Topic: barrett's #168 - Solved - Riley Riviera

[barrett]

Full details of what this car is - Make, model, who it was built by and what made it special, for a point!

[Siata1]

Riley 4/72 1961-1969, but please give the point to the member knowing who put wire wheels on the car.

[barrett]

Sure it's a Riley, but it's not a standard 4/72

[bleyland]

I believe that's a modified 1961 4/68 so it's a Riley Riviera.

[barrett]

It is indeed a Riviera. Can you provide any more information about it and what makes it different from a standard Riley?

[bleyland]

Wessex Motors started with a standard 4/68 and had packages that included disc brakes, fog lamps, and, obviously, wire wheels.  In my opinion, the best upgrade was the 1500 engine was upgraded the MGA's 1600 unit.

[barrett]

Right, the conversion was offered by Wessex Motors and in its ultimate form had the 1600 MGA engine along with disk brakes and various body modifications including reshaped rear wings, spot lights, wire wheels etc.

I actually have the original road test somewhere but I have torn my entire house apart looking for the magazine it was in and it seems like it is lost for ever, so I can't give much more information than that. I know one of these cars survives in restored condition.

[Carnut]

I have torn my entire house apart looking for the magazine it was in and it seems like it is lost for ever

You'll find it when you're looking for something else!

[bleyland]

I know one of these cars survives in restored condition.

From the info I found I'm not quite sure there was even more than one of this particular model.

[barrett]

I was fortunate enough to see the restored Riviera at the weekend. I talked to the owner and he gave me a thorough tour round the car and I must say it's very nice, and the conversion has been carried out to a very high standard. He believes around a dozen of these cars were built although that number includes the 'sister model' the Silhouette. Someone else I know mentioned seeing one meet its demise on the banger track in the 1990s!
 

[bleyland]

Very, very nice