The Riley 16 hp is a car made by the British

Riley Riley may refer to: Businesses * Riley (brand), British sporting goods brand founded in 1878 * Riley Motor, British motorcar and bicycle manufacturera 1890–1969 * Riley Technologies, American auto racing constructor and team, founded by Bob ...

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 ShowCars Of 1938. Riley Models. ''The Times'', Friday, Sep 17, 1937; pg. 6; Issue 47792 it became one of the two genuine Riley models in the rationalised range that followed the 1938 takeover by the

Nuffield Organization Nuffield Organization was the unincorporated umbrella-name or promotional name used for the charitable and commercial interests of owner and donor, William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield. The name was assumed following Nuffield's gift made to form ...

. It had a 2443cc

straight-four engine A straight-four engine (also referred to as an inline-four engine) is a four-cylinder Reciprocating engine, piston engine where cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft. The majority of automotive four-cylinder engines use a ...

with twin cams and S.U carburettor which developed . The transmission was a four speed manual. It was capable of a top speed of around . 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. 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 chassi, 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".Michael Sedgwick, ''Cars of the 1930s'', B T Batsford, London. 1970

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1940 Riley 16 with disc wheels
16 1930s cars 1940s cars Rear-wheel-drive vehicles Executive cars Sedans Convertibles