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1955 Riley RME

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  • Mileage~82,687 on clock
  • TransmissionManual
  • Engine1.5-litre
  • LocationHalesworth, Suffolk

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1955 Riley RME

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Video #2

Introduction

Dom Ginn
Professional Consigner

A timeless British classic, the Riley pairs elegant styling with charming performance - its graceful lines and lively engine perfectly capture the spirit of 1950s motoring.

The Riley RME was introduced in 1955 as part of Riley’s post-war “RM” series, which aimed to blend sporting performance with luxury and comfort. Built by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) at the Riley works in Coventry, the RME was designed as a more refined alternative to the earlier RMA and RMB models.

Underneath its elegant coach built body, the RME featured Riley’s famous 1.5L twin-cam engine, which offered smooth power delivery and a sporty edge, making it appealing to enthusiasts who wanted both style and performance. The car’s chassis was robust yet supple, with advanced suspension for the era, giving it a composed and enjoyable ride.

Production numbers were relatively low, and Rileys were hand-built to a high standard, which contributes to their rarity and collectibility today. The RME was marketed as a sophisticated, practical saloon with sporting credentials, bridging the gap between everyday usability and the thrill of driving a classic British sports saloon.

The current owner has cherished the Riley since 1976, fully restoring it in 1994 with an engine rebuild and bare-metal respray. Retaining much of its original character and leather interior, the car has been reliably driven, always garaged, and even served as a wedding car - this RME is ready to drive away and enjoy in style and comfort.

This listing was written from information supplied by Dom after meeting Dave the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Video #2

Meet the owner

Driving the Riley feels like a journey back to a more elegant era of motoring - graceful, full of charm, and brimming with character.

Dave told us,

"I’ve had the pleasure of owning this beautiful 1955 Riley since 1976. It began as a passion project, and by 1978, I had it back on the road. It saw regular use until 1994, when I carried out a full restoration, including a bare-metal respray. The quality of that work has truly stood the test of time - 30 years on, the car remains in excellent condition.

Mechanically, the car retains much of its original character, with parts only refurbished when necessary. During the restoration, new carpets, headlining, and vinyl were fitted, along with a full engine rebuild. By M Byron. The original leather seats are in good condition and have been preserved and still add to the car’s authentic charm.

This Riley has been a reliable runner for decades and has proudly served as a wedding car on many occasions. It has always been kept garaged and dry, well cared for through every season. Interestingly, its first owner was the Mayor of Harwich, adding a nice touch of history to its provenance.

Now, after nearly 50 years of ownership, it’s time for someone new to enjoy this classic piece of British motoring heritage from a truly golden era".

Should any further queries be needed on the car, Dave would be happy to answer these in the comments section below.

Dave
Vehicle Owner

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EXTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Exterior

With its flowing lines, upright grille, and elegant proportions, the Riley RME exudes classic British charm and timeless sophistication.

Wheels and Tyres

The body-painted steel wheels present really nicely. There were very minor signs of age on the hubcaps and wheel edges, but overall these showed well.

The Riley is fitted with Pneumant 6.0 period relevant tyres to the front and rear.

Please take a look at the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior of the car and a closer look at the wheels and tyres to make your own assessment of their condition.

Bodywork

Panels align well and we could see no visible distortion to these areas. Shut lines and panel gaps also look good and both doors, bonnet and boot opened and closed well, all in line with our expectations.

We noted a sign of bubbling to the finish on the boot section and the passenger side A pillar section base. There were also some notes of the same, on the rear C pillar.

We've highlighted our observations in more detail through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The current owner had the Riley bare-metal resprayed as part of the previous restoration works in 1994. The lovely coat of white that is on display today, shows very well with great coverage.

If we were being picky, there were a few marks on the car. We noted a blemish by the driver side front and a stone chip on the rear wheel arch. To the rear quarter panel, there was a mark that had been touched back in and some signs of paint splitting to the roof edges.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there yourself. Please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car to form your own opinion about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

Windscreen, side windows, mirrors and lenses all appear in excellent condition - also and we could see no sign of scratching or chips on the glass.

The hood is in excellent condition and we had no worries there.

Chrome trim across the exterior is in fantastic condition - no concerns were noted there too.

The front and rear lights looked beautiful with badges and emblems being present, correct and showing very well.

The interior trim was showing well too, although there was a small hole in the driver's side door card and wear to the lower half of the door cards in the front and rear.

Take a look through the exterior gallery and review video. We take you across all areas of the car as if you were standing there yourself. This way, you can see in greater detail how the car is presented.

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INTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Interior

The cabin welcomes you with classic charm, featuring polished wood trim and refined details that create an atmosphere of timeless elegance.

Seats and Carpets

The original seats are simple but comfortable, finished in brown leather. The seats present in good condition overall, although the driver's seat had a large blemish on the seat base and a small split to the backrest. The rear shows well, just signs of age - there were a few signs of cracking to the leather but nothing too concerning.

