Shite at the Vicarage: Riley RMF

[somewhatfoolish]

6 hours ago, captain_70s said:

Odd, the next generation of Minx launched in 1948.

That one looks to be a late 1930s model - Postwar cars had an enclosed boot at the back. Perhaps it started it's life abroad and was imported back in 1950?

 

+1; internetting a bit suggests it's ~1936; take a look at this or this. The post war Minxes all seem to have had boots and most with sticky-out bustle boots, so some investigation needed.

 

[The Vicar]

Blunder on my part folks - it’s advertised as a 1950 car (not sure why) but is in fact 1937. 

No rear taillights at all is interesting alright, and more interesting is the fact that a spurious set haven’t been retrofitted as was so often done on older cars. 

Still not sure how I feel about it though. 

[ETCHY]

15 hours ago, The Vicar said:

So for the time being the Ford is a no-go. Got a text from the seller this morning to say that they aren’t quite ready to sell it. Understandable, and I kind of saw it coming after listening to the owners son on Sunday. There might still be a chance to buy it in the new year and we’ll keep in touch. I just hope that when/if the family does contact me I’ll be in a position to buy it.

Chatted to the Plymouth seller today and while we’re not a million miles apart in monetary terms, it’s also a no-go. I left my offer with the seller. I don’t like the colour but like I said above I think it could be improved. I think I would really like to own it regardless, so we’ll see how that goes..

Lastly and most recently this is the newest consideration. It’s a 1950 Hillman Minx. I really want something old, and there is a lot to like about this one but it just doesn’t appeal to me like the Ford does. Hard to believe that this is 15 years newer. It looks positively ancient. Anyone got any opinions/experience of these?

 

hard to believe that this is only two years older than my Jowett..

I like that.

Are the tail lights in those little cutouts low down ?

[somewhatfoolish]

The lights on the two minxes I've linked to certainly look fairly haphazardly applied; similar cars often have them attached to the sides of the number plate or motorcycle lamps mounted to hang underneath the bumper.

[The Vicar]

Here’s the latest addition..

[The Vicar]

And it drives!

[captain_70s]

Aye. Can see why the Hillman was failing to excite by comparison...

[hairnet]

5 hours ago, The Vicar said:

Blunder on my part folks - it’s advertised as a 1950 car (not sure why) but is in fact 1937. 

time runs backwards when youre a culchie (kidding) 

 

[hairnet]

48 minutes ago, The Vicar said:

And it drives!

oof - Ná glan é, ná péinteáil riamh é

[hairnet]

riley?

[The Vicar]

5 minutes ago, hairnet said:

riley?

1953 RMF

[hairnet]

nearly read that as KLF

[lesapandre]

That's the 2.5 litre 4 twin cam. Very nice and they are more usable than the 1.5 which are a bit slow for everyday use. Being a late F...they also have all sorts of improvements like a tougher engine. Very nice and a nice colour too.

The ash frames rot - yes these are 'coach built' -  so have a good look round to see if anything needs doing.

The vinyl roofs are structural over a metal mesh not just applied to the roof panel.

[lesapandre]

3 hours ago, hairnet said:

nearly read that as KLF

KLF on the Gaye Byrne Show - Irish TV.

[somewhatfoolish]

Noice. I prefer these to the later version with the running  boards truncated.

  

17 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

The vinyl roofs are structural over a metal mesh not just applied to the roof panel.

Is that like a modern-ish Weymann construction? No doubt a pain in the bum trying to repair so worth looking after.

[lesapandre]

Some of these were exported as CKD to Ireland and assembled by G. A. Brittain of Dublin. Wonder if it came like that?

[lesapandre]

10 minutes ago, somewhatfoolish said:

Noice. I prefer these to the later version with the running  boards truncated.

  

Is that like a modern-ish Weymann construction? No doubt a pain in the bum trying to repair so worth looking after.

I think you can buy kits because they do wear out. There is quite a thick mesh underneath. The main thing is to avoid water getting in where the roof joins the body to avoid rot.

A very nice car - one of the best of the 1940's

90 mph and fairly quick 0-60.

[The Vicar]

6 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

Some of these were exported as CKD to Ireland and assembled by G. A. Brittain of Dublin. Wonder if it came like that?

Not this one, the ZV plate signifies an import. Came from the UK in 1993

[lesapandre]

Very nice indeed.

[Wibble]

Fantastic, would love more photos please.

[The Vicar]

Pics etc to come folks! I’ll have a good poke around it this weekend. 

its had just the 1 owner in its 31 years in Ireland. There seems to be a nice bit of history with it and 2 things in particular mentioned by the seller were the vinyl roof and wood frame, both redone by his father (the owner) a few years ago. It has been idle since 2021 so needs a bit of fettling but not a whole lot. There’s a full set of new tyres in boot, which is a nice bonus. 

here are some hastily taken pics from this afternoon:

[The Vicar]

5 hours ago, The Vicar said:

And it drives!

should I put the hubcaps on or leave them in the boot? I kind of like the patina’d look with no hubcaps

[Wibble]

51 minutes ago, The Vicar said:

should I put the hubcaps on or leave them in the boot? I kind of like the patina’d look with no hubcaps

I’d say put them on. What a great thing this is. Looking forward to more.

[somewhatfoolish]

Given the difficulty of replacing lost ones I'd put them on for display or trundling locally, but for longer jaunts they're probably safer in the boot. What's the story with the rear bumper? Is the slot to let the spare wheel in and out?

[ETCHY]

Press under & around the back window that's a bad rot spot. I heard somewhere they padded under the vinyl type roof with basically an old blanket & that holds water against the wood frame..

Nice motor BTW, cool cars

[grizz]

That’s beautiful 

[The Vicar]

Let there be light!

[The Vicar]

Nothing to do with the Riley, just some post-dinner musings after a few glasses of whiskey. 

2025 might be the year I finally bring something back from Italy. Right hand drive too!

[lesapandre]

But are you richiesta enough?

Riley looks wonderful - they can get a bit moth-eaten inside - but clearly not this one!

I might have owned that at one time in the late 1980's. Not sure but I did have a 2.5 that colour.

[somewhatfoolish]

Phwoar. And a 2nd phwoar for the Lancia.