Wolseley 6/80.
Another couple of gems from George's family photo album, this time showing a fine Wolseley 6/80 saloon. This photo was taken in the same year that Sputnik 1 fell back to earth, and a USAF B47
managed to drop a nuclear bomb on South Carolina, thankfully not going off! the year? 1958. The quiet English backdrop to these 2 photos couldn't be further removed from the ruptions that this accidental bomb release would cause across the Atlantic.
Anyway, back to the more genteel subject of the Wolseley (not 'Wolsley' or 'Woolsly' as sometimes written!). The 6/80, which became well known transport for the boys in blue throughout the fifties, first broke cover in 1948 at Earls Court. A first for Wolseley, it had a unitary construction, ditching the age-old approach of using a separate chassis and bodyshell. The styling however retained many of the traditional marque features, including the upright grille, to no doubt appease traditional Wolseley buyers who might otherwise be frightened off by too much change at once. The bulk of production occurred at Cowley, manufacture continuing until the 6/80 was replaced in 1954. The engine was a straight six of overhead cam design, an advanced unit for its day but, at least in its earliest days, not the most reliable due to engine valve issues.
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Those used by the Police were finished in black, although Joe Public could opt for dark maroon, grey, or green - the car in George's photos is probably grey therefore. Wolseleys have a loyal band of enthusiasts at car shows now, and the 6/80, along with it's smaller brother the four cylinder 4/50, is definitely one of the rarer postwar models.
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