| Riley Pathfinder | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | BMC |
| Production | 1953-1957 5152 |
| Predecessor | Riley RMF |
| Successor | Riley Two-Point-Six |
| Class | fullsize car |
| Body style(s) | 4-door saloon |
| Engine(s) | 2.5 L Twin cam Straight-4 |
The Pathfinder replaced the RMF as Riley's top-line car. Designed as the "RMH" just before the 1952 merger of Riley-parent, the Nuffield Organisation, with Austin to form BMC, the Pathfinder is seen as the last proper Riley car. It used Riley's 110 hp (82 kW) 2.5 L (2443 cc) twin-cam, "Big Four" straight-4 engine and had a separate chassis with coil spring rear (this was changed to leaf springs towards the end of production) and front torsion bar independent suspension. From 1956 an overdrive gearbox became optional. The gear lever was floor mounted by the driver's door with the front corner of the seat squab contoured so as to allow three to seat in the front. The body was similar to the Wolseley 6/90. Both cars were launched in 1953, and both were designed by Morris' Gerald Palmer for the Nuffield Organisation before the merger. All Pathfinders featured the front independent suspension developed from the RMF, but the sophisticated Riley rear suspension was replaced by a conventional leaf spring type in the last few examples. An essential part of the location of the rear axle was a Panhard rod which on some early examples sheared on hard cornering resulting in the unfortunate 'Ditchfinder' nickname. The Pathfinder was replaced by the short-lived Wolseley 6/90-derived Riley Two-Point-Six in 1957. Engine:
- 2.5 L (2443 cc) Straight-4, 110 hp (82 kW)
External references
- Auto - Architect: The Autobiography of Gerald Palmer (1911-1999). Gerald Palmer and Christopher Balfour. Magna Press 1988. ISBN 0-9543121-1-2
- The Cars of BMC. Graham Robson. Guild Publishing 1987
