Riley 12

The Riley 12 was a medium-sized premium priced saloon or drophead coupe, also available as a bare chassis, offered from mid 1939 although The Motor magazine did not announce it as a new car until July 1939. Production ended in 1940 and the model was not revived after the war. It followed the bankruptcy of Riley, whose assets passed to the Nuffield Corporation, which pruned and rationalised the range and used components from the MG, Morris and Wolseley parts bin; the 12 was one of three Riley models built after that exercise until World War II put an end to Riley production, alongside the 16 hp version with the same body and the 16 hp Kestrel. It carried helmet-style front mudguards and a bigger boot, and underneath was an updated Riley Victor chassis with an engine that kept gear driven camshafts.