Riley Pathfinder

Last updated

Riley Pathfinder
Riley Pathfinder 2443cc 1956.JPG
Riley Pathfinder
Overview
Manufacturer Riley Motors Limited [1]
Production1953–57
5536 [2]
Body and chassis
Class Full-size car
Body style 4-door saloon
Powertrain
Engine 2.5-litre, twin-cam Straight-4
Transmission 4-speed manual, optional overdrive
3-speed automatic (from 1956)
Dimensions
Wheelbase 113.5 in (2,883 mm) [3]
Length183 in (4,648 mm) [3]
Width67 in (1,702 mm) [3]
Height60 in (1,524 mm) [3]
Chronology
Predecessor Riley RMF
Successor Riley Two-Point-Six
Riley 2½-litre Big Four
Overview
Manufacturer Riley Motors Limited
Production1937–57 [4]
Layout
Configuration straight four
Displacement 2.443 L (149.1 cu in) [4]
Cylinder bore 80.5 mm (3.17 in) [4]
Piston stroke 120 mm (4.7 in) [4]
Valvetrain high-lift camshafts, push-rod operated 90 degree angled overhead valves [4]
Compression ratio 6.9 : 1 [4]
Combustion
Fuel systemTwin H4 SU carburettors [4]
Output
Power output 106 bhp (79 kW) @ 4,500 rpm
Tax rating 16hp [4]

The Riley Pathfinder is an automobile which was produced by Riley Motors Limited in the United Kingdom from 1953 to 1957. It was first presented at the London Motor Show in October 1953 and replaced the RMF as Riley's top-line model.

Contents

Designed as the "RMH" just before the 1952 merger of Riley-parent, the Nuffield Organization, with Austin to form BMC, the Pathfinder is seen as the last proper Riley car. It used Riley's 110 bhp (82 kW), 2.5-litre — 2,443 cc (149.1 cu in) — twin-cam, "Big Four" straight-4 engine fitted with twin SU carburettors and had a separate all-steel chassis with coil spring rear (this was changed to leaf springs towards the end of production) and front torsion bar independent suspension. From 1956, an overdrive gearbox became optional. The 12 in (305 mm) Girling drum brakes had a Clayton Dewandre Vac Hydro Servo fitted as standard.

In the front, buyers could choose between two single seats and the optional full width bench seat, with the front corner of the seat squab contoured so as to accommodate the gear lever and allow seating for three. The rear seat had a fold down centre armrest and leather covers were used. A heater was fitted as standard. [3] The car was available in black, maroon, green, blue or grey finish. The gear lever was floor mounted by the driver's door, so drivers in right hand drive markets had to change gear with their right hand. [5] The handbrake was operated by a lever under the dashboard in both bench and individual front seat versions.

Rear shot 1955 Riley Pathfinder 2.5 Rear.jpg
Rear shot

The body was similar in appearance to the Wolseley 6/90, although there were detail differences such as the Riley's opening bonnet including the radiator grille, whereas the Wolseley's grille was fixed. The Riley was launched in 1953 and the Wolseley in 1954, and both were designed by Morris' Gerald Palmer for the Nuffield Organization before the merger. All Pathfinders featured the front independent suspension developed from the RMF, but the sophisticated Riley rear suspension was replaced by a conventional leaf spring type in the last few examples. An essential part of the location of the rear axle was a Panhard rod which on some early examples sheared on hard cornering resulting in the unfortunate 'Ditchfinder' nickname. [2]

A car tested by The Motor magazine in 1955 had a top speed of 99.5 mph (160.1 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 16.8 seconds. A fuel consumption of 19.5 miles per imperial gallon (14.5 L/100 km; 16.2 mpg‑US) was recorded. The test car cost £1240 including taxes. [3]

The Pathfinder was replaced by the short-lived Wolseley 6/90-derived Riley Two-Point-Six in 1957.

