TWO NEW RILEYS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29843, 8 June 1962, Page 9

TWO NEW RILEYS

NOW on display in the city is an example of the Riley Elf, a new model announced some months ago by the British Motor Corporation. The Elf. which in New’ Zealand costs £Bl3, is based on the B.M.C. minis, and is basically a mini with a Riley grille and improved trim. In addition to the Riley grille, the Elf has .an extended boot which breaks up the box-like shape, inside, the floor is carpeted and trim, and sound insulation is improved. The dashboard is of walnut, with a glove box on each side, and gauges for water temperature and oil pressure flank the circular speedometer in the centre of the panel. No trip meter is fitted to the speedometer. Comfortable The car driven by "The Press” had only recently arrived from England, and had not received pre-delivery checks and adjustment Because of this there were occasional slight rattles in the dashboard and a slight noise from the clutch, which was a little sudden in operation.

The seats are comfortable with a reasonable amount of legroom. The pedals are fairly well spaced. With the drivers hands in the "ten to two” position the speedometer is obscured by the left hand. The gear lever is rather far forward and short drivers may have to stretch slightly to select first and third. The controls seem well laid out except for the windscreen washer control, which is on the passenger’s side of the dash. If the driver was wearing a diagonal safety belt he would find it difficult to reach. - Agile On the road, even in wet weather, the Elf is a pleasant car to drive and has surprising agility. The steering is very light while remaining positive, and the gear-change is smooth. The windscreen wipers clear a large area effectively and silently, and the heater provides a good blast of heat The suspension gives a very good ride over rough surfaces and is not "caught out” by a road with a very uneven and undulating surface. Brakes The bakes seem heavy in operation but pull up the car swiftly in a straight line. In traffic the Elf is a delight and makes city driving much less difficult Visibility is good, but the tinted rear-vision mirror could be a little larger. Crash padding on the dashboard is very chin but safety belt anchorages are fitted. Overall, the Riley Elf is a pleasant small car with a high standard of finish for the person who wants something extra. The basie mini body is much improved in

appearance by the grille and by the boot, which provides considerably more space for luggage. The walnut dashboard adds greatly to the attractiveness of the interior of the vehicle, and the good trim, deeply carpeted floor, low noise level, and improved instrumentation make the Elf a good all-purpose car for town and country. Riley 4/72 The Riley 4/72 is rather a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It has a neat appearance from the outside, and the traditional Riley grille.

The interior is very well appointed, the fascia and doors being finished in polished figured walnut. The individual seats for the front passenger and the driver provide good lateral support on corners, and are very comfortable. The instruments and the controls are well laid out, although the toggle switches controlling the wipers, heater booster, lights, and panel lights are ’unlabelled and a little hard to identify at first Comprehensive An unusually comprehensive range of instruments is provided, including a tachometer, oil and water gauges, ammeter, and a trip recorder on the speedometer. The instruments are well grouped and easy to see through the steering wheel, which, although it is large, does not block the driver’s view or come too close to his legs.

Gear-Lever The floor gear-lever controlling the four-speed box falls well to the hand, and needs only short movements between the ratios. The synchromesh on the upper three is good and the movement pleasantly firm and precise. The pedals are well spaced, and the hydraulic clutch is smooth and easy in operation. The brakes require moderately heavy pressures but have plenty of stopping power. Steering i The steering is light but positive, and provides a good degree of feel without transmitting any road shocks. There is a large amount of room both in the front and in the back. The suspension provides a very comfortable and welldamped ride. Cornering is excellent for a saloon, and a cattle-stop on a curve does not alter the car’s course or disturb the smoothness of the ride. Good On Hills The car is very much at home on the hills, the gear ratios seeming just-right even for steep climbs. Third gear is excellent both on the hill comers and in town and provides good acceleration from about 25 miles an hour. Second gear brings very brisk acceleration from 15 miles an hour. The noise level in the car is very low, and the 1622 c.c. four-cylinder engine is so smooth at road speeds it is almost indistinguishable from a six-cylinder unit. Idling is perhaps a little rougher than a six, but still remarkably smooth for a four. Sporting The handling of the 4/72, together with the suspension and good gear-change, makes it almost like a sports car to drive, yet there is sufficient room to carry five large adults in comfort.

There is plenty of space for luggage in the large boot, and a lockable glove-box of reasonable dimensions on the passenger side of the fascia is augmented by a full-width parcel shelf. There is gener-

bus crash padding on the edges of the dashboard and anchorages are provided for seat belts. Other refinements include a dash clock and a lockable fuel cap. Visibility is excellent and full use is made of the wide rear window by the generously - dimensioned rear-vision mirror.

Sun-Visors

. The sun-visors are not of the’safety type, but do not block too large tin area of the windscreen when folded down. The windscreen wipers are silent in operation and have a good coverage of the mildly curved windscreen. In New Zealand the 4/72 is available only on a noremittance licence, and costs £1282, of which £687 is needed in overseas funds. This price does not include a heater which is about £lB extra.