The RMA was the first Riley car to be manufactured after World War 2, introduced in 1945. A stylish and comfortable 55 BHP saloon for the post war period.

When it was announced to the public via the motoring press in August 1945 it was also referred to as the “New Riley Twelve”. Whilst development had been planned prior to the Second World War, the Riley factory and Design Office had been badly damaged during the conflict; therefore a completely redesigned model would emerge, ahead of the competition. It would continue the Riley pedigree of advanced design and performance, aimed at the discerning professional.

It was a sleek 4-door Saloon body, with seating for 5 people. It had a 4 cylinder 1496cc engine of the traditional Riley crossflow, high twin-cam design, driving through a 4-speed gearbox and torque-tube axle, with 16” wheels. The rigid steel-frame chassis supported the low-slung coach-built body which sported a “leather top” roof covering, opening split windscreen, leather seating (occasionally with Bedford Cord inserts) and a large boot by the standards of the day.

The rear suspension was via a pair of semi-elliptic leaf springs with anti-roll bar and lever-arm hydraulic dampers, whilst at the front the IFS employed double wishbones, longitudinal torsion bars and telescopic shock absorbers. This set-up together with an advanced rack and pinion steering unit gave the car exceptional road holding not surpassed until the modern era. Brakes were Girling Hydro-mechanical 10” diameter drums.