HMC- incoming BMC Farina

[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 😂😂