Wolseley Hornet six

This article is about the 1930s Wolseley Hornet. For the 1960s Wolseley Hornet, see Wolseley Hornet (Mini).

Wolseley Hornet
SOHC 6-cylinder 4-door 6-light saloon
registered October 1932
Overview
ManufacturerWolseley Motors Limited
Production1930–1936
31686 made[1]
AssemblyWard End Works, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Body and chassis
Body style
  • 2-door 4-light saloon
  • 4-door 6-light saloon
  • 2-door Occasional Four coupé
  • open 2-seater
  • chassis for customer's choice of coachwork
  • Special chassis for customer's choice of coachwork
Powertrain
Enginesingle-overhead-camshaft
inline six-cylinder
  • 1,271 cc (78 cu in)[2] and Special
  • 1,378 cc (84 cu in)[3] used in standard cars only
  • 1,604 cc (98 cu in)[4] Special only
Transmission
  • A single-plate dry-type clutch and three-speed gearbox form a single unit with the engine; there is a ball pattern central change-speed lever; the propeller shaft is open with fabric disc joints; the spiral bevel driven back axle is three-quarter floating and has a two-pinion differential gear[2]
  • announced September 1931, a 4-speed gearbox with a quiet third gear.[5]
  • announced August 1934, single-plate clutch, 3-speed preselector gearbox (finger control by steering wheel) an additional lever controls forward neutral and reverse, freewheel and Startix[6]
  • by September 1935, single-plate dry clutch with cushion drive and torsional spring dampers, four-speed centrally controlled gearbox, synchromesh on third and top.[3]
Dimensions
Wheelbase
  • 90.5 in (2,299 mm)[2]
  • 95 in (2,413 mm)[7]

track

  • 42 in (1,067 mm)[2]
  • 45 in (1,143 mm)[7]
  • 48 in (1,219 mm)[3]
Length
  • 133 in (3,378 mm)[2]
  • 141 in (3,581 mm)[8]
Width
  • 51 in (1,295 mm)[2]
  • 55 in (1,397 mm)[8]
Height
  • 63 in (1,600 mm)[2]
  • unknown
Kerb weight
  • 977.95 kg (2,156 lb) 19¼cwt[9]
  • 990.65 kg (2,184 lb) 19½cwt[3]
Chronology
SuccessorWolseley 12/48[10]

The Wolseley Hornet is a six-cylinder twelve fiscal horsepower lightweight automobile which was offered as a saloon car, coupé and open two-seater as well as the usual rolling chassis for bespoke coachwork. Produced by Wolseley Motors Limited from 1930 until 1936, the Hornet was unveiled to the public at the end of April 1930. Wolseley had been bought from the receivers by William Morris in 1927.

This car's tiny six-cylinder engine, Motor Sport magazine described it as a miniature six, reflected the brief vogue for less vibratory 6, 8, 12 and 16 cylinder engines soon superseded by greatly improved flexible engine mountings. Their overhead camshaft engines were so good that cars built on their Hornet Special chassis developed an outstanding reputation on the road and in club competition.

The initial offering was something of a quart in a pint pot, tiny but powerful for its size. Furthermore, four passengers might be fitted into the very lightly constructed car. However the market soon required more room and more comfort and the car's nature changed. This was countered by making and selling the Special with a more highly tuned engine. The last Hornet was replaced, following acquisition of Wolseley by Morris Motors, with Morris's badge-engineered Wolseley 12/48, announced 24 April 1936.[10]

  1. ^ Baldwin, N. (1994). A-Z of Cars of the 1920s. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-53-2.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference TT44510 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference TT47166 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference TT47028 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Cars Of 1932". The Times. No. 45917. 2 September 1931. p. 10.
  6. ^ "Cars Of 1935". The Times. No. 46835. 17 August 1934. p. 10.
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference TT46577 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Wolseley Hornet brochure 1933
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference TT46368 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b "New Light Motor Cars". The Times. No. 47357. 24 April 1936. p. 11.