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Wolseley 1500
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norustplease



Joined: 11 Apr 2011
Posts: 779
Location: Lancashire

PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 2:16 pm    Post subject: Wolseley 1500 Reply with quote



This found its way into my garage recently. It is a '61 Mark 2, Wolseley 1500. It is in full working order mechanically as far as I can see. I haven't as yet driven it very far, but it seems quite sprightly and it has had quite a lot of money spent on it in the last three or four years, including a recored radiator, a couple of new tyres, rear springs, exhaust, water pump and sundry other bits. It has had new sills and some other chassis repairs which look to be to a reasonable standard, and has at some point in the distant past had a cosmetic makeover.
Inside is okay, just a little faded and I am experimenting with a little discreet recolouring on certain very faded bits, so as to try and unify the overall appearance without over renewing it. It appears to have a fairly new headlining and the door cards have been remade at some point without any fluting or padding, and again are very badly faded, and so they too will get some attention in due course. (probably another winter project when things get too cold in the garage)
For the moment, therefore, the name of the game is to make it look presentable, with a view to getting some use out of it over the later summer and early autumn months and then getting stuck in over the winter.
Mechanically, parts supply seems reasonable, but body panels are less available, tend to be bespoke and rather expensive (Well over £500 for a steel front wing)
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Last edited by norustplease on Mon Sep 05, 2022 2:50 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Keith D



Joined: 16 Oct 2008
Posts: 1127
Location: Upper Swan, Western Australia

PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 3:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lovely little car. IMHO the best looking car put out by BMC.

Keith
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7113
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 8:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks very smart.

Peter
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Bitumen Boy



Joined: 26 Jan 2012
Posts: 1733
Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire

PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 10:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice, like it.
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6282
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 11:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Takes me back. I used to service one of those for one of my Dad's customers. (that and a similarly bodied - but quicker - Riley One point five). A nice looking straightforward no nonsense car. Wink
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
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Location: UK

PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 9:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very nice indeed, dad ran a 1500 prior to getting his VdP 1300 (now replaced by a Traveller).

RJ
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badhuis



Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1390
Location: Netherlands

PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 10:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A good looking car. Nice colour combination, rare to see one in black. Although it seems a third of the modern cars now are black, back then it was seldom chosen (or available).
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
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Location: Derby

PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 10:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Based on the Morris Minor floorpan/ chassis I believe but with the B series engine.
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norustplease



Joined: 11 Apr 2011
Posts: 779
Location: Lancashire

PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 11:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Most of the similarities with the MM1000 seem to be in the front suspension area and a few other mechanical components. I had always thought that it was a rebodied Morris, but none of the repair panels from the Morris floorpan actually seem to fit. The B series engine and gearbox, plus a different ratio diff seem to give the Wolseley more of a long legged feel, a bit like three speeds and overdrive, and the engine has a lot more grunt at the bottom end, albeit overall horsepower is not that much greater than a 1098 Minor. However it feels more powerful when on the road and once in top gear, flies along. It is a pity that there aren't more about.
Interestingly, old logbooks suggest that the car was once black and cream, although pulling it to pieces thus far suggests that it has always been all black. Not sure what happened there. Some cars had a different colour side panel, others roof and boot lid.
I have not yet found a picture of a car with cream side panels.
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Last edited by norustplease on Tue Jul 20, 2021 12:02 pm; edited 1 time in total
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norustplease



Joined: 11 Apr 2011
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Location: Lancashire

PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 11:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Since my garage seems to have been full of foreign cars (Citroens/Renaults/Volvos) for several years, and with a few problems starting to crop up with importing spares, I thought that I would go British.

Quite fancy a big Wolseley now!
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1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7113
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 1:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

norustplease wrote:
old logbooks suggest that the car was once black and cream, although pulling it to pieces thus far suggests that it has always been all black.


Black body with cream wheels ??

Peter
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Riley Blue



Joined: 18 Jun 2008
Posts: 1750
Location: Derbyshire

PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 7:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do a Google Image search for 'duotone Wolseley 1500' and you'll find photos of a few two-colour cars (but not many) though the manufacturer's brochures often feature them.

It's an under-rated car though there are more about than you might imagine - I can take you to two within five miles of me and of course there's its sprightlier Riley 'cousin' to keep it company.

Mechanical spares aren't a problem but, as already been mentioned, body parts and trim are expensive and scarce but don't let that put you off; buy them when you can and stash them away!

There's a 1500/One-Point-Five Facebook page that's worth a look if you're into FB plus clubs and specialist suppliers.

The main thing is to drive it, cars love being driven!
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MVPeters



Joined: 28 Aug 2008
Posts: 822
Location: Northern MA, USA

PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 8:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

& this forum too:
https://www.wolseleyforum.com/forum/14-1500/
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ukdave2002



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4100
Location: South Cheshire

PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2021 8:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a Riley 1.5 engine in my MGA, it has the same "high" compression as the MGA engine, but also has a better cam, this is the same cam that's advised for "fast road" MGA tuning Smile I could (falsely) change the engine number to appease the purists, but I'm happy with a Riley engine .

Dave
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Peter_L



Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.

PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2021 10:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have pleasant memories of the Wolseley 1500. back in the early 1960's I repaired, maintained and owned many Mini's, Anglia's and the like. A local shopkeeper and family friend had one of these. He said it was "special" and was a "Police Specification" model that the BMC/Leyland/Whoever" group had built but never sold because the aforementioned group lost the contract...

I earned some £'s looking after this car, cleaning and servicing. Compared to my Mini's and and Dad's 997 Anglia, this little Wolseley had quite a turn of speed. There was also a "second agenda" to the extra care I took of this vehicle as the owner had a rather delectable daughter. I was invited to perhaps keep it at a weekend and take it for a run, (the car alas... the daughter was always above my pay grade).

I remember at some point taking measurements and wondering if there was any way that the 1500 engine could be turned sideways, move the radiator to the front and possibly chain drive a transverse gearbox... Isn't naivety a wonderful thing. Of course, in later years it did occur to the designers that moving the radiator to the front would leave more room for a sideways engine.

But life goes on, the shopkeeper eventually sold his business and moved away, his daughter became a very successful hairdresser with a chain of salons. Wolseley 1500's always bring back memories of what might have been, memories with a smile of the "golden years".


Last edited by Peter_L on Thu Jul 22, 2021 12:15 pm; edited 1 time in total
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