Given how much the automotive landscape has changed over the last 100 years or so, it’s remarkable that the 1.5-litre engine has remained something of a mainstay. Rewind to before the war, and such engines would most likely be the preserve of sporting exotica, or at least boast six cylinders. Nowadays, such a capacity appears to be the default choice for just about anything with a petrol engine, albeit with half as many cylinders and a turbocharger strapped on to add the grunt.
Indeed, in recent times you’ve been able to find a 1.5-litre engine in a basic MINI, a myriad of family-sized hatches, countless SUVs and even hybrid sports cars like the BMW i8. But it’s not the first time the 1500cc engine capacity has cut across manufacturers and even market segments. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, a whole host of now-desirable classics were members of the 1500 club. We bring you some of the most memorable.
RILEY RM
Along with the 1529cc engine fitted to the Citroën Traction of 1934, Riley was one of the early adopters of a four-cylinder 1.5-litre engine, with the 12/4 of 1935 powered by a 1496cc unit based on the motor used in the earlier Riley Nine. It was advanced for its day, with twin camshafts mounted high in the engine block, a crossflow head on some versions, and Zenith or twin SU carburettors.
It was this engine that was fitted to the post-war RMA. The traditionally-styled RM series models were the last developed independently by Riley, and the 1.5-litre RMA was the first to be launched in 1945. It stayed in production until 1952, when it was replaced by the RME with its bigger rear window and lower diff ratio. This remained on sale until 1955, with around 14,000 cars produced across both models.
Today, the RM provides a neat marriage between pre-wars looks and post-war
