Rob's Riley Pages

RILEY - CHASSIS NUMBERS
as Old as the Industry, as modern as the Hour

This page is intended to explain how to Decipher the Chassis Numbers used by Riley.
I have taken the following Data from David Styles excellent book, 'As old as the Industry', and hope I haven't breached any copyright! If anyone knows any different to what is set out below, I would be grateful if they could correct me!

Early Rileys

Dates Chassis Numbers Notes

1896-1907 100-?? Bikes, Tricars and Quads.
The Frame Number was stamped on the frame, and ran sequentially, without any model differentiation.

1905-14 ? all V-Twin and 17/30hp cars.
Again, it appears that all models had sequential numbers, probably continuing with the series from above.

Sidevalve (10.8, 11/40 & 11.9) Cars.

1919
1920-28 100-C285
C286- (3/4 digit) 10.8 and 11/40 cars.
After 1922 a Letter suffix was added to the engine number showing the bodystyle the engine originally powered!:
T = All Tourer Cars
S = Standard & De-luxe Saloons as well as Coach.
C = Coupe and Cloverleaf.

1925-28 69xxxx All 11.9 Cars (69mm=cylinder bore).
The engine numbers are again thought to all have a model suffix, as above, with one addition:
W = Wentworth.

With the Launch of the 11.9 in 1925, and the 9 in late 1926, Riley Chassis Numbering started to get more organised, with at least a differentiation of which engine the car used. With the Riley 9 Chassis, there are also enough cars and records surviving to be able to provide an approximate yearly breakdown:
Riley 9's. July 1926 -- Aug. 1935

Dates Chassis Numbers Notes

July 1926 - Oct. 1930 600001-601000 MkI Chassis, RH Gearchange, Cone Clutch.
(60mm=cylinder bore)

601001-602964 MkII Chassis (MkI body)

602965-604293 MkIII Chassis (MkI body)

604294-6011012 MkIV Chassis - MkII bodies on all except Monaco.
Monaco II body from C/No 606770

1927-28 60/1 - 60/? First 9hp Speed models (Brooklands) built by Thompson & Taylor Ltd.

1928-32 8001-8093? Brooklands Speed Model.
There are suggestions that the last Brooklands Chassis Number was 8098, but evidence to date only goes as far as 8093.

Oct. 1930- 6011013-6014999 Plus Series. Internal rocker oil feed from C/No 6012013. Long Shank Pinion from C/No 6013196.

Oct. 1931- 6015000-6018999 Plus Ultra Series

Oct. 1932- 6019000-6019799 Silent Third Gearbox & Magneto Ignition.

6019800-6022600 All Helical Gearbox & Coil Ignition.

Oct. 1933- 6022601-6023600 1934 models with all Helical Gearbox.

6023601-6025048 ENV Preselctagear & 1st Type Centrifugal Clutch. Imps fom C/No 6025044 had external Rocker-Oil feed.

6025049-6025600 ENV Psg & 2nd Type Clutch.

6025601-6027000 1934 models with All Helical Gearbox.

Oct. 1934- 6027001-6027030 1935 models with ENV Psg and external rocker oil feed.

6027031-6027900 Armstrong-Siddeley Psg & Luvax shock absorbers.
Imps contnued as before with ENV Psg, and Hartford Shocks.

Riley 14/6, 12/6 & 15/6 Oct. 1928 -- July 1935

Dates Chassis Numbers Notes

Oct. 1928- 14/14S 200-699consec.
& blocks to 1120
14L up to 1117 No letter prefix for 5-seater Tourer or Deauville. S=Stelvio (to 1935). L=Light Six / Alpine Saloon.
Internal Rocker oil feed on 14/14S (LWB) models from C/No 369 and on 14L (SWB) from C/No 567.

Oct. 1932- 88E up to 263 Edinburgh Saloon / Limousine

88E264-? Winchester. Numbers were taken in sequence with 14- models.

14S700-799 Stelvio 14/6 Saloon

14L series Very small number of Alpines built.

44T 101-1300 Ascot, Kestrel, Lincock, Lynx, MPH, March 12/6, Mentone 12/6. All Helical Gearbox from Dec. 1932.

Oct. 1933- 14S 800-929 Stelvio 14/6 Saloon

44T 1301-2243 All SWB models as 44T 101-1300, with addition of Alpne 14/6

Sep. 1934- 15S930-? Stelvio 15/6 Saloon

Oct. 1934- 44T 2244-2499 Falcon, Kestrel, Lynx, MPH 15/6

April 1935 14L1120 Last Alpine 14/6 registered (AVC9) with original series chassis.

Riley 12/4 Oct. 1934 -- July 1935.

