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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:Cars in the UK
Notice:Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:COMICS::SHELLEYELD
Created:Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2584
Total number of notes:63384

1154.0. "'35 Wolseley in US" by VINO::DBIGELOW (Innovate, Integrate, Evaporate) Tue Jul 17 1990 23:54

    Hey UK carbuffs, any antique lovers out there? 
    I was at the Annual British car show last Sunday in Brooline, MA, USA
    and saw some very excellent examples of British automotive workmanship.
    While there, I saw the following for sale. 
    
    1935 Wolseley
    Eustace Watkins bodied
    Hornet 14 H.P. engine
    1 of 2 known to exist
    Rust free and rot free
    
    I would estimate the car to be in good condition considering it's age 
    and the fact it has never been restored. Looks like it was painted
    about 20 years ago.
    
    Asking price is $10k. He probabily will take less. If anyone is
    interested, send mail with questions and I will call on your behalf.
    
    While I'm at it, there was a '54 Jaguar with original 2.5K miles.
    It won first place (out of 200+ cars). What a beauty.
    
    Cheers,
    
    dave
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1154.1Another opinionCSSE::WAITEWed Jul 18 1990 20:0128
    
>    1935 Wolseley
>    Eustace Watkins bodied
>    Hornet 14 H.P. engine
>    1 of 2 known to exist
>    Rust free and rot free
 
I thought the sign said 1939 but maybe not.
   
>    I would estimate the car to be in good condition considering it's age 
>    and the fact it has never been restored. Looks like it was painted
>    about 20 years ago.
 

I agree that the car was in pretty decent shape but it does need a complete
restoration, particularly the inside. While I watched, the seller tried to start
it for someone and gave up after a few minutes. The smell of old gas was very
evident so I would question the sellers comment that it is driven regularly.
Did you look underneath at the chassis (I didn't)? If there are any problems 
in that area it would be expensive to fix. The price seemed a tad high to me
given the work needed and that it isn't a particularly handsome car (it is
a four/five seater, drop head). 
   
The engine is a six cyl, ohc type. I didn't realize that Wolseley used such
an advanced engine is those days. If anyone knows the history, particularly
of the engine, I'd be interested in hearing about it.
    

1154.2Imagine thatVINO::DBIGELOWInnovate, Integrate, EvaporateWed Jul 18 1990 22:1116
    Hmmm, we must have been standing next to each other, as I was also
    there when he tried to start it. It sounded like it wanted to go, but
    the floats were stuck and the carbs were leaking gasoline to the point
    where it was just pouring out.
    
    It could have been a '39. I had the owner write down the stats and just
    wrote what he said. To be honest, I thought the sign also said '39.
    
    I thought the seller stated that the car was not used for the past 20
    years. The current owner stated that he has information available about
    the previos owners such as names and telephone numbers.
    
    Imagine, 16 H.P. from a 6 cyl ohc dual carb engine. Now that's going
    some. I wonder what it really had.
    
    Dave
1154.3Hello, DCU?CSSE::WAITEWed Jul 18 1990 22:3121
>    Hmmm, we must have been standing next to each other, as I was also
>    there when he tried to start it. 

Could be! I had an AC hat on (to go with the yellow Ace in the show).

>    Imagine, 16 H.P. from a 6 cyl ohc dual carb engine. Now that's going
>    some. I wonder what it really had.
 
I'm pretty sure that the hp rating is the old British taxable hp (which is
some obscure formula based on bore/stroke ratio or some such and accounts
for there being lots of long stroke engines in older British cars). I would
imagine that the true hp was more like 40-60. The AC engine of the same
era (2 liter, ohc, 3 carbs) put out 90hp with a supercharger and about 75
without one.

Btw, don;t get me wrong about the car. I thought it was great and only wish
I had 10k to invest in it. Restored it would be a fun car and unique. (Then
there was the Tickford MG TA next to it that had me drooling)

Dick
1154.4Little bit more infoCHEFS::OSBORNECIt's motorcycling weather againThu Jul 19 1990 02:1218
    
    Base note says 14hp 6-cyl engine. That squares with my info.
    
    Quote from textbook " In 1935 some new 6 cylinder ohc engines were
    introduced.  The Hornet grew up & the 1.6 litre 14hp formed the basis 
    for the 50bhp Hornet Special capable of 80 mph. The ohc engines
    were dropped in 1936"
    
    Also a photograph of a '35 Hornet Special sports car.
    
    Source --"The complete encyclopedia of motorcars -- 1885-present"
    Author :  G.Georgano.
    
    Initially 10k sounded way over to me. Seems a lot more realistic
    when you find out the facts -- ie one very rare & attractive car
    
    Colin