1.5
Riley · on record 1994 to 2025
The Riley 1.5 was a compact sporting saloon based on BMC engineering shared with the Wolseley 1500 but given a more performance oriented specification and traditional Riley detailing. Its twin carburettor engine and compact rear wheel drive chassis gave it genuine competition appeal. Surviving cars now attract enthusiasts who value an accessible 1950s sporting saloon rather than only the larger and more expensive prewar Rileys.
DECLINING
Red List classification, from population, five year trajectory and survival against peak. Reviewed each census.
823
licensed vehicles
2025 census
2025 census
78.1% of the peak fleet remains licensed
317
declared SORN
total surviving
peak 1,054 in 1996 · −12 vehicles a year, five year trend
Population history
Licensed and SORN vehicles at each census. The filters below apply to the family population, MOT and registration figures. They do not alter the generation history above.
Licensed
SORN
Latest census observation
At the average decline recorded over the latest five years, the licensed fleet would reach zero around 2095.
Illustrative projection only; vehicle populations rarely decline linearly. Late fleets typically flatten as surviving examples enter preservation.
Inside the surviving fleet
AutoCensus parses every DVLA variant description, so the fleet can be read by fuel and specification rather than as one number.
First registrations by year
When surviving examples first joined the British fleet.
Recent UK first registrations
This family is no longer sold new. These figures are imports and historic vehicles joining the British register for the first time.
MOT reliability
DVSA test results for this family, 2005 to 2025.
Pass rate by year
| Failure reason | Failures | Share of all tests |
|---|---|---|
| Deliberate modification which significantly reduces the original strength, excessive corrosion, severe distortion, a fracture or an inadequate repair of a load bearing member or its supporting structure or supporting panelling within 30cm of any sub- | 74 | 3.3% |
| The calculated parking brake efficiency is too low | 66 | 3.0% |
| The windscreen washers do not provide enough liquid to clear the windscreen in conjunction with the wiper(s) | 59 | 2.7% |
| The calculated out-of-balance of the brakes across an axle is greater than 30% | 57 | 2.6% |
| An insecure, split or missing steering rack gaiter | 43 | 1.9% |
| A stop lamp inoperative or less than 50% of the light sources illuminating | 40 | 1.8% |
| Deliberate modification which significantly reduces the original strength, excessive corrosion, severe distortion, a fracture or an inadequate repair of a load bearing member or its supporting structure or supporting panelling within 30cm of any sub- | 36 | 1.6% |
| Significant braking effort recorded on a road wheel, even though the brake is not applied, indicating that a brake is binding | 34 | 1.5% |
Counted across every recorded test, 2005 to 2025. Advisories are excluded.
Where the 1.5 remains
Based on MOT test locations, 2025. Test location is a proxy: a vehicle is counted where it was last tested, not where it is kept.
| Postcode area | Vehicles tested | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| EH | 3 | 67% |
| GL | 3 | 67% |
| S | 3 | 67% |
| CM | 1 | 100% |
| SW | 1 | 100% |
| NP | 1 | 100% |
| CO | 1 | 100% |
| IP | 1 | 100% |
| LE | 1 | 100% |
| TN | 1 | 100% |
| SK | 1 | 100% |
| EX | 1 | 100% |
| N | 1 | 100% |
| NR | 1 | 100% |
| NE | 1 | 100% |
| TA | 1 | 100% |
| SO | 1 | 100% |
| CV | 1 | 100% |
| ST | 1 | 100% |
How this record was calculated
LATEST CENSUS2025
POPULATION SOURCEDVLA VEH0220 annual
HISTORY SOURCEDVLA VEH0120 GB · to 2013
MOT SOURCEDVSA results · to 2025
FAMILY DEFINITIONRILEY 1.5
PROCESSED20 Sep 2026
Full methodology
Population history combines DVLA VEH0120 Q4 census observations through 2013 with the annual VEH0220 census from 2014 onward. Figures before 2014 cover Great Britain only. Historical VEH0120 is used only when its overlapping UK observations reconcile to the current canonical family definition. Vehicles are grouped into this family using the DVLA GenModel together with durable routing rules for known inconsistencies.
Variant figures are parsed from raw DVLA model descriptions and the original string is always retained. Configuration is only assigned where the model description explicitly identifies it; a blank configuration is not treated as a two door Wrangler. Blank transmission fields are shown as manual because DVLA records the field for automatic vehicles.
MOT figures count tests, not vehicles, and geographic figures count each vehicle at its most recent test location. The decline projection is a straight line fitted to the latest five years and is illustrative only.