Oct. 1934- 22T 101-2199 Kestrel Lynx & Falcon, 1935 series.

All Models July / Aug. 1935 onwards.

From Summer 1935, Riley employed a new Chassis Numbering System, which not only identified the engine, but also the Year and Bodystyle originally fitted. This system continued into the postwar RM series, albeit with a few minor anomalies along the way!
The General style was thus:
SS 3 8 A X 1234

The S / SS identifies the engine tune:
(no prefix): Standard engine.
S: Special Series (& 12/4 Sprite Series Sprite!).
SS: Sprite Series.
The 3 identifies the engine itself:
2: Riley 12/4 (1½ litre) engine.
3: Riley Big 4 (2½ litre / 16/4) engine.
4: Riley 15/6 engine to 48;
(Nuffield) Riley 16hp engine for 49.
6: Riley 9 engine.
8: Riley 8/90 engine.
The 8 identifies the year:
6: 1936 series car.
7: 1937 series car.
8: 1938 series car.
9: All Nuffield Rileys pre-war.
The A identifies the bodystyle:
A: Adelphi
B: (Briggs Bodied) Touring Saloon;
16/4 Continental / chassis.
C: Continental / Close-Coupled Saloon.
D: Nuffield Dropheads.
F: Falcon / 12/4 (Briggs Bodied) Touring Saloon.
K: Kestrel.
L: Lynx.
M: Merlin.
S: Sprite & Nuffield Saloons.
V: Victor.
Z: Monaco.
The X identifies a Car with Overdrive, standard on Big 4's, a rare option on other models.
1234 is the chassis number, numbered sequentially through each engine type, regardless of the actual chassis type.

All Cars post July 1935 Just to clarify the details above, the following Chassis numbers were issued from 1935 until production was discontinued in 1940.
*Dates*	*Chassis Prefix*	*Numbers*	*Notes*
July 1935-	26A/F/K/L/M & S26S	2201-5000	1936 Series 1½ litre Models.
Oct. 1936-	27A/C/F/K/L/M & S27S	5001-7200	1937 Series 1½ litre Models.
Oct. 1937-	28A/F/K/L/V & S28S	7201-7950?	1938 Series 1½ Models.
June 1939-	29D/S	8001-8650?	Nuffield 12hp Rileys (1939/40).
Oct. 1937-	38A/B/K/L	1001-1314	1937 Series 2½ litre Models. All models fitted with Overdrive Gearbox & so model letters followed by 'X'.
July 1935-	46A/F/K/L	2500-3000	1936 Series 12/6 & 15/6 Models.
Oct. 1936-	47A/K	3001-3299	1937 Series 15/6 Models.
Oct. 1937-	48A/K	3300-?	1938 Series 15/6 Models.
June 1939-	49D/K/S	1501-1613?	Nuffield 16hp Rileys (1939/40)
Aug. 1935-	S66K/M	101-2200	1936 Series 9hp Models.
Oct. 1936-	67M / S67C / S67Z	2201-3399	1937 Series 9hp Models.
Oct. 1937-	68V	3400-	1938 Victor 9.
Oct. 1935	86A/K	101-109?	1936 Series 8/90 Models (9'4½" Wheelbase).
Oct. 1936	87A/K	201-211	1937 Series 8/90 Models (9'8½" WB)
Oct. 1937	87A	212-?	1938 Series Adelphi, PSG Gearbox.

