History
Riley Kestrel 1300
The Kestrel represented the dying days of Riley as a distinct marque, reduced to little more than trim variations on BMC's corporate platforms. Based on the innovative front-wheel-drive Morris 1100/1300 series, it featured Hydrolastic suspension and transverse engine layout. Riley differentiation came through upgraded interior appointments, twin carburettors, and the obligatory traditional grille treatment. While mechanically competent, the Kestrel symbolized everything enthusiasts despised about BMC's badge-engineering philosophy, marking Riley's sad decline from genuine independence.