Die-cast models

Related Research Articles

Ford Anglia Car model

The Ford Anglia is a small family car which was designed and manufactured by Ford UK. It is related to the Ford Prefect and the later Ford Popular. The Anglia name was applied to various models between 1939 and 1967. A total of 1,594,486 Anglias were produced. It was replaced by the Ford Escort.

Riley Motor British motorcar and bicycle manufacturer

Riley was a British motorcar and bicycle manufacturer from 1890. Riley became part of the Nuffield Organization in 1938 and was merged into the British Leyland Motor Corporation in 1968. In July 1969 British Leyland announced the immediate end of Riley production, although 1969 was a difficult year for the UK auto industry and many cars from Riley's inventory may have been first registered in 1970.

Commer

Commer was a British manufacturer of commercial vehicles from 1905 until 1979. Commer vehicles included car-derived vans, light vans, medium to heavy commercial trucks, military vehicles and buses. The company also designed and built some of its own diesel engines for its heavy commercial vehicles.

Hillman Minx Motor vehicle

The Hillman Minx was a mid-sized family car that British car maker Hillman produced from 1931 to 1970. There were many versions of the Minx over that period, as well as badge-engineered variants sold by Humber, Singer, and Sunbeam.

Triumph Herald Motor vehicle

The Triumph Herald is a small two-door car introduced by Standard-Triumph of Coventry in 1959 and made through to 1971. The body design was by the Italian stylist Giovanni Michelotti, and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, estate and van models, with the latter marketed as the Triumph Courier.

Hillman Husky Motor vehicle

The Hillman Husky was a line of British passenger vehicles manufactured between 1954 and 1970 by Hillman.

Singer Gazelle Motor vehicle

The Singer Gazelle name has been applied to two generations of motor cars from the British manufacturer Singer. It was positioned between the basic Hillman range and the more sporting Sunbeam versions.

Riley RM Motor vehicle

The Riley RM Series is an executive car which was produced by Riley from 1945 to 1955. It was the last model developed independently by Riley prior to the 1952 merger of Riley's still new owner Nuffield, with Austin to form BMC. The RM series was originally produced in Coventry, but in 1949 production moved to the MG works at Abingdon. The RM models were marketed as the Riley 1½ Litre and the Riley 2½ Litre.

Riley Two-Point-Six Motor vehicle

The Riley Two-Point-Six is an automobile which was produced by British Motor Corporation Limited (BMC) from August 1957 to 1959. It replaced the Pathfinder as Riley's top-line automobile when it was announced on 23 August 1957. While its predecessor retained the renowned Riley four cylinder twin cam, cross flow engine, coil rear suspension and gearbox, the Two-Point-Six was virtually identical to the Wolseley Six-Ninety Series III. It featured both monotone and duotone paintwork, as did the last of the Pathfinders. As per the Wolseley Six-Ninety Series III, right hand drive cars with a manual gearbox had a right hand gear lever; LHD cars a left hand gear level. An automatic transmission and an overdrive for the manual gearbox were available as options.

Riley One-Point-Five Motor vehicle

The Riley One-Point-Five and similar Wolseley 1500 are automobiles which were produced by Riley and Wolseley respectively from 1957 to 1965. They utilised the Morris Minor floorpan, suspension and steering but were fitted with the larger 1,489 cc (90.9 cu in) B-Series engine and MG Magnette gearbox. The two models were differentiated by nearly 20 hp (15 kW), the Riley having twin SU carburettors giving it the more power at 68 hp (50 kW). The Wolseley was released in April 1957 and the Riley was launched in November, directly after the 1957 London Motor Show.

MG Magnette Motor vehicle

The MG Magnette is an automobile that was produced by MG between 1953 and 1968. The Magnette was manufactured in two build series, the ZA and ZB of 1953 through to 1958 and the Mark III and Mark IV of 1959 through to 1968, both using a modified Wolseley body and an Austin engine.

