RILEY / UK

RILEY / COVENTRY / UK  ( 1903 - 1969 )

In the late 19th century William Riley and Son was a family firm making machinery in Coventry.

William´s youngest son Percy set up his own company in 1903, the Riley Engine Company, because his father William saw no future for cars. Percy´s brother Victor handled publicity matters of the new enterprise.  RILEY started with three-wheeled vehicles in 1903 and then, from 1906, fourwheeled cars began to take over.  These cars had detachable  wire wheels, which quickly made the Riley company world famous. In the 1920s, Riley successfully brought out sports cars. Riley was taken over by Morris in 1938. In the 1950s and 60s the Riley emblem was applied to a series of undistinguished BMC saloons, and finally disappeared in 1969.

I could only find one enameled emblem that was already in use before 1914. In contrast to all the following emblems, it is oval and not a diamond-shaped:

 

Size	c. 6.0 cm x 5.5 cm
Year	1909 - 1914
Estimate

I was able to verify the well-known emblem, which was used in this form until 1968, in an advertisement that appeared in 1919:

1919 advertisement with the famous diamond shaped emblem

 

 

Prewar emblem with dark blue enamel

Size	6.0 cm x 5.0 cm
Year	1919 -1939
Estimate

 

 

RILEY emblem with the slogan: AS OLD AS THE INDUSTRY 

 

 One of the most beautiful emblems ever was used on the Riley type Alpine in 1930:

 

large rear emblem with silvered ski lady

 

Size	c. 6.0 cm x 11.0 cm
Year	1931
Estimate

 

Finally I was able to find an advertisement showing this extrardinairy emblem:

 

 

 

 

 There was also a matching radiator mascot, the RILEY SKI LADY:

 

 Even separate advertisements were created for Percy Riley's invention, the detachable wire wheel.

 

Postwar Riley 90 HP still with the diamond shaped emblem ( photo collection Claus H. Wulff)

 After WWII the blue in the emblem became lighter:

 

 Large trunk emblem of the RILEY PATHFINDER ( 1952 -1957 ):

RILEY rear badge 

Size	15.1 cm x 5.0 cm
Year	1919 -1939
Estimate

 

rear emblem attached to the license plate light holder

 

 1963  RILEY 4 / SEVENTY TWO with the light blue emblem:

 

To my knowledge the last RILEY automobile with a RILEY emblem was based on BMC Mini Version in 1968 and the only difference between a WOLSELEY and a RILEY was the shape of the front grill with its badge. 

 

 For more emblems see older posts or top right ( list of carmakers ).

When using a smartphone please use the button webview.