The Founding Years (1890-1907)
The Riley story began far from the world of automobiles. In 1890, during the pedal cycle craze that swept Britain at the end of the 19th century, William Riley Jr., who had interests in the textile industry, purchased the business and, in 1896, incorporated a company to own it named The Riley Cycle Company Limited. The company had originated as the Bonnick Cycle Company in Coventry, England’s industrial heartland.
William Riley’s sons, particularly Percy, Victor, and Allan, would prove instrumental in transforming the family bicycle business into an automotive enterprise. The first Riley car was a small, experimental single-cylinder, belt-driven voiturette designed and built by Percy Riley before he turned 18. Much of the design work was done while he was still at school, while the build was completed between 1896 and 1898, after he joined his father’s cycle business.
Percy’s early car was technologically advanced for its time, featuring mechanically operated inlet valves when most engines relied on vacuum effects to open valves. However, William Riley remained firmly opposed to diverting resources from the profitable bicycle business into the uncertain world of motor cars. In 1902, three of his sons, Victor, Percy and his younger brother Allan Riley, pooled resources, borrowed a necessary balancing amount from their mother and in 1903 established the separate Riley Engine Company, also in Coventry.
Between 1899 and 1907, motorised bicycles, tricycles and quadricycles were manufactured, of which the most popular and successful were the 6hp ‘Tri-cars. These three-wheeled vehicles represented Riley’s transition from bicycles to automobiles, and by 1907, the company had begun producing four-wheeled motor cars.
Growth and Innovation (1907-1925)
The 1034cc V-Twin engine was also fitted to the company’s first 4-wheelers, which had amidships-mounted engines with gearboxes alongside and chain drive. Bigger V-Twins of 2-litre capacity, with a more conventional layout and round radiators, were made from 1908 onwards. A significant innovation during this period was Percy Riley’s patented detachable wheel system, which became so successful that by World War I, Riley was supplying it to over 180 motor manufacturers.
In 1912, the Riley Cycle Company changed its name to Riley (Coventry) Limited as William Riley focused it on becoming a wire-spoked wheel supplier for the burgeoning motor industry. This forced a reorganisation of the Riley automotive interests. In early 1913, Percy was joined by three of his brothers (Victor, Stanley, and Allan) in a new business focused on manufacturing entire cars. The Riley Motor Manufacturing Company was located near Percy’s Riley Engine Company.
During World War I, Riley expanded into aircraft engines, becoming a key supplier to Britain’s war effort. After the conflict, the businesses restructured: by 1918, Nero joined Riley (Coventry) as sole car producer, and the distinctive blue diamond badge—designed by Harry Rush—appeared, carrying the motto, “As old as the industry, as modern as the hour.”
The first Rileys produced after the First World War were the 11s, featuring side-valve 1½-litre engines (where the engine’s intake and exhaust valves are positioned beside the cylinder), alloy pistons, full electrical equipment (such as a battery-powered starter and lighting), and a spiral-bevel final drive (a type of gear system delivering power from the engine to the wheels) added in 1921.
The Golden Age (1926-1937)
The year 1926 marked a watershed moment for Riley, as Percy Riley introduced the Riley Nine—a revolutionary car with a 1087cc 4-cylinder engine. This engine featured twin camshafts, rods that control the opening and closing of the engine’s valves, mounted high in the crankcase, the lower part of the engine housing. This innovation defined the company’s engineering excellence for decades and served as the basis for all Riley engines until 1957.
Riley grew rapidly through the 1920s and 1930s. The company became synonymous with sporting success and engineering innovation. In the 1925 London-Exeter-London Trial, Riley cars won three Gold medals and seventeen Silver medals, the most of any marque among 152 entrants. The London-Edinburgh Run held in 1925 was a more important event for Riley enthusiasts because at a dinner given for the Riley competitors and their passengers at the Peebles Hydro Hotel, the Riley Motor Club was founded, eventually becoming the largest one-make car club in the world.
Riley’s racing pedigree during the 1930s was exceptional. Class wins in the 1929, 1930, and 1931 TTs were followed by outright victory in 1932. Later, a 1½ litre car won in 1935 and 1936. In 1933, the team took 4th place at Le Mans. In 1934, Riley cars finished 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 12th, and 13th. Three successive wins came in 1934, 1935, and 1936 at the BRDC 500-mile race at Brooklands, the year’s premier event.
However, success came at a cost. By around 1936, the company was grappling with overextension, burdened by a plethora of models with limited shared components.
Financial Crisis and the Nuffield Takeover (1938)
The diversity that had made Riley successful also proved to be its downfall. On 24 February, the directors placed Riley (Coventry) Limited and Autovia in voluntary receivership. On 9 September 1938, it was announced that Lord Nuffield had bought the assets and goodwill of Riley Motors (Coventry) Limited from the receiver.
