Solved - MJW #865 - Riley RM Sports SP6 Ramsay 1952/83

[woodinsight]

Yes it's a xxxxx but can you also identify who converted this sports car and when?
One point for the full (and correct) answer.

[woodinsight]

Experts?

[bentleybob]

Riley meets BMW 328?

[woodinsight]

Riley meets BMW 328?

Riley yes but no BMW parts involved AFAIK....

[bentleybob]

OK, just thought it might have been a Sbarro 328 replica of a BMW 328 pre war roadster fitted with a post-war Riley 2 1/2 litre noce to relive the pre-war Riley Sprite which was set up as competition for the pre-war BMW 328 anyway. Are you sure this has actually been built?

[woodinsight]

OK, just thought it might have been a Sbarro 328 replica of a BMW 328 pre war roadster fitted with a post-war Riley 2 1/2 litre noce to relive the pre-war Riley Sprite which was set up as competition for the pre-war BMW 328 anyway. Are you sure this has actually been built?

Yes, I see what you mean but this car exists - see another photo below

[bentleybob]

The wheel also attributed to my confusion. It must be: 1952 Riley SP6 Roadster although Riley built outstanding sports cars before World War II, it abandoned this field after the war. In the early 1980s Mr. Dennis Ramsay of Sterling, Scotland decided to rectify this omission. The skilled Ramsay earned competition fame with his Daimler-V8-powered HAR sports-racer. In 1983 the motor engineer completed this unique 2.5-litre sports Riley. The car's RM-series basis dates from 1952. Having shortened the chassis by 24 inches to 95 inches, the same as the BMW 328 that inspired his project, Mr. Ramsay underslung it at the rear and fitted Girling hydraulic brakes. Original Riley grille, wings, bonnet and scuttle are retained, albeit revised to suit their new environment in the car that Ramsay dubbed his Project SP6. All new panels are aluminium, including the tail, shaped to evoke the pre-war Sprite style. Lightness was a priority with drilling of the side members and wheels, the latter aiding brake cooling. Ultra-light and with 100 bhp available from its four-cylinder 2.5-litre twin-cam Riley engine, the RMS is a vivid performer that suggests what Riley might have achieved, had it chosen to build a car for this category. Often mistaken for a Riley works prototype and featured in 'The Automobile' and 'Riley Record', HFV 554 has participated in VSCC and Aviva Classic runs. Having toured to Ireland and Burgundy, Ramsay's SP6 has proved a quick and reliable driver with first-class weather protection and capacious boot capacity. And it is, in fact, behind the wheel that this special roadster comes to life, with an exceptionally stable ride and a startling turn of speed.

[bentleybob]

?? 

[woodinsight]

?? 

Apologies for the late reply (see Slow Answers for the reason).
Yes, you are correct.
Dennis Ramsay came from Stirling (not Sterling) and he also built the Ramsay-HAR sports car that appeared on AutoPuzzles some time ago.
So another point for you.

Here's another photo of the car with Karl Ludvigsen at the wheel -

[mekubb]

What is this convertible, from when and by whom ?

[richard cuyler]

Armstrong Siddeley base?

[mekubb]

Armstrong Siddeley base?

No

[richard cuyler]

1950s Bentley underneath?

[mekubb]

No Bentley connection

[D-type]

Riley base ?

[mekubb]

Riley is correct, need some more info for a lock though !

[oko94]

1953 Riley RM 2.5 modified by Dennis Ramsay, owned by Karl Ludvigsen.

I've also seen it referred to as 1954 Riley Ramsay SP6

[mekubb]

1953 Riley 2.5 modified by Dennis Ramsay, owned by Karl Ludvigsen

Sorry D-Type but oko94 found the car, and rather quickly as well ! It was indeed modified by Scottish engineer Dennis Ramsay in 1983. Here is a front view, not a bad looking car

[oko94]

Finding a short wheelbase Riley roadster was fairly easy indeed. I agree it's better looking than the regular long wheelbase roadster.

[Allan L]

What's the "SP6" bit of the heading mean?
I don't recognise it as part of an RM Riley designation.

[mekubb]

What's the "SP6" bit of the heading mean?
I don't recognise it as part of an RM Riley designation.

That's what my source called it, so I put it in the heading. Could be a RM though

[Allan L]

What's the "SP6" bit of the heading mean?
I don't recognise it as part of an RM Riley designation.

That's what my source called it, so I put it in the heading. Could be a RM though

Yes I see it appeared in the H&H auction details as "SP6" but with no explanation - perhaps it was just that it was the 6th Special Mr Ramsay had made.
The chassis number shows it to have been an RME as one might expect.

[Paul Jaray]

Merged!