a pity - as a high performance big Farina with the Austin Healey 3000 tune would have been interesting.

I suppose the VDP filled that slot. The 4-Litre R puts out a stonking 190bhp. They also never considered a VDP version of the smaller Farina either as a range-topper though they did modify the 1100.

Eccentric bunch BMC.

That Riley is nicely finished inside. Though actually all the Farinas were very comfortable and well-appointed. Mostly leather I think on all of them - the Morris may have had PVC. They were a carefully made car exuding old-world care. Beautifully detailed - items like the bumpers are very well thought through - I think they are stainless steel or very high quality chrome?

The design is not all Pininfarina - Dick Burzi chief designer at Longbridge worked with them.

[Yoss]

The last Oxfords were definitely vynil but it was 1972 by then. But you're right, the Austin/Morris had less wood and instruments but what they did have was still of the same quality as the higher spec cars. I love the metal dash on the Oxfords. 

[captain_70s]

I do like a Farina, the Wolseley is my favourite, particularly the 15/60 with the cathedral tail lights and upmarket interior. The earlier Austin/Morris have quite a harsh front end, which I always feel looks a bit unfinished, but the 1961 update cuts down the tail fins...

I've seen at least one Mostin estate equipped with a Wolseley front end and interior, which is a cool idea.

Not sure if I'd say they were indestructible, water soluble might be closer the mark...

[camryv6]

17 hours ago, N Dentressangle said:

Looking at the indicator / sidelight positions, probably a Series II rather than a IIA, plus a tropical roof - worth a few £££

It also has the deep sill covers, so yes a sII rather than a sIIa

[lesapandre]

1 hour ago, captain_70s said:

I do like a Farina, the Wolseley is my favourite, particularly the 15/60 with the cathedral tail lights and upmarket interior. The earlier Austin/Morris have quite a harsh front end, which I always feel looks a bit unfinished, but the 1961 update cuts down the tail fins...

I've seen at least one Mostin estate equipped with a Wolseley front end and interior, which is a cool idea.

Not sure if I'd say they were indestructible, water soluble might be closer the mark...

There were some niches BMC never exploited. An upmarket estate car was one. They really left it to Rootes with that niche with the Singer Vogue and Humber estates. But I don't think they even sold a lot - maybe the demand was just not there.

A Farina Countryman is very cool.  The Wolseley would have been called the 'Shire' or 'County' or some other more upmarket name. Ford had already nabbed 'Squire'.

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, captain_70s said:

Not sure if I'd say they were indestructible

The story BITD was that on banger tracks the sides could fall off. Not sure how true it was, though.

[HMC]

I think its probably more about an over engineered hull (through ignorance rather than intent) than inherent rust resistance.

 

[Yoss]

3 hours ago, lesapandre said:

There were some niches BMC never exploited. An upmarket estate car was one. They really left it to Rootes with that niche with the Singer Vogue and Humber estates. But I don't think they even sold a lot - maybe the demand was just not there.

 

Ahem, I think you forgot this. 

 

[lesapandre]

I did! Not a BMC car but one of the rivals before the merger. Very classy.

I didn't mention the Ford and Vauxhall specials - but they were farmed out and I don't think sold in any numbers?

[artdjones]

8 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Though being dear old BMC Riley were set up in competition with themselves with the slightly smaller Riley One-Point-Five and similar Wolseley 1500 up to 1965.

They were doing what VAG have been doing with VW, Skoda and Seat for the last 25 years. When the Germans do it it's marketing genius.

[artdjones]

On 25/01/2025 at 14:11, montytom said:

Lovely looking cambridge little bit younger than my wolseley they really are lovely cars

Is the rear hubcap missing or resting in the boot?

[Mally]

8 hours ago, lesapandre said:

 

Though being dear old BMC Riley were set up in competition with themselves with the slightly smaller Riley One-Point-Five and similar Wolseley 1500 up to 1965.

 

Here's one I made earlier.

 

About 1968

[montytom]

1 hour ago, artdjones said:

Is the rear hubcap missing or resting in the boot?

It was missing but they were cheap chinese ones so I bought the proper wolseley version

[bangernomics]

By God I remember them looking like that as a kid in the 80s

As do I in the 70’s the local banger guys at the opposite end of the double headed cul-de-sac to my grandfathers old corporation house.

I spent hours annoying them as a 6yo onwards.

Those fins stay with you. They also latterly moved to granada coupes in the mid 80’s.

[Asimo]

I learned to drive and passed my driving test in a Riley 4/72 that was as scruffy as the A60 in @morrisoxide post.
I would like another BMC Farina, preferably that Riley 8/160 I fantasized about building when I was learning in the 4/72...

[sierraman]

16 hours ago, HMC said:

I think its probably more about an over engineered hull (through ignorance rather than intent) than inherent rust resistance.

 

Only in that scenario would someone be called Dick Dawkins 😂😂

[lesapandre]

5 hours ago, Asimo said:

I learned to drive and passed my driving test in a Riley 4/72 that was as scruffy as the A60 in @morrisoxide post.
I would like another BMC Farina, preferably that Riley 8/160 I fantasized about building when I was learning in the 4/72...

 There are lots in Spain rust-free-ish. They were sold to the Franco government in CKD form when relations thawed in the 1960's.

Various prices from cheap to expensive - this is very nice at €10,000. 

"¡Echa un vistazo a lo que he encontrado en Milanuncios! No te lo vas a creer:

Austin A55 Cambridge MARC 2

https://www.milanuncios.com/venta-de-coches-clasicos/austin-a55-cambridge-marc-2-531883686.htm?stc=sm-whatsapp-send_friend-android "

Column change too for added exoticism. 💃 

[lesapandre]

Or this Hoxford Hestate - but you have to go on holiday to Gran Canaria to collect.

¡Echa un vistazo a lo que he encontrado en Milanuncios! No te lo vas a creer:

Morris  - Oxford

https://www.milanuncios.com/venta-de-coches-clasicos/morris-oxford-487722839.htm?stc=sm-whatsapp-send_friend-android

[lesapandre]

And here is another Cambridge wrongly labelled a Maestro - very scruffy but not much visible corrosion. Bench and column change.  A holiday in Tenerife required.

¡Echa un vistazo a lo que he encontrado en Milanuncios! No te lo vas a creer:

Austin - Maestro

https://www.milanuncios.com/austin-de-segunda-mano/austin-maestro-527952836.htm?stc=sm-whatsapp-send_friend-android

[HMC]

Some great finds! A much kinder place for British steel to last in, for sure.

[lesapandre]

Yes. I would speculate that there are more cars than the UK!

[artdjones]

There was nothing wrong with Farinas in 1959, although they don't match up to the French equivalent, the 404. It's just that they were very out of date by 1971.