Riley 4

Launched in April 1959, the 4 / Sixty Eight was the last of the five B series BMC Pininfarina cars to be released. The Riley used the twin-carburettor B-Series straight-4 engine in the form already familiar to drivers of the MG Magnette III, It was intended to be the most luxurious of the Farina-styled B-series cars and was priced accordingly. A brief road test was published under the headline: "Comfort not Sacrificed to Appearance in New Riley". The motoring correspondent of The Times reported the more expensive Riley shared a similar specification with the MG Magnette Mark III but the Riley had different points of styling and its very full equipment list included a tachometer. The driver sat upright and gained a sense of mastery of the car steering from the well-furnished interior which had the right combination of leather, walnut veneer and pile carpet. Gear changing was easy through a well-placed central lever. ==Riley 4 / Seventy Two==

Just before the 1961 Motor Show, in October, the car became the 4/Seventy-Two. Closely related again was the 16/60 update to the Wolseley car. The engine was now 1.6 L (1622 cc), and Riley again got the twin-carb version with 68 hp (51 kW). It also used an improved suspension with anti-roll bars. The wheelbase was 1 in (25.4 mm) longer, through the moving of the back axle rearwards, and the front track was increased by 2 inches (5 cm). was the Humber Sceptre from the Rootes Group – with an 85 hp engine, 6-speed manual (four direct ratios plus overdrive 3rd and 4th) or 3-speed automatic (post 1965) and a more modern interior it thoroughly trounced the 4/72 in reviews of the period. When an automatic 4/72 was tested by The Motor magazine in 1962 they recorded a top speed of , acceleration from 0- in 20.6 seconds and a fuel consumption of . The test car cost £1186 including taxes. The manual car was £1087 The 4/72 was sold as the Riley 1500 in Argentina and as the Riley Comet in Austria. ==Manufacture in Argentina==

Another related car was the 1960–1966 Siam Di Tella of Argentina, they were externally similar to the Riley 4 family, but with the Austin Cambridge rear body shape rather than the Riley's fins. . There was the sedan Di Tella 1500, the station wagon Di Tella Traveller and the pick-up (never produced in England) Di Tella Argenta. All of them were fitted with the 1489cc engine and 4 speed manual column change. The MG Magnette Mark IV was also produced but with the nomenclature Di Tella Magnette, both in 1489cc and 1622cc forms. ==References==