Riley One-Point-Five. (1957-65)

The Riley One-Point-Five was originally intended as a replacement for the Morris Minor. However, the unfading popularity of the Minor changed BMCs Plans slightly!
As such, the Wolseley 1500 and Riley One-Point-Five were created. Using BMCs 1489cc B-Series engine, with the floor pan, steering and suspension of the Morris Minor gave the car a unique character. It is interesting to note, that in Australia, the car was also marketed as a Morris Major, and Austin Lancer.

The car ran from 1957 until 1965, with 2 minor facelifts. In the Riley range, it was a belated replacement for the RME 1˝litre Saloon, although much smaller.
It was killed off after a production run of 39,568, in 1965, by one of BMCs rationalisation plans, and indirectly replaced with the Riley Kestrel 1100. Even so, it holds the position of Rileys best-selling model ever!

ENGINE
1489cc 4 cyl ohv
Bore 73mm Stroke 88.9mm
68bhp at 5,400rpm
Max Tourque 83lbft at 3,200rpm
Compression ratio 8.3:1
Carburation 2SU
TRANSMISSION
Overall gear ratios.
1st 13.56, 2nd 8.25,
3rd 5.12 4th 3.73
Reverse 17.73

SUSPENSION
Independent Torsion Beam Front
Semi Elliptic at rear
BRAKES
Girling hydraulic drum brakes with wedge operated shoes
9in front, 8 in rear.

PERFORMANCE
0-50mph 12sec
Standing Ľmile 20.5secs
Max Speed 87mph
Fuel Consumption 27.2mpg
Also see below.
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase 7'2" (aprx 2180mm)
Track 4'3" (aprx 1300mm)
Length 12'9" (aprx 3890mm)
Width 5'1" (aprx 1520mm)
Height 5'1" (aprx 1520mm)
Turning Circle 31'left 32'6"right
Tyres 5.60x14 (or 5.0x14)
Weight 18.5cwt

PRICE
1957-60 Ł575 plus Ł288 17s tax equals Ł863 17s
1960-61 Ł575 plus Ł240 14s 2d tax equals Ł815 14s 2d
1961-65 Ł580 plus Ł267 1s 5d tax equals Ł847 1s 5d

Further Information

Below is some extra information, specific to the Riley 1.5, supplied by Jeff Allen.

Road Speed at: (Taken from a period road test)
1st gear 2nd gear 3rd gear 4th gear

1000rpm 5.08mph 8.36mph 14.8mph 18.5mph

3200rpm 16.3 26.8 47.4 59.3

5400rpm 27.5 54.2 80 100 (theoretical!)
Max speed 29 48 75 87

Acceleration through gears:
0-30mph 5secs
0-40mph 8.5secs
0-50mph 12secs
0-60mph 19secs
0-70mph 26secs

Engine Numbers located on the metal plate on the right hand side of the block:
15R-U-H or 15RB-U-H

15 = 1500cc.

R or RB = Riley

U = Central Gear Change

H = High Compression
Starting from 15R-U-H101

Chassis Numbers are located on a plate on the right hand A-post, except for the first 150 (Abingdon-built) which are located on a plate to the left hand side of the engine bulkhead.
Body numbers are located on plates on the left hand side of the Engine Bulkhead (or in the centre on Abingdon cars).

ENGINE 1489cc 4 cyl ohv Bore 73mm Stroke 88.9mm 68bhp at 5,400rpm Max Tourque 83lbft at 3,200rpm Compression ratio 8.3:1 Carburation 2SU	TRANSMISSION Overall gear ratios. 1st 13.56, 2nd 8.25, 3rd 5.12 4th 3.73 Reverse 17.73
SUSPENSION Independent Torsion Beam Front Semi Elliptic at rear	BRAKES Girling hydraulic drum brakes with wedge operated shoes 9in front, 8 in rear.
PERFORMANCE 0-50mph 12sec Standing Ľmile 20.5secs Max Speed 87mph Fuel Consumption 27.2mpg Also see below.	DIMENSIONS Wheelbase 7'2" (aprx 2180mm) Track 4'3" (aprx 1300mm) Length 12'9" (aprx 3890mm) Width 5'1" (aprx 1520mm) Height 5'1" (aprx 1520mm) Turning Circle 31'left 32'6"right Tyres 5.60x14 (or 5.0x14) Weight 18.5cwt
PRICE 1957-60 Ł575 plus Ł288 17s tax equals Ł863 17s 1960-61 Ł575 plus Ł240 14s 2d tax equals Ł815 14s 2d 1961-65 Ł580 plus Ł267 1s 5d tax equals Ł847 1s 5d

	1st gear	2nd gear	3rd gear	4th gear
1000rpm	5.08mph	8.36mph	14.8mph	18.5mph
3200rpm	16.3	26.8	47.4	59.3
5400rpm	27.5	54.2	80	100 (theoretical!)
Max speed	29	48	75	87