In the 1960s, BMC had five major makes of car - Austin, Morris, MG, Riley and Wolseley - each tailored towards a different customers. BMC produced a range of cars from the same basic model, with detail changes to match the badge on the bonnet - "Badge Engineering".

BMC launched the twin models of Riley Elf and Wolseley Hornet in 1961, up-market versions of the Mini. With the traditional radiator grilles of these two marques in miniature up front, at the back they featured traditional boots.

The cars were discontinued in 1969 after 28,000 Hornets and 31,000 Elfs had been produced. The original Mark I models are now very rare as only about 3,000 of each type were built.