RILEY · RILEY KESTREL · Cars
RILEY KESTREL Rare
As of 2025 Q4, 163 RILEY KESTRELs remain registered in the UK — a genuinely rare sight on today's roads. That's down from a peak of 169 in 2020 Q3 — only 96% of the high-water mark, a loss of about 6 cars. Unusually, the numbers are actually rising — up 1 (0.6%) over the past year, as imports and barn-finds rejoin the register faster than cars leave it. In all, the RILEY KESTREL is rarer than 54% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Rare — fewer than 1,000 remain (163 in the latest data).
Rarer than 54% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Trend
About the KESTREL
Riley 'Kestrel' was a brand name applied by the Riley Motor Car Company and its successors the Nuffield Organization and the British Leyland Motor Corporation to various of their saloon car models. In pre-war Rileys, the Kestrel name typically denoted a sporty model with 'fastback' styling. Some of the cars produced in each of the following models received the Kestrel name, which was then revived in 1965 for a badge engineered version of the BMC ADO16: 1926–1937 — Riley Nine 1934–1935 — Riley 12/4 1935–1938 — Riley 1½ Litre 1937–1940 — Riley 16 (16/4) 2½-litre 1965–1969 — A variant of the BMC...
RILEY KESTREL — questions & answers
How many RILEY KESTREL are left in the UK?
As of 2025 Q4, 163 RILEY KESTREL were still registered in the UK — 121 licensed and on the road, plus 42 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the RILEY KESTREL rare?
The RILEY KESTREL is rare — fewer than 1,000 remain (163), making it rarer than 54% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Is the RILEY KESTREL increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of RILEY KESTREL on UK roads rose by 1 (0.6%).
What fuel do most RILEY KESTREL use?
Most RILEY KESTREL run on petrol — about 100% of those still registered.
When did the RILEY KESTREL peak?
The RILEY KESTREL peaked at 169 registered in 2020 Q3, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.