The Riley Motor Company was a British manufacturer of high-quality automobiles and an innovator in engineering design during the early 20th century. Founded by the Riley family in Coventry, England, the company was known for producing sporty, luxurious cars and for its innovations in engine design.

Origins and Early Development

Founded: The Riley family began as a manufacturer of weaving equipment in the 19th century. In 1890, they shifted to making bicycles under the name The Riley Cycle Company.

Motorcycles and Engines: In the early 20th century, Riley began experimenting with motorcycles and small engines, with their first motorized tricycle appearing in 1900.

Transition to Automobiles

First Car: The Riley family produced their first motorcar in 1907. By 1913, Riley began focusing exclusively on automobiles.

Innovations:

Riley introduced groundbreaking technologies, including multi-valve engines and the hemispherical combustion chamber.

These advances made Riley cars more efficient and powerful than many of their contemporaries.

Slogan: Riley adopted the slogan "As old as the industry, as modern as the hour", reflecting their long history and forward-thinking designs.

Golden Era (1920s–1930s)

Riley became synonymous with sporty, stylish cars during the interwar years.

The company introduced the Riley Nine in 1926, a car that combined elegance with excellent performance, powered by a 1.1-liter engine. It became Riley's most famous and successful model.

Riley cars were highly regarded in motorsport, participating in prestigious events like the Le Mans 24 Hours and winning various racing championships.

Financial struggles emerged in the 1930s due to the company’s inability to control costs and scale production effectively.

In 1938, Riley was absorbed into the Nuffield Organization, which also owned Morris and MG. In 1952, Riley became part of the British Motor Corporation (BMC).

Riley-branded cars continued to be produced into the 1960s, often sharing platforms with other BMC brands. However, the Riley name was retired in 1969.

Percy Riley (1885–1941) was the key engineer and inventor behind the Riley Motor Company’s success. A gifted and innovative designer, Percy played a pivotal role in developing some of the company’s most iconic technologies.

Early Life

Percy was one of five Riley brothers who worked in the family business. While the other brothers focused on management, sales, and production, Percy concentrated on engineering and design.

Percy demonstrated mechanical ingenuity at a young age, designing and building his first car in 1898, when he was just 13.

Contributions to Riley Motor Company

Engine Design: Percy Riley is best known for his pioneering work on high-revving, multi-valve engines. His most notable invention was the hemispherical combustion chamber paired with overhead valves, a design that improved performance and efficiency.

The Riley Nine: Percy developed the engine for the Riley Nine, a 1.1-liter powerplant that became the backbone of Riley’s success in road cars and motorsport.

Innovations: He also designed gearboxes and chassis that complemented his advanced engines, creating vehicles with superior handling and performance.

Percy Riley died in 1941 at the age of 56.