| Dickie's Rileys Website. |
| After leaving the Royal Air Force in November1986, I did the usual retirement things for about four years before deciding where to concentrate my interest. Always interested in motor vehicles, I restored an elderly 250cc Ducati, and had purchased a 1962 350cc P&M Panther, which has now been sorted. On returning from our 6 months Australian holiday, I was idly wondering what to do next when I found a 1957 Austin A35. This was in a bad state, and took 9 months to restore. -Austin A35- During this restoration, a friend suggested I was wasting my time and should become involved with something better. I did not entirely agree with him - however, when the Austin was completed, I went in search for a more challenging project. An RM Riley was found. The 1953 RME, this a complete wreck, was purchased for me by my wife for �400 in 1993, as a topical 40th wedding anniversary present. -1953 Riley RME- This took 3 years to restore, during which time I found an NSU Prinz L (1970) which was also very sad. It was a nostalgic purchase - I almost bought one in 1966 when I was in Germany - and its refurbishment was a simple task after the RM ! During this restoration, a collection of Rileys happened along-comprising a 1933 Ascot, a 1936 Kestrel, a 1937 Monaco and another 1953 RM. The latter two where complete wrecks and scrapped, (though I purchased what was left of the Monaco). I also purchased the Kestrel - another 3 years work!! -1936 Kestrel 9 hp- When the Kestrel was completed, I decided that I had one more restoration project to do, so purchased the Ascot from a chum who was really more interested in 'bikes. I acquired it in 1999 - and it meant another 3 years work! -1933 Riley Ascot- I still own all the vehicles, which I take to various club shows - and I also now have a white German Shepherd who acts as my co-pilot. Feel free to look around this site. If anyone would like any further information, technical or otherwise, about any of the cars, or could provide me with any early history of any of the vehicles, feel free to sign my guestbook below. |
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