Topic: JPG #47 Solved : 1948 Riley RM by Epps Bros.

[Joćo]

What“s it? Complete answer please!

[MG Manic]

Riley 2.5 RMB Tickford Coupe?

[Joćo]

Indeed a Riley but not by Tickford.

[Joćo]

Next level

[barrett]

By Epps?? Not a builder i've ever heard of!

[Carnut]

This particular car is pictured on a Riley RM website where it is described as an RMB 1.5 litre drophead probably produced by the Riley factory!
There were apparently some made by coachbuilders but on that website they say there's no record of who built them and there is no evidence on the bodies themselves!

[Joćo]

Oh! that“s interesting Carnut!

Spot on barrett  A 1948 Riley RM by Epps Bros.,a coachbuilder from south of London ( That“s what my source says ).

[barrett]

I had the same problem as Carnut, but with a little more digging I found it as by Epps... Do you have any other info on this company? I can't see anything on...er... the popular website about coachbuilding. Anyone know anything else?

[Joćo]

I“ll add this coachbuilder there and see if someone appears with more info about them.I don“t have the "Beaulieu Encyclopedia Of The Automobile: Coachbuilding" maybe you can find them there.

[woodinsight]

Epps Bros. was founded by three brothers in Penge, SE London just after WW II.
Their main business was in bodying Riley chassis in a variety of drophead coupe styles.
it is reported that between 7 and 12 Riley chassis were bodied by Epps.
The firm closed in 1949 after a scandal involving illegal exports.

[Joćo]

Thank you so much woodinsight 

[woodinsight]

I always think it is necessary to add information to the puzzle where possible.

Ebbs Bros. also produced a dramatic Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith drophead coupe in the style of Hooper and an aluminium-panelled Healey estate car

[75america]

Beaulieu Encyclopedia Of The Automobile: Coachbuilding: "EPPS (GB) 1947-1948.  A south London firm which bodied seven or eight Riley RMA chassis during a strike at the Riley works.  Five were dropheads similar to Rily's own product, but two or three were a more radically modified design with wings flowing into the doors.  These were of aluminium, and were mounted on top of the factory-built steel wings."

[Joćo]

Thank you 

[Allan L]

According to DVLA that registration is on a 1932    1056cc Blue Riley so it may have been transferred (though Riley nines were 1087 cc, not 1056)
Surprising as the photo you used does not look all that old and I would expect the car to still retain its number.

[Carnut]

According to DVLA that registration is on a 1932    1056cc Blue Riley so it may have been transferred (though Riley nines were 1087 cc, not 1056)
Surprising as the photo you used does not look all that old and I would expect the car to still retain its number.

That's odd because that registration number dates from 2nd half of 1948 and technically it's not allowed to put a registration number on a car that's older than the number...  Although it does happen of course! 

The other way around is fine (older number on a newer car) but a 1932 car is not allowed to have a 1948 number!