British Leyland

[JimO]

What a gem! Snap it up!

these things were shit when they were new, doubt they get better with age

[ducatilover]

these things were shit when they were new, doubt they get better with age

Most of the things we love here were shit.....

[YellowDog]

Riley was one of those classic English marques that always turns heads.

If I were to get a Riley, it would be a 1500 Saloon. The last time I drove one, it was a very fast and a nicely finished piece of kit.

[Indiana_Jones]

Riley one point five? like the Wolseley 1500?

-Indy

[YellowDog]

Sorry, I confused myself. They're quite alike:

[ducatilover]

That reminds me. I want an MG Magnette ZA or ZB.
One day when I win Lotto

[Indiana_Jones]

I recently declined an offer on a Wolseley 1500, same as the Riley 1.5, just less horses.

-Indy

[ducatilover]

I recently declined an offer on a Wolseley 1500, same as the Riley 1.5, just less horses.

-Indy

Why would you do that????

[JimO]

Why would you do that????

why wouldnt he

[ducatilover]

why wouldnt he

Because he, like me, has bad taste

[Indiana_Jones]

Too far away, if she were closer I would of taken a test spin for sure.

-Indy

[Bender]

My mum had one of those Riley Elfs for about 20 years. It never gave a single bit of trouble, not even a new battery. It was driven by us boys so didn't get an easy life. Fantastic car and vastly superior to a Mini - worth it for the varnished woodgrain dash.

OK guys, here's the holy grail of British cars in NZ - a MK2 Riley Kestrel (Morris 1300 based). It was a giant killer of a car. I remember Rod Collingwood racing one at Pukekohe and beating the V8 Valiants in it - kept pace with them down the back straight at Pukekohe and blew them away through the windy bits. I was at Puke that day and no-one could believe that a bloody "Morry 1300" could do that. But the Kestrel was far from a Morry 1300....

This is a post from Angus Fogg's dad, Gerald, from the Roaring Season website (a kiwi motorsport nostalgia website and a bloody good one.) If you follow the link there is a photo of the car in the Silver Fern rally.

Bob, they were quite a car. From the storey by Wayne Harris in Classic Driver. Rod Collingwood traded his Cooper in on a brand new Riley 1300 from Moller Motors. In Collingwoods opinion this was a vastly underated car....NZ assembled and only 72 built. Similar to the Fiat 125T...a NZ model only. A 5th outright in the Glenvale 100 at Baypark and 2nd in class to Frank Radisch's Escort 1300GT, certainly raised a few eyebrows. Things were to get better when Alan Boyle of Coca-Cola Viva fame, teamed up with Rod at Levin. Alan drove the first stint and worked his way through the Valiants and the Victors, and anyone who thought Baypark was a fluke was witnessing a remarkable little car. While in the outright lead, Boyle had a moment and spun at cabbage-tree, losing a full minute. The Riley came second outright behind Gary Sprague and Barry Cottle in the 125T. The last production race of the season saw a star entry at Pukekohe....the first 3 placings went to 125T's of Emson, Fahey, and Marwood, with Don Davies Victor in 4th and Collingwood in 5th ahead of Rick Rimmer in the Valiant V8!!!!!!! How good was that little car.....wonder where it is today. Let us know if you find any photos Bob.....I would be interested.


There's the challenge - find a Mk2 Kestrel!

[Indiana_Jones]

There's the challenge - find a Mk2 Kestrel!

What year was Mk2? Cause there was a 1970 Riley Kestrel for sale about a month ago.

-Indy

[Bender]

The car was in production from 1965 to 1971 in the UK. I'd put the Collingwood Mk2 version (70bhp) at 72 or 73 so local production must have continued longer than in the UK. I'll keep searching to see if I can find more specific info.

[Indiana_Jones]

70 bhp is pretty good from the 1275cc! Also the Rileys and MGs ADO16 were twin carbed

-Indy