RILEY · RILEY ELF · Cars
RILEY ELF Rare
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Rare — fewer than 1,000 remain (791 in the latest data).
Rarer than 37% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Trend
About the ELF
Riley was a British motorcar and bicycle manufacturer from 1890. Riley became part of the Nuffield Organization in 1938 and was merged into the British Leyland Motor Corporation in 1968. In July 1969, British Leyland announced the immediate end of Riley production, although 1969 was a difficult year for the UK automotive industry and many cars from Riley's inventory may have been first registered in 1970. Today, the Riley trademark is owned by BMW.
RILEY ELF — questions & answers
How many RILEY ELF are left in the UK?
As of 2025 Q4, 791 RILEY ELF were still registered in the UK — 445 licensed and on the road, plus 346 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the RILEY ELF rare?
The RILEY ELF is rare — fewer than 1,000 remain (791), making it rarer than 37% of the 2,408 UK car models we track.
Is the RILEY ELF increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of RILEY ELF on UK roads rose by 9 (1.2%).
What fuel do most RILEY ELF use?
Most RILEY ELF run on petrol — about 100% of those still registered.
When did the RILEY ELF peak?
The RILEY ELF peaked at 791 registered in 2025 Q4, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.