FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here are a few simple questions about Rileys that may save you a longer trawl through the site:
How can you tell the difference between an RMA/E and RMB/F?
The RMA/E 1½Litre models have dark blue bonnet / bootlid badges, while the RMB/F 2½Litre models have light blue badges. If two cars are lined up side by side, the 1½litre models also have shorter bonnets, by about 4inches / 10cm. 		What was the most popular Riley Model?
In pure production terms, the Riley 1.5 model neared 40,000 units. However, to many this is not a true Riley. Of the pre-war Rileys, the Monaco models neared 9000 units, far in excess of the Kestrel at c7500. 		What are Model Years?
Riley generally referred to Model years rather than Calendar years with their cars, particularly in Chassis Numbers. This has led to much confusion, as the changeover could be anytime between July and October, depending on the year.
What Sort of Riley Did / do I have?
If you can't find a matching picture in the Specifications pages on this site, then the easiest way is to find the chassis number, and then use the Chassis Guide to identify the original model. However, before 1935 Riley generally didn't specify the body style in the chassis number. 		How do you know what body a Riley Special originally had?
See previous question. It may also be possible to use the registration number to find the original body, but often a special is given a different number at some point in its life. 		My car looks like a...
Most of the Riley bodies are very easy to tell apart. However, from 1936-38 Riley bought in bodies from the Briggs company, and so there are 4 different models on 2 or 3 chassis which all look the same. They are the Falcon, Merlin, Touring Saloon and Victor.
Earlier, the Alpine and Mentone were essentially the same car, and scaled up from the Monaco design, with the 1937 Monaco being a shrunken Adelphi!
Did Riley only build cars?
From the restart of production in 1919, Riley only built cars or car components. It is true that many engines were sold for other purposes, particularly as marine engines, but they were basically standard engines.
Before World War One, Riley produced more Bicycles than Cars, with their earliest forays into powered transport being Motor Bikes, Tricycles and Quadricycles. 		How many Riley's survive?
The excellent How Many Left website lists the number of cars still registered in the UK as approximately 5365 vehicles. When overseas survivors are included, it can be postulated that there are somewhere in the region of 8000 Rileys left around the world. I have collated the data from that site on the Survivors page. 		Does anyone else have any ideas for questions?
If so, please Mail me!