Riley 16

The Riley 16 hp is a car made by the British Riley company from 1937 to 1940. It slotted into Riley's range immediately below their 18 hp V8 model. Announced in September 1937 for the Earls Court Motor Show[2] it became one of the two genuine Riley models in the rationalised range that followed the 1938 takeover by the Nuffield Organization.

1938 Riley 16hp
Kestrel 16hp 6-light saloon
first registered January 1938
Overview
ManufacturerRiley
Production1939-1940
Body and chassis
Body style
  • 1937:
  • Continental sports saloon
  • Kestrel 6-light saloon
  • Adelphi 6-light saloon
  • 1939
  • Kestrel 6-light saloon
    Kestrel 2-door drophead coupé
Powertrain
Engine2.4 L Straight-4
Dimensions
Wheelbase116 in (2,946 mm)[1]
Length179 in (4,547 mm)
Width63 in (1,600 mm)
Chronology
Predecessornone
SuccessorRiley RMB

It had a 2443cc straight-four engine with twin cams and S.U carburettor which developed 82 bhp (61 kW). The transmission was a four speed manual. It was capable of a top speed of around 80 mph (129 km/h).[1] The chassis was a lengthened version of the one used on the Riley 12 hp which was introduced at the same time.

The 1939/40 16 hp was available with a standard saloon, Kestrel fastback saloon or drophead coupe coachwork.[3]

Continental sports saloon
(this body is on a 12/4 chassis)
Adelphi 6-light saloon
(this body is on a 15/6 chassis)
Kestrel 16hp 6-light saloon
Adelphi 16hp 6-light saloon
Riley 2½-litre Big Four
Overview
ManufacturerRiley Motors Limited
Also calledRiley 16 h.p.[4]
Production1937 to 1957[5]
Layout
Configurationstraight four
Displacement2.443 L (149.1 cu in)[5]
Cylinder bore80.5 mm (3.17 in)[2]
Piston stroke120 mm (4.7 in)[2]
Block materialcast iron, aluminium sump, alloy pistons
Head materialcast iron, hemispherical combustion chambers, spark plugs in centre between valve covers[4]
Valvetrain90-degree angled overhead valves[5] operated by twin high-lift camshafts moving rockers with short light stiff push-rods powered from the crankshaft by duplex roller chains[4]
Compression ratio6.9 : 1[5]
Combustion
Fuel systemTwin H4 SU carburettors[5] mechanical petrol pump[4]
Fuel typepetrol
Oil systempressure fed from sump by submerged gear-type pump driven by skew gear from camshaft
Cooling systemwater, thermostatically controlled flow, belt-driven water pump and radiator fan[4]
Output
Power output106 bhp @ 4,500 rpm
Tax rating 16hp[5]
Chronology
Predecessornone before 1937
SuccessorRiley RMH then BMC C-Series engine

Michael Sedgwick described this long-stroke four as a first-class tourer in the Riley tradition, Britain's largest four since the 4½-lire Bentley ended production in 1931. Its chassis he said was regular Riley - beam axles and Girling brakes - fitted with Borg-Warner overdrive as standard it would run up to 90 mph. The engine ran very smoothly for a four-cylinder. Good value for money it survived into Riley's Nuffield-owned era but with disc wheels, umbrella handbrake lever and ordinary synchromesh gearboxes, (Nuffield) ". . . made a few wire-wheeled Kestrels in 1939 and 1940 to keep the traditionalists happy".[6]

References

  1. Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16689-2.
  2. Cars Of 1938. Riley Models. The Times, Friday, Sep 17, 1937; pg. 6; Issue 47792
  3. Sedgwick, M; Gillies (1989). A–Z of cars of the 1930s. UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-38-9.
  4. Cars of To-Day. '’’The Times'’, Tuesday, 16 March 1937; pg. 22; Issue 47634.
  5. Rileyrob. "Healey Silverstone (1949–51)". Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  6. Michael Sedgwick, Cars of the 1930s, B T Batsford, London. 1970 ISBN 0713404655
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