1951 Riley RMC - Rare British Roadster

It's an unusual sight in the United States but in its British homeland, the Riley is respected as a premium motorcar that was aimed at discriminating buyers. The RMC is a sporting derivative of the Riley RM series of sedans that first appeared in 1945, with the RMC riding on the RM's 119-inch wheelbase. Officially termed a Sports Roadster, this 1951 Riley RMC is one of the 226 cars that Riley exported to the United States that year, and is said to be part of the RMC's total run of 507 units, about 100 of which had right-hand drive with a floor-mounted shifter. I have owned it for 48 years after acquiring it from a federal judge who had rescued it following a shabby attempt at refurbishment. I have had the Riley engine professionally rebuilt and restored the RMC twice, most recently in 2011, which included a repaint. The leather interior is said to be only six years old. The 2,443-cc inline-four was the larger of Riley's two engines for 1951, its overhead valves actuated by dual camshafts. With a compression ratio of 6.8:1, the Riley 2.5 received its fuel mixture via dual SU H4 carburetors and was rated by the manufacturer at an even 100 horsepower.- this Riley's engine is original to the car, and that its rebuild around 4,000 miles ago included a new water pump, fuel pump, fan belt and wiring harness. The gas tank was removed, professionally refurbished and then reinstalled. The engine is said to start and idle smoothly, without smoke, after pushbuttons on the SU carburetors are used to prime it. No issues are noted with the four-speed manual transmission although the seller notes that first gear is unsynchronized. The oil pan and rocker cover gaskets were replaced in May of 2021. The engine bay appears to be stock and presents cleanly. The white paint on this RMC Sports Roadster dates to 2011 and is described as being in very good condition, with the seller adding that any existing blemishes are minor, few in number and in no need of repair.- the car is free of rust. The Riley appears to be missing none of its trim, and the chrome presents well, with a quartet of overriders mounted to the bumper. The charging-ram mascot was added by a previous owner. The fabric top was replaced years ago and is said to exhibit considerable wear today. The side curtains were rebuilt in 2014. This roadster is not equipped with door seals. The windscreen is said to be original to the car and free of cracks and chips. All of the exterior lighting is described as functional, but the seller reports that the left-side trafficator semaphore is inoperative. - The brown leather on the cabin's seat is six years old and reported to be in excellent condition. The interior door panels have non-stock coverings of red with white piping. The seller recommends that the worn carpeting be replaced. The interior trim is said to be original except for a single knob securing the side curtains. The wooden dashboard presents very well, including its gauges, which are functional except for the disconnected fuel and factory temperature gauges, the latter of which has been replaced by an operable aftermarket instrument. There is no heat or audio system. - The RMC has torsion-bar suspension that was lubricated about 2,000 miles ago. One spring leaf has been replaced. The shock absorbers are said to have been replaced years ago.- no issues with the hydraulic drum brakes, which have mechanical backup. The Firestone tires are about 15 years old and have most of their tread remaining. The tires have always been parked on pads when the car is in storage. Always stored indoors.I have every receipt and replaced part accumulated during his ownership, plus the original shop manual, jack, spare tire, and trophies presented at shows. This 1951 Riley RMC, a British sporting rarity, presents with vigor.