Back to the Riley, (at last).
For the last week or so I have managed to get back to working on the Riley. I have been concentrating on getting the basic body frame finished so that I can commence with making and fitting the aluminium panels. …. I decided a few months back that I would go for a period style of body with a slab tank and spare wheel at the back, rather than the “Bugatti style” boat tail that the Riley Ulster imps carried. Lovely as they look I feel that a lot of chassis space is wasted with a tail that only carries the petrol tank with no room for luggage, side screens, tools, etc. The slab tank rear has enabled me to create a space behind the seats for such items.
The body is made up of high grade marine ply and a few ash timbers. The ply has immense strength, is water resistant, and easy to work. The body has enough curvature to not look “slab sided”, but very few compound curves that would make the aluminium panels difficult to produce. … The pictures show the bodyframe shape but still needing lots of sanding down and finishing off. I have remade the firewall bulkead that sits behind the engine, (not satisfied with the first attempt), and intend making a battery box to fix between this bulkhead and the scuttle bulkhead that carries the rear edge of the bonnet.
The basic frame ready for sanding and aluminium skinning
body frame taking shape
Leave a Reply
About the Author
Phil Smith is a vintage car enthusiast with many years experience of owning, restoring and using vintage, PVT and classic cars. A longstanding member of The Vintage Sports Car Club (VSCC), The Riley register and The MG Car Club. Makes he has owned include Alvis, Bentley, Lagonda, MG, Talbot and Riley, of course. Now retired, Phil satisfies his 'old motor urges' by competing in the MGCC Luffield Speed series in MG Midgets from the 60's and 70's. This blog will chart his return to vintage/PVT cars.
Categories
- Chassis & running gear (2)
- Engine, gearbox and drive train (1)
- General (3)
- Getting started (1)
- Thats how it all began … (1)
- Uncategorized (17)
Archives
Contact
-
E-mail: philsmith432[at]hotmail[dot]com