RILEY - PRODUCTION FIGURES

as Old as the Industry, as modern as the Hour

Total Riley 12 & 16hp Production

The Nuffield produced Rileys were built from early 1939 through until early 1940, and the odd one sneaked out in 1941 too. Total production was as follows:
  • 12hp 750
  • 16hp 115
    • This is based on known chassis numbers: 29x 8001-8748 and 49x 1501-1613.

    Model by Model

    Although no precise records remain, it is still possible to collate details of known cars, and so suggest total production figures for each Nuffield model.

    Below is a list of how many of each body were probably built.

    ModelChassis
    Types    		IdentifiedDuplicates?TotalProjectedRegister
    AB
    12 DHC29D 8 6 14 182 150*
    12 Saloon29S 25 9 2 32 568 500*
    Total 33 15 2 46 750 650
    16 Saloon 49S 16 1 - 17 75 80
    16 DHC 49D 1 - - 1 5 15
    16 Kestrel 49K 5 2 - 7 33 18
    Total 25 - - 25 113 113

    Notes

  • The 'Identified A' column is cars listed in David Styles book 'As old as the Industry' as well as those listed by Vernon Barker in his books, and other cars that I, or others, have 'found' (in old membership lists / books / photos).
  • The 'Identified B' column is additional cars where the full chassis number is not known.
  • The 'Duplicates?' column is those records which are to some extent dubious, whether as duplicates or complete errors and therefore to be disregarded from the totals.
  • The 'Total' column is the identified figures, less the potential duplicates.
  • The 'Projected' column is my calculated production figures, based on the total figure. I have not incorporated any bias on these figures.
  • The 'Register' column is the figure put forward by Vernon Barker in his Riley Register books '12/4 / 16/4 Production Cars'. These take into account the popularity of each model during the crucial 1950's & 60's, when a lot of cars were destroyed upon failing the MOT.
  • Rebodied chassis are included in original body style where known, otherwise disregarded.