Description

1934 Wolseley Sixteen

Extremely well-sorted example; £7,500 engine rebuild; excellent performance; powerful brakes; recent head lining; driven 3,000 miles in last few years and 80 miles to the sale; original leather upholstery

This useable Wolseley was originally owned by a Harley Street Doctor, the car moving to Derbyshire in the 1950s and living in Nottinghamshire by the late 1970s according to the continuation log book on file.

Bells and Bows Wedding Hire used it from 2000 until 2017, at which point it came into the hands of the vendor - a serial buyer of larger '30s saloons. By this time, its black livery had been changed to black over cream, a scheme which suits it well and doesn't scream 'wedding car' and David Palmer of David Palmer Engineering had undertaken a complete engine rebuild to the tune of £7,500. This work took place in 2005/6, in the hands of the respected Wolseley specialist.

The engine was completely stripped, the crank reground and balanced (including flywheel and clutch cover). The whole lot was re-metalled including rods and the block was rebored and new pistons fitted. The oil pump was overhauled and new skew gears fitted, along with new water jackets, valves, guides (with unleaded inserts for the exhausts). A new rocker shaft was also fitted, including new bushes and a reprofiled camshaft. The ancilliaries were also rebuilt.

David Palmer also undertook chassis work, including new wheel cylinders, hoses etc and relined brakes. These are comendable in their efficiency and really pull the car up quickly - most impressive...

Since 2017, the vendor has completed another brake overhaul and added a rewire, suspension overhaul and five new tyres to the list.

Driven some 50 miles to the sale, the vendor says it will sit at 50-55mph all day with more on demand. The engine is very sweet and the car ready to go as is.

The photos show a nicely original interior, which is a good place to be, albeit with a new headlining. The document file also includes an original Wolseley Sixteen handbook.

The Wolseley is a quality car, witness the large Lucas lights, classic illuminated badge and the branded Brookes trunk on the rear (in which you will find a spare halfshaft!). The 2,025cc six-cylinder engine has loads of go too, making this well-sorted example well able to keep up with, and get held up by today's traffic...

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