The Riley One-Point-Five and similar Wolseley 1500 are cars produced by Riley and Wolseley respectively from 1957 until 1965. They used the Morris Minor floor pan, suspension and steering but were fitted with the larger B-Series engine and MG Magnette gearbox.

Model series

Series 1

The two models were differentiated by nearly 20 hp (15 kW), the Riley having twin SU carburettors giving it the more power at 68 hp (50 kW). The Wolseley was released in April 1957 and the Riley was launched in November, directly after the 1957 London Motor Show.

Series 2

The Series II was released in May 1960. The most notable external difference was the hidden boot and bonnet hinges. Interior storage was improved with the fitting of a full-width parcel shelf directly beneath the fascia.

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File:Wolseley 1500 1961 Castle Hedingham 2008.JPG|1961 Wolseley 1500 Saloon

File:1959 Riley 1.5.jpg|1959 Riley One-Point-Five

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Engines

  • 1.2&nbsp;L (1200&nbsp;cc) B-Series I4, Irish Market only (Wolseley)
  • 1.5&nbsp;L (1489&nbsp;cc) B-Series I4, 50&nbsp;bhp (37&nbsp;kW) (Wolseley) & 68&nbsp;bhp (51&nbsp;kW) (Riley)

Differences

The One-Point-Five and its 1500 sibling had a number of differences, with the Wolseley generally being the less well-equipped model:

  • Engine - The Riley benefited from twin 1½ inch SU H4 carburettors while the Wolseley was fitted with a single 1¼ inch SU carburettor. The cylinder head on the Riley was also slightly sportier to help with the power increase.
  • Exterior - The front panel and grille looks similar on both cars, but is different. The stainless trim along the side of the cars is also different.
  • Interior - Both cars received wooden dashboards. While the Riley had a full complement of gauges (speedometer, tachometer, and temp/oil/fuel) placed directly in front of the driver, the Wolseley made do with only the speedometer and temp/oil/fuel gauges, which were placed in the centre of the dashboard. The Riley was fitted with leather seats, while the Wolseley was often fitted with lower quality Rexine in its Fleet model.
  • Brakes - The Riley was equipped with a larger Girling braking system, while the Wolseley received a smaller Lockheed system. The Girling brakes on the Riley One-Point-Five were often sought out by Morris Minor owners looking for a way to upgrade their brakes.

Performance

A Wolseley 1500 was tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1957. It was found to have a top speed of and could accelerate from 0- in 24.8 seconds. A fuel consumption of was recorded. The test car cost £758 including taxes of £253.

A Riley One-Point-Five was tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1961. It was found to have a top speed of and could accelerate from 0- in 18.9 seconds. A fuel consumption of was recorded. The test car cost £815 including taxes of £240.

In its day, the Riley was successfully raced and rallied and can still be seen today in historical sporting events.

Australian production

BMC Australia produced the Wolseley 1500 in Australia from 1958. It was built alongside BMC Australia's own versions of this design, the Morris Major and Austin Lancer.