Wolseley 15/50 Motor vehicle

The Wolseley 15/50 was an updated version of the Wolseley 4/44. The main change was the engine; the 4/44 used a pre BMC Morris XPA unit and after the MG TF stopped production it was the only car still fitted with it. To rationalise production the 15/50 was launched with the BMC B-series engine fitted. Much of the design was shared with the MG Magnette, although some of the panels of the MG Magnette ZA/ZB are not interchangeable with those of the Wolseley 15/50, as stated in Practical Classics.

Wolseley 6/90 Motor vehicle

The Wolseley 6/90 is a car produced by Wolseley Motors Limited in the United Kingdom from 1954 to 1959. Announced on the first day of the October 1954 Motor Show, the 6/90 replaced the 6/80 as the company's flagship model. It was badged with Six-Ninety on the bonnet and with 6/90 on the bootlid.

Wolseley 15/60 Motor vehicle

The Wolseley 15/60 is an automobile which was produced from 1958 to 1961, and then, as the Wolseley 16/60, from 1961 to 1971. The 15/60 was the first of the mid-sized Pininfarina-styled automobiles manufactured by the British Motor Corporation (BMC). Launched in December 1958 as part of BMC's Wolseley brand, the design would eventually be shared with seven other marques. All of the cars were updated in 1961 with a larger engine and new model designations. The Wolseley 16/60 was the last, in production until 24 April 1971.

Austin Westminster Motor vehicle

The Austin Westminster series are large saloon and estate cars that were sold by the British manufacturer Austin from 1954, replacing the A70 Hereford. The Westminster line was produced as the A90, A95, A99, A105, and A110 until 1968 when the new Austin 3-Litre took its place. Essentially badge-engineered versions of the Farina Westminsters were also produced using the premium Wolseley and Vanden Plas marques. 101,634 Westminsters were built.

Rover P6 Motor vehicle

The Rover P6 series was a saloon car produced by Rover and subsequently British Leyland from 1963 to 1977 in Solihull, West Midlands, England, UK.

Morris Six MS Motor vehicle

The Morris Six Series MS is a six-cylinder midsize car from Morris Motors Limited which was produced from 1948 to 1953. Announced with Morris Motors' Minor, Oxford and Wolseley ranges on Tuesday 26 October 1948 it was Morris's first post war six-cylinder car. All the new cars were of integral construction of chassis and body and rode on independent front suspension with torsion bars. At launch the car was priced at £607 on the UK market though the price went to £671 on 1 March 1949.

The Singer Vogue name has been applied to two generations of motor cars from the British manufacturer Singer.

Humber Hawk Motor vehicle

The Humber Hawk is a four-cylinder automobile manufactured from 1945 to 1967 by British-based Humber Limited.

Morris Oxford MO Motor vehicle

Morris Oxford Series MO is an automobile produced by Morris Motors of the United Kingdom from 1948 to 1954. It was one of several models to carry the Morris Oxford name between 1913 and 1971.

References

  1. ↑ The Observer's Book of Automobiles, 1956, pages 227–228
  2. 1 2 Robson, G. (2006). A-Z of British Cars 1945-1980 . Herridge Books. ISBN   0-9541063-9-3.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Riley Pathfinder". The Motor . 8 December 1955.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rileyrob. "Healey Silverstone (1949-51)" . Retrieved 31 January 2014.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  5. ↑ Gloor, Roger (2007). Alle Autos der 50er Jahre 1945 - 1960. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN   978-3-613-02808-1.
  6. 1 2 Ramsey, John (1984). The Swapmeet and Toyfair Catalogue of British Diecast Model Toys. Swapmeet Toys and Models. p. 138. ISBN   095093190X.
  7. ↑ Ramsey, John (1984). The Swapmeet and Toyfair Catalogue of British Diecast Model Toys. Swapmeet Toys and Models. p. 163. ISBN   095093190X.
  8. ↑ Base C500 Series - Riley Pathfinder, toysnz.com Retrieved 21 November 2015

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.