Shite at the Vicarage: Riley RMF

[grizz]

That’s such a beautiful car. 
 

Thank you @The Vicar

[The Vicar]

If insurance documents arrive in time for the weekend we could be looking at the maiden voyage this Sunday

[The Vicar]

Storm Éowyn has put a hold on the maiden voyage for now. But I’m going to make the most of an unfortunate situation and do a few small jobs in the meantime. 

My membership to the Riley RM club has come through:

I’ve already ordered a carb float lid to replace a cracked one that was leaking a few tiny drops. The previous owner had mentioned this, and that he would order and send on a replacement. I had forgotten all about it, and the leak was so minor that I just hadn’t even noticed. The p/o contacted me during the week to say that his own membership was up and so he could no longer order it..so he offered to send me the price (£90)! A very generous offer indeed. 

I think my next purchase will be these:

[The Vicar]

Oh, and there’s more news. I’ve just brought this home:

2.4 V6 auto, full service history with 1 owner. I just couldn’t say no. This is the replacement for the Duet which will be going shortly 

[Angrydicky]

On 25/01/2025 at 09:45, The Vicar said:

Storm Éowyn has put a hold on the maiden voyage for now. But I’m going to make the most of an unfortunate situation and do a few small jobs in the meantime. 

My membership to the Riley RM club has come through:

I’ve already ordered a carb float lid to replace a cracked one that was leaking a few tiny drops. The previous owner had mentioned this, and that he would order and send on a replacement. I had forgotten all about it, and the leak was so minor that I just hadn’t even noticed. The p/o contacted me during the week to say that his own membership was up and so he could no longer order it..so he offered to send me the price (£90)! A very generous offer indeed. 

I think my next purchase will be these:

They look like exactly the same Tex mirrors I’ve recently fitted to my Austin Somerset, from ESM Morris Minor spares they come to about £80. You have to order the heads and stems separately.

 

[The Vicar]

I was off to a terrible start with the A6 this week. A little over 24 hours into ownership I discovered that I had no reverse! Panic ensued. Forums and fb groups didn’t calm my nerves, I was hearing all sorts of horror stories: new gearbox TCM, and more than one person suggesting that it was basically a write off. 

It would behave perfectly fine for 15 or so minutes from cold and then lose reverse, and curiously the LCD display would go from this:

(P illuminated when in park, D when in drive etc)

To this:

Completely illuminated. I was truly distraught. I left it with a mechanic who had a look, and just this morning he contacted me to say that my problem was seemingly just a worn/rusty metal contact plate under the gear shifter. It seems to be driving well now, but is still showing the above fault code, so I’ve bought all 7(!) solenoids and am now €350 poorer. Fingers crossed 

[The Vicar]

I did say after my experience with the 18/85 that I would never bother with an old automatic again…and here I am. I do truly hope it’s on the mend though, because it’s such a lovely old thing. 

[Wibble]

Fingers crossed for you.

[GagaStan]

It’s a beautiful old bus for sure. Peak Audi styling as far as I’m concerned!

[The Vicar]

At long last:

I’ll update with a few words tonight!

[2flags]

That looks lovely. A very nice place to sit.

[hairnet]

tá mo chuid oofs go léir imithe

[BorniteIdentity]

This really is a fabulous thread. Fantastic variety of lovely cars.  Keep it up please!

[The Vicar]

On 10/12/2024 at 18:58, The Vicar said:

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/38512261

I am very drawn to this lately too. It’s very rare and very interesting as an original Irish, built-in-Ireland, right hand drive car. A pity about the paint because it looked like this until 2019:

I’m still considering this. I know, the colour isn’t ideal, but it doesn’t put me off completely. 

And on the topic of ugly obscure RHD yank tanks, this has been thrown into the mix now too

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/38963410

[Morris 63]

You do turn up some fascinating things. 

[Westbay]

I'd buy the Plymouth an look at respray for the money ...

[captain_70s]

34 minutes ago, Westbay said:

I'd buy the Plymouth an look at respray for the money ...

10k for the car, another 3-4k to respray it properly (it's a big car!), you'd not be making any money back on it with the way the market is going!

I wonder if it's been sprayed for film work. It sort of looks like various old taxi colour schemes used in the states back in the day - Although I've not seen that exact colour scheme.

[The Vicar]

1 hour ago, captain_70s said:

10k for the car, another 3-4k to respray it properly (it's a big car!), you'd not be making any money back on it with the way the market is going!

I wonder if it's been sprayed for film work. It sort of looks like various old taxi colour schemes used in the states back in the day - Although I've not seen that exact colour scheme.

I’ve mentioned this before, but what intrigues me the most is that the paint job was done to a seemingly very high standard. I had a good look around the car at a classic auction in August and it certainly didn’t look like a cheap blow over to hide bodgework. 

[Cavcraft]

Whoever painted that Plymouth should be sectioned.

[The Vicar]

It’s no secret by now that I like a nice example of even the most ordinary of cars. So I’ve only gone and bought another:

It’s a 1.4 SE, 1 owner from new with 60k miles and FSH. Bought new in London and brought over to Ireland by its Irish owner in 2014 when she presumably retired back here. It’s just a lovely example in every sense, I couldn’t say no. 

I still have the A6, which I’m determined not to give up on, but this is going to take its place as my jump-in-and-drive run around like the Micra did, and the Duet etc. 

[The Vicar]

Some musing - do I want to swap the Riley for a mk1 Cortina auto? 

[Morris 63]

Have you had much of a chance to even drive/enjoy the Riley yet?

[The Vicar]

1 hour ago, Morris 63 said:

Have you had much of a chance to even drive/enjoy the Riley yet?

Oh yes 

 

[Morris 63]

Fantastic stuff, thank you.

What sort of reactions do you get from folks when they see a priest getting out of such a car? Good ones, I trust. 

[The Vicar]

On 18/02/2025 at 15:17, Morris 63 said:

Fantastic stuff, thank you.

What sort of reactions do you get from folks when they see a priest getting out of such a car? Good ones, I trust. 

Apart from a couple of hours on Sunday morning I tend to be in civvies most of the time when I’m in Ireland. The parishioners at the parish I help out at have seen me get out of a Daihatsu Domino too remember!

[Bmwdumptruck]

Def keep the Riley, for now anyway. Always liked the look of these. 

[hairnet]

vag alert lol

plymouth would be cool but riley ftw

 

[artdjones]

The Plymouth has just had €1000 knocked off. I suppose as all the prep was done for the original respray the price of a colour change might not put it too over the top.

[The Vicar]

I’ve been driving this lately:

In one (conjugated) word: giggle-inducing. The noise, the grip, the power. Everything. Yet with the switch of a button it can turn into a civilized “an car” in an instant. It belongs to my brother, who bought it to get out of his work van (an L460 RR) on the weekends; but he reckons it’s actually quite boring, and it may be, but the novelty hasn’t worn off yet for me. 

[hairnet]

hewligan