They were the last models developed independently by Riley before its parent company, Nuffield, merged with Austin to form BMC.

The RM series was produced in Coventry until 1949, when production moved to the MG works at Abingdon.

The RM was inspired by Riley Motors' successful and stylish pre-war 1.5 and 2.5 Litre Kestrel saloons, but with a new chassis, which with its Riley "torsionic" independent front-wheel suspension incorporated the experience of the wartime years.

[2] The RM series was a new design, because air raids on Coventry destroyed the patterns of dies for the pre-war models.

[5] It used the 1.5 L engine and was equipped with hydro-mechanical brakes and an independent suspension using torsion bars in front.

[6][8] The RMC (Roadster) was an open 2-door, single bench seat, 2/3-seater version of the RMB, with a large rear deck area and fold-flat windscreen.

Primarily designed for the North American export market, it was normally built with left-hand drive, with the gear change lever on the steering column.

[9] Eighteen months later, in September 1949, Riley announced future production would include a small quota of cars with right-hand drive.

[citation needed] Both the back and front of the car bear a remarkable likeness to a 1934 Ford V8.

[citation needed] This model was first displayed in October 1948 at London's Earls Court Motor Show.

[11] A cabriolet has fixed sides to its roof, called cant rails, and a folding top that remains attached to the vehicle.

[14] When the 2.5 L (2443 cc) RMF ended production in October 1953, many details of the RME were revised.

It was succeeded in 1957 by the Riley One-Point-Five, which had been designed as a replacement for the Morris Minor, but never launched as such.

It is much shorter than the RME, and was also badge-engineered as the Wolseley 1500, and in Australia as the Morris Major and Austin Lancer.

It followed existing Riley practice, similar to their 1.5 litre engine, but with each cylinder completely surrounded by a water jacket.