Riley joined the Nuffield Organisation in 1938. Under new ownership, the company underwent significant rationalisation. In 1938, due to Riley’s financial insecurity, the company was acquired by the Nuffield Organisation. Only the 1½ litre and the Big 4 (later the 2½ litre) were continued in production.
Post-War Revival: The RM Series (1945-1957)
Following World War II, Riley launched what many consider to be its last truly independent designs. The post-war successors had the same engines (1½ & 2½ litre, referring to the displacement of the cylinders) but more attractive bodies, with torsion-bar front suspension (a type of suspension using a long metal bar that twists to absorb shocks) and a fabric-covered roof. These RM series cars represented “Magnificent Motoring” and were highly regarded for their quality and refinement.
The total number of 1-1/2-litre, 2-1/2-litre, Roadster, Drophead Coupe, Pathfinder Rileys produced between 1945 and 1957 was 28,065, of which 13,950 were 1-1/2-litre models.
The BMC Era: Badge Engineering and Decline (1952-1968)
The British Motor Corporation Limited (BMC) was a UK-based vehicle manufacturer formed in early 1952 to give effect to an agreed merger of the Morris and Austin businesses. BMC acquired the shares in Morris Motors and the Austin Motor Company. Morris Motors, the holding company of the productive businesses of the Nuffield Organisation, owned MG, Riley, and Wolseley. The agreed exchange of Morris or Austin shares for shares in the new holding company, BMC, became effective in mid-April 1952.
For Riley, BMC’s formation signalled the beginning of the end for its unique identity. Having become part of the Nuffield Organisation—which soon merged into British Motor Corporation—Riley, like other BMC marques, lost much of its distinctiveness, becoming largely badge-engineered versions of shared corporate models.
The Riley and Wolseley models were selling in very small numbers. In 1958, BMC hired Italian designer Battista Farina to redesign its car line, resulting in badge-engineered variants across multiple marques. Riley versions included the 4/68 and, later, the 4/72, which shared mechanical components with Austin, Morris, MG, and Wolseley models but featured Riley’s distinctive grille and trim.
In the early 1960s, Riley was reduced to producing upmarket versions of BMC’s mass-market cars. The last model to carry the Riley badge was the Riley Elf, a luxury version of the Mini, produced between 1961 and 1969. Other models included the Kestrel 1100/1300, based on the Austin/Morris 1100/1300 platform.
British Leyland and the End (1968-1969)
In May 1968, BMH merged with Leyland Motor Corporation Limited, which made trucks and buses and owned Standard-Triumph International Limited and the Rover Company. The new company became British Leyland.
The newly formed British Leyland Motor Corporation embarked on a rationalisation program that would prove fatal for Riley. Between 1966 and 1968, a series of mergers took place in the British motor industry, ultimately creating the British Leyland Motor Corporation, whose management embarked on a programme of rationalisation, in which the Riley marque was an early casualty.
A BLMC press release was reported in The Times of 9 July 1969: “British Leyland will stop making Riley cars from today. “With less than 1 per cent of the home market, they are not viable”, the company said last night. The decision will mark the end of 60 years of motoring history.
The last Riley badged car was produced in 1969, and the marque became dormant. After nearly 80 years of innovation, racing success, and engineering excellence, the Riley name disappeared from British roads.
Legacy
Despite the marque’s decline under BMC and British Leyland, surviving Rileys remain popular. The Riley ‘face’ and badge add character. Three owners’ clubs now serve enthusiasts: the Riley Motor Club, founded in 1925 for all Rileys; the Riley Register, for Rileys built up until 1940; and the Riley RM Club, for the RM series built from 1946 to 1957.
Today, the Riley trademark is owned by BMW. While the marque never returned to production, Riley’s contribution to British automotive history—from Percy Riley’s pioneering valve technology to the legendary racing successes of the 1930s—remains celebrated by enthusiasts worldwide.
FAQ’s…
What is the origin story of Riley cars and how did they develop over time?
Riley’s journey began in 1890 during Britain’s pedal cycle craze, evolving from a bicycle business into an automotive enterprise through innovative design and expanding into motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles before producing automobiles by 1907.
How did Riley become known for its engineering innovations and racing success?
Riley distinguished itself with innovations like the patented detachable wheel system and the Riley Nine engine introduced in 1926, leading to a reputation for engineering excellence and numerous racing victories in the 1930s.
What was the impact of the Nuffield Organisation and later BMC on Riley?
Following financial difficulties, Riley was acquired by Lord Nuffield in 1938, and later became part of BMC in 1952, which led to the reduction of Riley to badge-engineered models and ultimately diminished its unique identity.
When and why did Riley cease production, and what is its legacy today?
Riley stopped producing cars in 1969 when British Leyland decided the marque was no longer viable; however, its legacy persists through enthusiast clubs and its celebrated contributions to British automotive history.
Who currently owns the Riley trademark, and does Riley still manufacture cars?
The Riley trademark is now owned by BMW, but Riley has not returned to production and remains a historic marque celebrated for its innovation and racing heritage.
