1933 Wolseley Hornet

The Wolseley Hornet was a silky, six-cylinder, twelve fiscal horsepower, lightweight saloon car available as a coupé and open two-seater as well as the usual rolling chassis for bespoke coachwork. Produced by Wolseley Motors Limited from 1930 to 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described it as a miniature six), reflected the brief vogue for less vibratory 6, 8, 12 and 16 cylinder engines soon superseded by greatly improved flexible engine mountings.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 Swallow Coachbuilding Company of Blackpool (founded by William Lyons and later to become Jaguar) was one of a number of small businesses that built individual bodies to fit onto the Hornet Special chassis and this car is one of the 21 they turned out in 1932/3. It has enjoyed a long and interesting history but briefly was owned, rebuilt and rallied by our vendor between 1954 and 1957 and subsequently repurchased by him many years later in 1999. David Thomas has written an interesting story on his time with XJ8840-'Pandora' and copies will be with the car.

1933 Wolsley Hornet SpecialBodied by Swallow Coachbuilding, Blackpool, England1271cc Straight 6 cylinder 75hpTopspeed; 120km/hWeight; 900kgIndicated Mileage; 68,000 kmOld English White with a red interior. Restored; 1954-6 by David Thomas and 1970-86 by Pat & Geoff Eames

This a delightful example of a classic 'Thirties' special with lots of club competition history in England. Further details of its life in Denmark will follow.