During the previous interior restoration works, new carpets, headlining, and vinyl were fitted. The brown floor carpets and mat overlays in place show in nice condition and looking under these areas, showed no concerns or issues - basically a very charming cabin area throughout.

We've captured high-resolution photos and a full interior video tour through the car. This covers off the angles inside the car for you to review and check over the condition of what's on offer here in our interior review section.

Dashboard

The wooden dash area on the Riley was clean and presentable showing without cracking, warping or major distress - there were a few signs of age, but nothing that presented a major concern. The odometer showed with ~82,687 miles on the clock at the time of our visit.

The condition of the clocks and dials was good, although showed a little sign of age to the edges, but in keeping with the car. Gauges for voltage, water temp, fuel, oil pressure and speedometer showed no concerns with their functionality, although the clock wasn't working.

Our interior gallery section takes you over some closer images of the RME's dashboard, head over and see the car's interior in finer detail.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The original steering wheel and gear knob are both in respectable condition, in line with the heritage of the car and in keeping with the era. There were signs of wear to the steering wheel and gear knob, but it just added more charm to the cabin area.

We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO
Video #2

Mechanics

Fully rebuilt during its restoration, the 1.5L inline-four engine suits the Riley perfectly, delivering a spirited, yet relaxed drive - full of classic character.

Engine and Gearbox

Mechanically, the car is largely original, featuring a full engine rebuild while retaining components which are mainly original. Showing in great visual condition over the engine bay, we saw no issues and didn't hear any unusual noises.

Starting up from cold, we noted no concerns, and the Riley performed without issue when running and out on the road.

The gearbox worked smoothly on the road, with no real concerns too.

We took the car out around some local roads with the current owner to get a better feel for what this vehicle is all about. During the drive, we ran through the motions, taking the RME through the gears and getting an overview from Dave's perspective on how the car performs.

Suspension and Brakes

We noted no knocks or bangs from the suspension when we were on the road in the car, and it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling.

The brakes bring the car to a halt in a straight line, with no juddering reported through the pedal. The stopping power and control worked as expected, and were in line with our expectations from a car of this era.

Please view the mechanical review video and photographs to see close-up and underside images from around the Riley.

The Drive

The Riley RME delivers a charming driving experience, capturing the best of both pre-war elegance and post-war refinement. Powered by a smooth 1.5L engine, it offers steady performance, complemented by precise steering and supple suspension that make it relaxed yet engaging on the open road.

Its light handling and comfortable cruising nature suit it perfectly to leisurely touring, where the car’s grace and charm truly shine. Combined with its timeless styling and rarity, the RME is not only a joy to drive but also a car that inspires real pride of ownership.

Electrics and Other

Standard electrics are straightforward on cars of this era - all switches, dials, and gauges show well and are in good condition, just a few signs of age as to be expected for a car with over ~70 years on the road.

The Riley features an in-cabin heater, located under the dash area.

Dave told us that that he's had no issues with the electrical elements of the car, and confirms everything, to his knowledge, is working as it should, with the exception of the dash clock.

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Video #2

History and Paperwork

Having spent over ~49 years with the same owner, the Riley has benefitted from extensive restorative work and remains in impressive condition today.

Dave, the current owner, has had the pleasure of owning the beautiful 1955 Riley since 1976. It began as a passion project, and by 1978, he had it back on the road. It saw regular use until 1994, when Dave carried out a full restoration, including a bare-metal respray. The quality of that work has truly stood the test of time and ~30 years on, the car remains in lovely condition.

Mechanically, the car retains much of its original character, with parts only refurbished when necessary. During the restoration, new carpets, headlining, and vinyl were fitted, along with a full engine rebuild by M Byron. The original leather seats are still in place and have been preserved to add to the car’s authentic charm.

The Riley has been a reliable runner for the current owner, and has proudly served as a wedding car on many occasions. Interestingly, its first owner was the Mayor of Harwich - adding a nice touch of history to its provenance.

We cover the history of the Riley in our paperwork gallery. Take a look over the previous records and MOT certificates to see more behind the RME.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
27.11.2019 MOT 82,647
23.06.2006 MOT 82,585
25.05.1979 MOT 49,201
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Key Details
  • Model1.5-Litre RME
  • TransmissionManual
  • Reg. Date07.01.1955
  • CC1,496
  • Mileage~82,687 on clock
  • ColourWhite
  • Interior ColourBrown
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #RME23321
  • Engine #RMA13513
  • RestoredYes
  • Engine RebuildYes
  • MOT ExemptYes
  • Road Tax ExemptYes
  • HPi ClearYes - All Clear
  • Former Keepers1
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~49 Years
  • Key FeatureOwnership
  • Vehicle Registration711 BTW
  • Fuel TypePetrol
  • Body TypeSaloon
  • Auction ID3184
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VIEW ALL
Video #2

All Images

Exterior

Interior

Mechanics

History and Paperwork

All Videos



Vehicle Location

Halesworth, Suffolk

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Vehicle Location

Halesworth, Suffolk

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