Early Rileys
*Dates*	*Chassis Numbers*	*Notes*
1896-1907	100-??	Bikes, Tricars and Quads. The Frame Number was stamped on the frame, and ran sequentially, without any model differentiation.
1905-14	?	all V-Twin and 17/30hp cars. Again, it appears that all models had sequential numbers, probably continuing with the series from above.
Sidevalve (10.8, 11/40 & 11.9) Cars.
1919 1920-28	100-C285 C286- (3/4 digit)	10.8 and 11/40 cars. After 1922 a Letter suffix was added to the engine number showing the bodystyle the engine originally powered!: T = All Tourer Cars S = Standard & De-luxe Saloons as well as Coach. C = Coupe and Cloverleaf.
1925-28	69xxxx	All 11.9 Cars (69mm=cylinder bore). The engine numbers are again thought to all have a model suffix, as above, with one addition: W = Wentworth.
With the Launch of the 11.9 in 1925, and the 9 in late 1926, Riley Chassis Numbering started to get more organised, with at least a differentiation of which engine the car used. With the Riley 9 Chassis, there are also enough cars and records surviving to be able to provide an approximate yearly breakdown: Riley 9's. July 1926 -- Aug. 1935
*Dates*	*Chassis Numbers*	*Notes*
July 1926 - Oct. 1930	600001-601000	MkI Chassis, RH Gearchange, Cone Clutch. (60mm=cylinder bore)
	601001-602964	MkII Chassis (MkI body)
	602965-604293	MkIII Chassis (MkI body)
	604294-6011012	MkIV Chassis - MkII bodies on all except Monaco. Monaco II body from C/No 606770
1927-28	60/1 - 60/?	First 9hp Speed models (Brooklands) built by Thompson & Taylor Ltd.
1928-32	8001-8093?	Brooklands Speed Model. There are suggestions that the last Brooklands Chassis Number was 8098, but evidence to date only goes as far as 8093.
Oct. 1930-	6011013-6014999	Plus Series. Internal rocker oil feed from C/No 6012013. Long Shank Pinion from C/No 6013196.
Oct. 1931-	6015000-6018999	Plus Ultra Series
Oct. 1932-	6019000-6019799	Silent Third Gearbox & Magneto Ignition.
	6019800-6022600	All Helical Gearbox & Coil Ignition.
Oct. 1933-	6022601-6023600	1934 models with all Helical Gearbox.
	6023601-6025048	ENV Preselctagear & 1st Type Centrifugal Clutch. Imps fom C/No 6025044 had external Rocker-Oil feed.
	6025049-6025600	ENV Psg & 2nd Type Clutch.
	6025601-6027000	1934 models with All Helical Gearbox.
Oct. 1934-	6027001-6027030	1935 models with ENV Psg and external rocker oil feed.
	6027031-6027900	Armstrong-Siddeley Psg & Luvax shock absorbers. Imps contnued as before with ENV Psg, and Hartford Shocks.
Riley 14/6, 12/6 & 15/6 Oct. 1928 -- July 1935
*Dates*	*Chassis Numbers*	*Notes*
Oct. 1928-	14/14S 200-699consec. & blocks to 1120 14L up to 1117	No letter prefix for 5-seater Tourer or Deauville. S=Stelvio (to 1935). L=Light Six / Alpine Saloon. Internal Rocker oil feed on 14/14S (LWB) models from C/No 369 and on 14L (SWB) from C/No 567.
Oct. 1932-	88E up to 263	Edinburgh Saloon / Limousine
	88E264-?	Winchester. Numbers were taken in sequence with 14- models.
	14S700-799	Stelvio 14/6 Saloon
	14L series	Very small number of Alpines built.
	44T 101-1300	Ascot, Kestrel, Lincock, Lynx, MPH, March 12/6, Mentone 12/6. All Helical Gearbox from Dec. 1932.
Oct. 1933-	14S 800-929	Stelvio 14/6 Saloon
	44T 1301-2243	All SWB models as 44T 101-1300, with addition of Alpne 14/6
Sep. 1934-	15S930-?	Stelvio 15/6 Saloon
Oct. 1934-	44T 2244-2499	Falcon, Kestrel, Lynx, MPH 15/6
April 1935	14L1120	Last Alpine 14/6 registered (AVC9) with original series chassis.
Riley 12/4 Oct. 1934 -- July 1935.
Oct. 1934-	22T 101-2199	Kestrel Lynx & Falcon, 1935 series.

All Models July / Aug. 1935 onwards.
From Summer 1935, Riley employed a new Chassis Numbering System, which not only identified the engine, but also the Year and Bodystyle originally fitted. This system continued into the postwar RM series, albeit with a few minor anomalies along the way! The General style was thus: SS 3 8 A X 1234
The S / SS identifies the engine tune: (no prefix): Standard engine. S: Special Series (& 12/4 Sprite Series Sprite!). SS: Sprite Series. The 3 identifies the engine itself: 2: Riley 12/4 (1½ litre) engine. 3: Riley Big 4 (2½ litre / 16/4) engine. 4: Riley 15/6 engine to 48; (Nuffield) Riley 16hp engine for 49. 6: Riley 9 engine. 8: Riley 8/90 engine. The 8 identifies the year: 6: 1936 series car. 7: 1937 series car. 8: 1938 series car. 9: All Nuffield Rileys pre-war.	The A identifies the bodystyle: A: Adelphi B: (Briggs Bodied) Touring Saloon; 16/4 Continental / chassis. C: Continental / Close-Coupled Saloon. D: Nuffield Dropheads. F: Falcon / 12/4 (Briggs Bodied) Touring Saloon. K: Kestrel. L: Lynx. M: Merlin. S: Sprite & Nuffield Saloons. V: Victor. Z: Monaco. The X identifies a Car with Overdrive, standard on Big 4's, a rare option on other models. 1234 is the chassis number, numbered sequentially through each engine type, regardless of the actual chassis type.