Riley One-Point-Five
Encyclopedia
The Riley
One-Point-Five and similar Wolseley
1500 were motor vehicles based on the Morris Minor
floorpan, suspension and steering but fitted with the larger 1489 cc B-Series engine and MG Magnette
gearbox. Launched in 1957, the twins were differentiated by nearly 20 hp (15 kW), the Riley having twin SU carburettors giving it the most power at 68 hp (50 kW). The Wolseley was released in April of that year, while the Riley appeared in November, directly after the 1957 London Motor Show.
The Series II model came out in May 1960. The most notable external difference was the hidden boot and bonnet hinges. Interior storage was improved with the fitting of a full width parcel shelf directly beneath the facia.
The Wolseley also had a Series III launched in October 1961 which featured a revised grille and rear lights.
In October 1962 the car received the more robust crank, bearing and other details of the larger 1,622 cc unit now being fitted in the Austin Cambridge and its "Farina" styled clones. Unlike the Farina models, however, and unlike their own Australian built sibling
, the Wolseley 1500 and Riley one-point-five retained the 1,489 cc engine size with which they had been launched back in 1957.
Production ended in 1965 with 39,568 Rileys and 103,394 Wolseleys made.
BMC
in Australia also produced its own versions of this design, the Morris Major
and Austin Lancer (1958-64.) The Australian versions were less luxurious and had many notable differences from the Riley / Wolseley cars, also, the design was substantially revised in 1959 (see article.)
Engine:
In its day the Riley was successfully raced and rallied and can still be seen today in historical sporting events.
in 1957. It was found to have a top speed of 76.7 mph (123.4 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 24.8 seconds. A fuel consumption of 36.6 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £758 including taxes of £253.
Riley (automobile)
Riley was a British motorcar and bicycle manufacturer from 1890. The company became part of the Nuffield Organisation in 1938 and was later merged into British Leyland: late in 1969 British Leyland announced their discontinuance of Riley production, although 1969 was a difficult year for the UK...
One-Point-Five and similar Wolseley
Wolseley Motor Company
The Wolseley Motor Company was a British automobile manufacturer founded in 1901. After 1935 it was incorporated into larger companies but the Wolseley name remained as an upmarket marque until 1975.-History:...
1500 were motor vehicles based on the Morris Minor
Morris Minor
The Morris Minor was a British economy car that debuted at the Earls Court Motor Show, London, on 20 September 1948. Designed under the leadership of Alec Issigonis, more than 1.3 million were manufactured between 1948 and 1971...
floorpan, suspension and steering but fitted with the larger 1489 cc B-Series engine and MG Magnette
MG Magnette
The automobile manufacturer MG used the Magnette name on the K-type and N-type cars in the 1930s, but the Magnette models of the 1950s and 1960s are probably best-remembered...
gearbox. Launched in 1957, the twins were differentiated by nearly 20 hp (15 kW), the Riley having twin SU carburettors giving it the most power at 68 hp (50 kW). The Wolseley was released in April of that year, while the Riley appeared in November, directly after the 1957 London Motor Show.
The Series II model came out in May 1960. The most notable external difference was the hidden boot and bonnet hinges. Interior storage was improved with the fitting of a full width parcel shelf directly beneath the facia.
The Wolseley also had a Series III launched in October 1961 which featured a revised grille and rear lights.
In October 1962 the car received the more robust crank, bearing and other details of the larger 1,622 cc unit now being fitted in the Austin Cambridge and its "Farina" styled clones. Unlike the Farina models, however, and unlike their own Australian built sibling
Morris Major
The Morris Major and Austin Lancer are passenger car models produced by the British Motor Corporation of Australia between 1958 and 1964...
, the Wolseley 1500 and Riley one-point-five retained the 1,489 cc engine size with which they had been launched back in 1957.
Production ended in 1965 with 39,568 Rileys and 103,394 Wolseleys made.
BMC
British Motor Corporation
The British Motor Corporation, or commonly known as BMC was a vehicle manufacturer from United Kingdom, formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation in 1952...
in Australia also produced its own versions of this design, the Morris Major
Morris Major
The Morris Major and Austin Lancer are passenger car models produced by the British Motor Corporation of Australia between 1958 and 1964...
and Austin Lancer (1958-64.) The Australian versions were less luxurious and had many notable differences from the Riley / Wolseley cars, also, the design was substantially revised in 1959 (see article.)
Engine:
- 1.2 L (1200 cc) B-SeriesBMC B-Series engineThe BMC B-series was a straight-4 internal combustion engine family, mostly used in motor cars, created by British company Austin Motor Company. The pre-cursor of the "B" series engine was a 1200 cc OHV engine which was used in the 1947 Austin A40 Devon. This A40 Devon engine was based on a...
I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, Irish Market only. - 1.5 L (1489 cc) B-SeriesBMC B-Series engineThe BMC B-series was a straight-4 internal combustion engine family, mostly used in motor cars, created by British company Austin Motor Company. The pre-cursor of the "B" series engine was a 1200 cc OHV engine which was used in the 1947 Austin A40 Devon. This A40 Devon engine was based on a...
I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 62 hp (46 kW)
In its day the Riley was successfully raced and rallied and can still be seen today in historical sporting events.
Performance
A Wolseley 1500 was tested by the British magazine The MotorThe Motor (magazine)
The Motor was a British weekly car magazine founded on 28 January 1903....
in 1957. It was found to have a top speed of 76.7 mph (123.4 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 24.8 seconds. A fuel consumption of 36.6 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £758 including taxes of £253.