27 Riley RM

Got a 1960s classic? Always hankered after something a bit older, but put off by the thought that it won’t be very usable? Then perhaps the venerable RM is for you. Originating with the 1945 RMA (11/2-litre) and 1946 RMB (21/2-litre), these handsome and beautifully engineered saloons remained in production for nearly a decade and just shy of 23,000 cars, marching through the alphabet as far as RMF. Remarkably, there’s still a handful of people using their RMS as daily drivers because, although there are plenty of traditional Riley features – twin ‘high-cam’ engine, spats, running boards (on the first cars) – the driving experience was relatively modern, with essentials such as fully hydraulic brakes on all but the early models.

At this price level you can forget about the dropheads, but it should be plenty to secure a very nice saloon – particularly if you are willing to settle for the more lethargic 11/2-litre RMA/RME. But buyer beware, however: beneath the handsome Everflex roof and steel panels lies a rot-prone timber frame, so check it carefully – or better yet get a professional inspection – before you buy.