Lot Ended
Description
From a deceased estate; few owners; sympathetically restored about 10
years ago and lightly used since; a wonderful example with bags of
character; drives as well as it looks
'Evening all,
what's going on here then?' Introduced in 1948, the Wolseley 6/80 is forever
associated with gritty post-war crime dramas, speeding through the
blitz-damaged streets of London with a pair of burly Scotland Yard
detectives on board, the illuminated Wolseley radiator badge bearing down fast
on the fleeing villains.
An
upmarket version of the Morris MS Six, the 6/80 had the same silky smooth
2.2-litre OHC straight-six but with twin carbs which boosted power to 72bhp.
Driving through a four-speed column-change gearbox, the 6/80 had a top speed of
80mph with handling the baddies just couldn’t match in their stolen Post Office
van thanks to independent front suspension with torsion
bars.
The plush interior boasted lashings of wood
and leather with comprehensive dash instruments and an efficient
heating/demisting system as standard. It was replaced by the 6/90 in the autumn
of 1954 by which time some 25,280 had been sold, many to the Police and only a
tiny handful of which still survive today.
First
registered in Surrey in June 1952, this wonderful Wolseley has had just six
owners from new, the first being a Mr R Oakes of Surbiton who kept it for three
years before selling it to a Miss D Bond of Claygate, near Esher, who was to
keep it for the next 35 years (her 1955 AA membership card is still in the
file).
In 1990 it was acquired by a Mr H Allison
of Walton-on-Thames who was to keep it for 14 years and from 2014 – 2022 it was
owned by a Mr J Turner of Croydon. It was then briefly owned by a Mr R Burrows
of Evesham from whom the current owner acquired it in September 2023 to join his
collection of fine cars.
Invoices and photos on
file show that during Mr Turner’s ownership it was treated to a sympathetic
restoration which included a bare metal repaint, new window rubbers, new carpets
and headlining, a thorough service and tune-up plus a whole host of other minor
trim parts etc.
It is showing only 30,521 miles
on the clock and while this can’t be warranted the overall condition of the car
makes it not implausible and an old MOT records 29,455 miles in December 2001.
There is also a lovely assortment of period literature including brochures, road
tests, handbooks, AA correspondence etc.
As
you can see in the photos, this is a fine-looking car in really super condition
and we can confirm that it drives as well as it looks. The engine runs very
sweetly indeed with excellent oil
pressure, the brakes are good, the steering is light and direct and the ride
quality is most impressive for a Fifties car, dismissing the pot holes at the
bottom of our yard like they weren’t even there.
On offer here from a deceased estate at a modest guide price, this
rare and handsome Wolseley will draw crowds of admirers wherever it goes. Shove
a blue light on the roof and you'll never get stuck in traffic again...
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 –
[email protected]