RILEY · RILEY 4/72 · Cars
RILEY 4/72 Rare
As of 2025 Q4, 109 RILEY 4/72s remain registered in the UK — a genuinely rare sight on today's roads. That's down from a peak of 111 in 2023 Q2 — only 98% of the high-water mark, a loss of about 2 cars. Unusually, the numbers are actually rising — up 1 (0.9%) over the past year, as imports and barn-finds rejoin the register faster than cars leave it. In all, the RILEY 4/72 is rarer than 58% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Rare — fewer than 1,000 remain (109 in the latest data).
Rarer than 58% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Fuel breakdown
Trend
About the 4/72
The Riley 4 / Sixty Eight and Riley 4 / Seventy Two are cars produced by BMC from 1959 to 1969, under the Riley marque. They are closely related to the Pinin Farina-designed MG Magnette Mark III and Wolseley 15/60 and the simpler Austin A55 Cambridge Mark II, Morris Oxford V pair, sharing the MG's rear styling and engine (with a milder cam). This Riley was the most expensive car in that series. This model's introduction, using the same engine, did not affect production of the smaller-bodied 1½-litre Riley One-Point-Five sports saloon which continued until 1965.
RILEY 4/72 — questions & answers
How many RILEY 4/72 are left in the UK?
As of 2025 Q4, 109 RILEY 4/72 were still registered in the UK — 74 licensed and on the road, plus 35 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the RILEY 4/72 rare?
The RILEY 4/72 is rare — fewer than 1,000 remain (109), making it rarer than 58% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Is the RILEY 4/72 increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of RILEY 4/72 on UK roads rose by 1 (0.9%).
What fuel do most RILEY 4/72 use?
Most RILEY 4/72 run on petrol — about 99% of those still registered, with the rest split across gas (lpg).
When did the RILEY 4/72 peak?
The RILEY 4/72 peaked at 111 registered in 2023 Q2, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.