Lot Ended
Description
Pretty sporting Wolseley Hornet Special; recent expenditure
including new hood, restored instruments, recored radiator and stainless
steel exhaust; ready for the summer
The Wolseley company was taken
over by Sir William Morris in 1927 and the Wolseley Hornet was their first new
car - introduced to the British motoring public in 1929 as an overhead-camshaft
six-cylinder version of the very advanced Morris Minor.
The same engine
was fitted to the F, L, K and N-type MGs, meaning there is a plentiful source of
parts as well as a fair turn of speed.
Between 1932 and 1934 the factory
supplied a series of chassis termed the “Hornet Special" to a variety of
coachbuilders for bespoke bodywork. The low riding chassis was underslung at the
rear and lent itself to the fitting of stylish bodies. Some 2,300 of these twin
carburettor, high compression versions were supplied to Avon, Swallow, Cunard as
well as the Wolseley dealer Eustace Watkins who produced a very appealing sports
4-seater body called the 'Daytona'.
This 1934 Eustace Watkins
Daytona has been with our vendor since 2021 and comes with little history prior
to his ownership. It has clearly been restored, and nicely too, the paintwork
and trim looking very presentable.
It has been starting easily since
arrival on site, the vendor stating that the engine has very good oil pressure,
even after running for an hour and thoroughly warmed through. The engine
was purported to have been rebuilt not long before he bought it and it certainly
sounds fit and healthy, firing up on all six and running sweetly through its
twin SU carbs.
The vendor has added a complete stainless exhaust, a
new battery and had a new hood fitted which is very smart. The rev counter and
speedometer have also been rebuilt, along with a recored radiator and electric
fan. The dynamo also looks new, and could even be an alternator conversion - we
are not sure...
These pretty little sports tourers were light and well
balanced and had a grace and elegance that few cars of the period could match.
Available at a fraction of the price that an equivalent 4-seater 6-cylinder
MG would command, yet using the same engine and many shared components, these
special bodied Hornets look extremely attractive
alternatives.
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